Locating Main Drain Line in Basement

koz123 · 02-09-2011, 11:51 AM

I'm trying to locate my main drain line under my slab to add a bathroom in the basement. Attached is a .pdf showing the basement layout with plumbing stack locations. A-D all represent plumbing stacks coming down from the first floor fixtures. Location E is a cleanout at the basement floor level with no other plumbing attached.

From my research, I'm guessing there isn't any exact science to determining the underground layout. Anybody have any ideas or guesses as to what's going on?

Thanks in Advance.

DexterII · 02-09-2011, 12:30 PM

A few more pieces of information that you may want to include.... Municpal waste or septic? Where is the street or the septic field? Have you checked the perimeter, outside, for a cleanout? Have you tried running water upstairs, and listening for it in the basement?

koz123 · 02-09-2011, 12:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DexterII

A few more pieces of information that you may want to include.... Municpal waste or septic? Where is the street or the septic field? Have you checked the perimeter, outside, for a cleanout? Have you tried running water upstairs, and listening for it in the basement?

Dexter,

It's municipal waste with the street closest to the wall that "E" is on. I've done quick visual checks for outdoor cleanouts and haven't found anything but I haven't dug or anything like that.

Thanks

Beepster · 02-10-2011, 04:35 PM

I would take a guess and say that the main drain line leavs the house right where the clean out (E) is. I would then guess that (A) and (B) are on one straight branch that Y s up just inside the house of (E). I would then guess that (C) goes straight to (E) with (D) Y ing up somewhere between half way (C) to (E) and (E).

Keep in mind I am a CPA that dabbles in home improvement.

B

the_man · 02-10-2011, 08:23 PM

i would say the building drain exits at point e too. take the cap off the cleanout, grab a flashlight, and have someone flush a wc. look down the cleanout and see if flow does toward the foundation

Bud Cline · 02-10-2011, 09:41 PM

I would say you should call your local building inspection office and have them locate it for you. They have tools for this purpose.

LateralConcepts · 02-11-2011, 10:41 AM

Search for a local company that does sewer line video inspections and locates. That's all I do. Simply run a camera down the main line, it sends off a signal to a locator above ground (slab), tells you the exact depth and location.