Condensate Drain Tapped Into Main Cleanout Tee

[muddywell]

Working on a different plumbing project I noticed an old condensate drain line running towards the main 3in stack (the new HVAC uses a condensate pump to outside). I followed it to where it ties in and was frustrated to find the installed had just drilled (and tapped?) a hole into the back of the main cleanout tee and threaded a male adapter into the hole with what looked to be a large amount of PVC glue. There was evidence of a leak and the male fitting was loose so I opted to try to seal it up a bit better. I was able to wrap enough tape around a 3/4 threaded PVC plug to get it to seal for the time being.

I'm all but convinced that the only real fix is to break up the concrete, cut out the damaged tee, and replace with new. Before I jump in or hire a pro, any other ideas? I should note that I'm planning to finish this basement area in the near future.

If the tee does indeed need to be replaced, would there be anything wrong with raising it up 6-12in off the floor to make access easier in the future (adding finished floor would almost make the plug inaccessible as is)? Also, is this style of cleanout tee appropriate here, or should it be a sanitary tee?

Thanks,

muddywell

 

[Arizona CJ]

I had a similar issue when looking in a relative's utility room (helping fix an unrelated issue). The AC condensate line ran directly (no trap!) into a vertical sewer line. It was just drilled in, and sealed with lots of silicone rubber sealant. The prior owner had left loads of paperwork, and I discovered that this had been done by the HVAC contractor (!) about a decade prior.

With no trap, my relatives were getting lovely sewer gas delivered directly to their HVAC ducting. They'd smelled it on occasion, but hadn't figured out where it was from. For some reason, they were less than pleased by this arrangement.

So, the problem was similar to what you face (the line went into the sewer line about an inch above slab level). I re-routed the line higher and added a P-trap to solve the sewer gas issue, then patched the sewer standpipe using pipe cement, a disk I'd cut from some scrap sewer line, and then a second layer. I won't claim this is to code (I'm pretty sure it's not) but it's worked for my relatives.

I hope you find a better solution than what I did, though mine did work.

Caveat: I'm definitely not a pro, so take anything I say with a truckload of salt.

 

[Sponsor]

 

[Sylvan]

Working on a different plumbing project I noticed an old condensate drain line running towards the main 3in stack (the new HVAC uses a condensate pump to outside). I followed it to where it ties in and was frustrated to find the installed had just drilled (and tapped?) a hole into the back of the main cleanout tee and threaded a male adapter into the hole with what looked to be a large amount of PVC glue. There was evidence of a leak and the male fitting was loose so I opted to try to seal it up a bit better. I was able to wrap enough tape around a 3/4 threaded PVC plug to get it to seal for the time being.

I'm all but convinced that the only real fix is to break up the concrete, cut out the damaged tee, and replace with new. Before I jump in or hire a pro, any other ideas? I should note that I'm planning to finish this basement area in the near future.

If the tee does indeed need to be replaced, would there be anything wrong with raising it up 6-12in off the floor to make access easier in the future (adding finished floor would almost make the plug inaccessible as is)? Also, is this style of cleanout tee appropriate here, or should it be a sanitary tee?

Thanks,

muddywell


View attachment 107735

View attachment 107736

I see no valid reason why the Tee cannot be raised off the floor.

Ideally, it should not be that low

 

[Jeff H Young]

The right way would be chip floor down put coupling on and fresh pipe through floor new clean out if needed its possible the cleanout was just for a test tee on building . if installing new one yes higher is better a santee if its deep in the wall might be a good idea in liew of a identical test tee

 

[muddywell]

Since I want to finish this space in the future, I think I have to bite the bullet and fix it right now. As much of a pain as it is, breaking up the slab after a finished floor has been installed would be way worse. Not to mention the pain of a sew leak under a basement full of LVP.

I'll probably take the cleanout plug out this weekend and see if I can get an idea of how deep the horizontal pipe is and what direction it runs beneath the slab.

If I do make this repair myself, I've read that PVC repair couplings can be very difficult to work with. Would this Fernco coupling be appropriate to tie back into the vertical line (there's no movement vertically):

 

[Reach4]

That one is not for underground or in concrete. Where will the connector live?

I am thinking you cut cut down and have a vertical PVC pipe, you would glue on a vertical pipe with a PVC connector. Then you will use two of those shielded couplers to insert something above that piece of pipe above the PVC connector.

If you want to couple into the horizontal pipe underground, there are connectors rated for that.

 

[muddywell]

Sorry, should have been more clear. This connector would be the last piece to install, above ground.

Depending on what I find under the slab, I was thinking I could cut out the damaged tee and build everything back with glue to above the slab. Glue on a new tee and a section of pipe then use the Fernco to make the last connection above the tee.

 

[wwhitney]

then use the Fernco to make the last connection above the tee.

If you are working between two colinear fixed ends, you probably need to use two banded shielded couplings. For the last glue joint you make, you need to have coaxial clearance of at least the hub depth. If the scope of work extends around a corner with an elbow at one end of the replacement work, then you can typically get away with just one banded shielded coupling.

Cheers, Wayne

 

[muddywell]

Thanks for all the advice. I'm going to get a cheap borescope to see if I can get an idea of what I'm dealing with before breaking into the concrete.

 

[Jeff H Young]

I think the job is way easier to accomplish it might only take a few inches of chipping glue a coupling on then some pipe then your tee another piece of pipe and a banded coupling