Captbwhite
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Hi all. New to the forums, so a quick introduction is probably customary. I am an avid DIYer, and just bought my first house (well, townhouse). Built in 1984, so it's got some funny querks, but so far I am finding them. I am planning to finish off my basement storage room completely, adding a shower to the half bath, a full kitchen (Fridge, Sink, Range), and a rec. room area (total sqft to be finished is 220 (19x11 rectangle). The idea is to turn the basement into an apartment and rent it out, bc as a single 21 year old, I just don't utilize that space at all, and renting out 1/3 of my house to cover 2/3 of my mortgage is a no-brainer. So, now, on to the questions.
Currently have a half bath down there, no rough in for the shower. But, I have a drain running from the second floor full bath staight down next to where the basement shower would be. So, I can tap into that, with little-to-no concrete breaking. The shower i ordered is a Mustee all-in-one package. Basic and Cheap, but everything is pre-installed. Plus, it sits on a 7" base that is designed for a drainpipe from the side. If i could just cut down the cast iron pipe coming 8" out of the concrete for the existing 2nd floor drain, i could run right in there. But i am told cutting the iron pipe down some is a no-no. So, no problem, I'll bust up some concrete there.
Bigger problem: Gotta move the side by side washer/dryer to make the room make sense, and I have to move it into an awkward area for plumbing. Hard to explain, but here's a short version: Moving the w/d to the finished side of the basement, backing them up to a wall that I will be adding. The side walls of the house were built w/ 2x4's on thier side (esentially like 2x2 construction) so no room to run a drain through there. Further, there's no drain on that wall period, and no stretch of wall to run the drain over to the current ones. BUT, there is a one-step-high platform at the bottom of the stairs, which I can run a line under or next to. And, I have two drains at the center of the house (under the stairs), which would be about a 12' run total from the w/d. So, talking about 3 inch drop over the course of the run, which could work I think. Complicating this.... One of those drains is the condensation line drain for the Air Handler, which it turns out drains directly into the sump. Obviously can't use that one, bc I don't want soap suds in the front yard. The other drain, or at least what I thought was a drain, begins with a 12" iron pipe coming up from the concrete. So, again, I can't tap into that unless i cut the cast iron or bust up concrete. I can bust up more concrete. BUT, got to looking at things more.... there are a total of 3 plumbing lines running into the concrete of my basement. 4" line running down the side of the house, for the upper bathroom. The second is a 3" line running from the kitchen sink and dishwasher. Those are the only two areas of plumbing in my house. Of course then, the pipe that i could use under the stairs becomes the mystery pipe. I've run both sinks, the dishwasher, the shower, and flushed the upstairs and basement toilets, and no water runs through that pipe. Following it along the unifished basement ceiling, it looks like it runs side by side w/ the kitchen drain pipe, into the ceiling of the finished part of the basement, so I can't tell where it ends.
I am not much of a plumber, but I have two theories,
Most of the townhouses in the community have two bathrooms on the upper level, so maybe it's a drain for the rough-in bath? I do have rough in's for a second bath....
OR... could the line be some sort of vent for the main drainage lines under the concrete?
I am definately a novice learning by doing, so please excuse me if any of what I have said doesn't make sense. And if anyone has a crash course in townhouse plumbing, i'd love to read it.
I am eager to learn, eager to start the project, and willing to listen to anyone interested in helping or talking about it. Thanks so much.
Regards,
Capt. B
Currently have a half bath down there, no rough in for the shower. But, I have a drain running from the second floor full bath staight down next to where the basement shower would be. So, I can tap into that, with little-to-no concrete breaking. The shower i ordered is a Mustee all-in-one package. Basic and Cheap, but everything is pre-installed. Plus, it sits on a 7" base that is designed for a drainpipe from the side. If i could just cut down the cast iron pipe coming 8" out of the concrete for the existing 2nd floor drain, i could run right in there. But i am told cutting the iron pipe down some is a no-no. So, no problem, I'll bust up some concrete there.
Bigger problem: Gotta move the side by side washer/dryer to make the room make sense, and I have to move it into an awkward area for plumbing. Hard to explain, but here's a short version: Moving the w/d to the finished side of the basement, backing them up to a wall that I will be adding. The side walls of the house were built w/ 2x4's on thier side (esentially like 2x2 construction) so no room to run a drain through there. Further, there's no drain on that wall period, and no stretch of wall to run the drain over to the current ones. BUT, there is a one-step-high platform at the bottom of the stairs, which I can run a line under or next to. And, I have two drains at the center of the house (under the stairs), which would be about a 12' run total from the w/d. So, talking about 3 inch drop over the course of the run, which could work I think. Complicating this.... One of those drains is the condensation line drain for the Air Handler, which it turns out drains directly into the sump. Obviously can't use that one, bc I don't want soap suds in the front yard. The other drain, or at least what I thought was a drain, begins with a 12" iron pipe coming up from the concrete. So, again, I can't tap into that unless i cut the cast iron or bust up concrete. I can bust up more concrete. BUT, got to looking at things more.... there are a total of 3 plumbing lines running into the concrete of my basement. 4" line running down the side of the house, for the upper bathroom. The second is a 3" line running from the kitchen sink and dishwasher. Those are the only two areas of plumbing in my house. Of course then, the pipe that i could use under the stairs becomes the mystery pipe. I've run both sinks, the dishwasher, the shower, and flushed the upstairs and basement toilets, and no water runs through that pipe. Following it along the unifished basement ceiling, it looks like it runs side by side w/ the kitchen drain pipe, into the ceiling of the finished part of the basement, so I can't tell where it ends.
I am not much of a plumber, but I have two theories,
Most of the townhouses in the community have two bathrooms on the upper level, so maybe it's a drain for the rough-in bath? I do have rough in's for a second bath....
OR... could the line be some sort of vent for the main drainage lines under the concrete?
I am definately a novice learning by doing, so please excuse me if any of what I have said doesn't make sense. And if anyone has a crash course in townhouse plumbing, i'd love to read it.
I am eager to learn, eager to start the project, and willing to listen to anyone interested in helping or talking about it. Thanks so much.
Regards,
Capt. B
