3" Or 4" ?

Ron The Plumber

I told you why.

Celtic

I'm sure you think you did.....

I never asked what is "code".


Previously, 4" was all the rage...nowadays, 3" is allowed...why?
I'm pretty sure the code wasn't written to save someone a few bucks on material.

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Ron The Plumber

Your buddies will be in here soon to tell you why, it appears you don't need a pros view on this subject. Good Luck

Celtic

I was hoping to get a pros view...not "what the book says"

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Ron The Plumber

This is not any any code book, why don't you want this answer? What do you want the answer to be?

tgeb

Since the plumbers don't seem to be willing or able to give a reasonable explanation I will offer my 2 cents.

I have excavated and assisted the install of hundreds of sewer laterals, at some point the code changed to require 3" pipe as opposed to 4" pipe.

When I asked about this change it was explained that with the utilization of the (now mandated) low flush toilets it was found that the volume of water was not sufficient enough (in a 4" pipe) to carry the "solids" down the pipe.

The use of a smaller (3" pipe) would allow the "debris" to be carried more efficiently to it's destination, with out any debris being left behind.

It sounded like a reasonable explanation then, and still makes sense to me now.

It's all about the float factor.

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Tom

www.gebcon.com

Ron The Plumber

See I knew your buddies had the answer, who needs a pros view.

BCConstruction

I dont think i have ever seen cast iron soil pipe less than 4" and thats the reason all UK toilets use 4" connections as i guess it's a standard size setup in UK like pic 1. But because the US toilets use a bottom waste like in pic 2 and have a far smaller outlet perhaps they allowed use of 3" and fully explains why they block up so much.

pic 1

Celtic

Does it?
W/o offering ANY sort of explanation

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Celtic

At least he gave an answer with some sort of explanation behind it....which is almost verbatim what the inspector had mentioned to me.

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Ron The Plumber

Celtic

So now your panties are all in a knot
because you couldn't put a thought
to pen and paper?

...and that's my fault I don't just follow
along with blind obedience?

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KillerToiletSpider

Chicago code does not allow three inch for a WC below ground, or when there are more than two WC's on the stack above ground.

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A flush is better than a full house.

Ron The Plumber

That is code not an answer to his question

Celtic

What good is code if you don't understand it?

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Ron The Plumber

Celtic are you trying to start a heated fight or do you always disrespect your fellow tradesman?

I don't think that statement was called for.

Celtic

Excuse me??????



Ron...you have should bowed out and stayed out......
you tossed out more unwarranted snide comments and
smileys than was even remotely necessary.

Now all of a sudden, I am disrespecting you?
I don't think so.

If anything, not only did you disrespect me and yourself,
but also your entire trade.

It's a simple question of THEORY.
Why did the code change?
Was one way better than the other?
Why?

You simply couldn't answer it.
There is no shame in that.
I don't know all things electrical.
If I'm wrong, I admit it.
It's not a big deal....I end up learning something.


Now you want to make this personal.
Have it your way - which is the way it seems you wanted it from the start.

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Ron The Plumber

I answered it, but your the plumber not me, have fun

Ron The Plumber

None of these answers is what you wanted to see, it is the way you wanted this to be.

Look at all those rolling eyes.

Williams Ex Co

I'm not a pro plumber but I have done lots of excavations for septics and sewers.... My take on this is that the 3'' pipe works better in-as-much as the smaller diameter pipe doesnt allow the liquid and solids to separate as much/quickly... Dunno if thats right but it sounds plausible. Thats my story, I'm stickin' to it....