Drainage Issues To Consider When Altering Your Property

A key consideration that is often overlooked during the bathroom planning process is where and how the bahtroom drainage will be facilitated, as poorly designed drainage can have a number of significant and costly consequences.

Need to connect a new toilet to the existing soil pipe? Having to move a soil pipe? Read on for key factors to take into account to ensure the toilet drainage for your new bathroom is effective and problem free.

Location, location, location

Correct siting of waste water pipes and soil stacks is absolutely vital. An external wall is required, enabling waste to be quickly eliminated from the house. Whilst some creative DIY enthusiasts may try and channel waste under the home, not only is this extremely costly, but in the event of a blockage the floor may well have to be removed to get appropriate access.

Combine this with the health hazards of foul water flooding into your home and it becomes clear why an external wall on which to fix a sink, bath, toilet or shower unit is almost always the best option.

Types of drainage

Toilet pipework and that required for “clean” foul water, for example that which is coming from baths or washing machines, are significantly different. Sink and bath water can be channelled away using relatively cheap PVC pipes and guttering. The health hazards of this type of water are fairly minimal, so a competent handyperson can often do this affordably.

Conversely, toilet waste is highly toxic and presents a significant health risk if not properly disposed of. A professionally installed soil stack is a necessity which needs to be costed into any project.

The price can be reduced by locating an additional toilet on the same wall as an existing soil stack, when it is often possible to install a new stack arm rather than a further stack.

Drainage is a critical factor in the success or otherwise of new bathroom design, so ignore it at your peril!