Routing Water Heater Drain Pan Drain Line.

bob_cntrctr

Gentlemen,

Two new bathrooms on second floor - installing an electric water heater up there with them, in a (accessible!) service closet in one of the bathrooms.

In the "excess and zeal" theme, I wanna go beyond your simple drain pan. They're useless for all but the most sedate leak. Basically imagining doing this service closet up like a shower stall with a floor drain.

Question is where to run the drain.

I've seen drain pans piped to dump open into an existing floor drain, like in a basement. But never hard-plumbed into the DWV system. One problem I foresee is a dry trap - in theory this thing will never get water to keep a trap full.

rbsremodeling

They will tee off the plumbing for the new bath and install a drain for the water heater

or

Use an ac condesate pump, raise the heater on a box and have the drain pan dump into the condensate pump you can then route the tubing from the pump where necessary for the run off

Both ways are legal here

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bob_cntrctr

You mean:

a) Above the bath drain trap so heater drain doesn't need a trap?

Or

b) below the bath drain trap and install a trap on the heater drain? And if this way, how to avoid a dry trap since this should normally never get water?

KillerToiletSpider

Put a trap primer on the drain, or fill it with vegetable oil.

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A flush is better than a full house.

rbsremodeling

All the drains are at the same height in theory with adequate pitch the drain for the heater has its own trap. I don't really think you will have a dry trap scenario.

But I will note I am not a plumber. Ps they will be some more answers to your question soon I assure you

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genecarp

im no plumber, but would a checkvalve before the trap work?

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bob_cntrctr

Good point. Proper selection of height & pitch could mean bath keeps heater trap full. Cool.

neolitic

I like the way everyone just skipped
right on past the only plumber in
the thread.

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bob_cntrctr

Ya, probably the right way to do it. Is vegetable oil code?

rbsremodeling

Plumber?? we don't need not stinkin plumber

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Ron The Plumber

The T&P drain can not be directly connected to a drain, it has to be indirectly connected with an air gap.

KillerToiletSpider

On new construction in Illinois you would have to install a trap primer, if it is existing then vegetable oil is in the code.

I have no idea where you are located, so you would have to check your local code.

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A flush is better than a full house.

rbsremodeling

Can you use, we call them studavents? The in wall vent thingamagigs

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Ron The Plumber

You can drain to and existing drain but you have to have an air gap.

Paul Joseph

There is a product that goes in the pan that shuts off the supply as soon as the water is 1/2 inch deep. That solves the entire problem and no drain needed

neolitic

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KillerToiletSpider

What happens when that fails?

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A flush is better than a full house.

rbsremodeling

We use those on ac units and water heaters and believe it or not they fail for various reasons

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22rifle

Don't do this the hard way man. Put in your plain old floor pan and then one of these:

http://www.wagsvalve.com/

There are similar models available from other manufacturers.

22rifle

Which brand are you using?

How are they failing?