Idea for simple air gap for softeners and backwashing filters

[Reach4]

Idea: use a sanitary tee as illustrated along with a piece of PVC (or ABS) pipe for easy mounting of drain lines for softeners, backwashing filters, etc. The tee would not be glued in usually.

To be determined:

1. For 1/2 inch tubing, is a 1-1/2 side port sufficient for 1/2 tubing?
2. Which way should the santee be oriented -- as shown OK?

 

[Mikey]

Even a 45° would work, I would think. Anything that would prevent sucking up anything from the standpipe.

 

[Sponsor]

 

[Reach4]

Even a 45° would work, I would think. Anything that would prevent sucking up anything from the standpipe.

If the inside of the vertical comes down to line A, I am thinking that A would be required to be an inch higher than line B.

 

[Bannerman]

If the inside of the vertical comes down to line A, I am thinking that A would be required to be an inch higher than line B.

Add a pipe extension to the vertical top 'Y' connection, then all should be good as long as the drain tubes are secured 1" or 2X the tube diameter, above the 'Y' branch opening.

 

[Mikey]

All these ideas assume the standpipe has the capacity to accept any possible flow from the drain tubes, of course. If that's in question, there's a much bigger problem to be solved. As someone mentioned, the first thing to do is to ensure the drains don't all drain at the same time; the second might be to ensure the outlet end of the standpipe can dispose of the total volume. Ordinarily not a problem, but if the standpipe leads to a drywell or other improvised drain area, it could be.

 

[Maxforwardspeed]

Add a pipe extension to the vertical top 'Y' connection, then all should be good as long as the drain tubes are secured 1" or 2X the tube diameter, above the 'Y' branch opening.

If I used this method as an air gap for my water softener would there be any code violations? Currently the furnace condensate runs a 3/4" pvc pipe to a floor drain (not a sanitary sewer line), and I'd like to put in a tee at the floor drain and connect this above with a 3/4" wye as the air gap. We're having a state mandated cross control inspection done and since that floor drain already has a pvc connection I was hoping to make use of what's already there and still meet code. I'll try to get some pictures, thanks.

 

[ditttohead]

Considering the ease of installation and low cost, just get an accepted air gap and be done with it rather than trying to save $12. Inspectors can not be expected to understand why all the codes are written as they are, there are hundreds of codes an inspector has to evaluate. They can only be expected to know "the code", not the intent, reason or justification for each code. I have worked with countless inspectors over the years, doing things they expect to see makes them look less harshly at everything else. Making their job easy will make your inspection process go much easier.

 

[Ryan Symons]

I agree. It has to be by the book or it will likely fail. I've been pinched before when it technically had 2 air gaps but it wasn't the way they wanted it.

 

[Maxforwardspeed]

Thanks guys. Here's a photo of my floor drain with the furnace condensate pvc setup and my softener discharge drain tubes with no air gap. The problem is I don't know of a product that's made that will accept the furnace pvc (doesnt need air gap) and the softener drain (does need air gap) in that floor drain. Any ideas?

Setup as described by the OP in this post, with a tee into the condensate drain:

 

[Bannerman]

Here is an example of a multiple air gap configuration for a floor drain grill.
https://images.app.goo.gl/aQ2waCqZtQ2crA9v6

While I anticipate your design of building an air gap using PVC DWV components would work well, I anticipate the cautions given above by both Ditttohead and Ryan relate more to an inspector disallowing a configuration he/she hasn't seen previously. As stated, an inspector may not necessarily study your design to ensure it will work, and may not even necessarily understand the device's intended purpose, but may base approval on what has been approved previously for similar applications.

 

[ditttohead]

https://view.publitas.com/impact-water-products/2018-catalog-final/page/274-275

Part #6 should work perfectly for you.