Plumbing – Best way to wet vent a washing machine and utility sink

plumbing

I inherited a small mess that I am cleaning up. The basement washing machine and utility sink wet vent into a 1-1/2" riser that goes thru the concrete slab, w/ an air admittance valve. I am stuck with that situation (these were installed by a plumber for the previous owner.) I don't know the DFU but if not large enough I'll change the AAV (or add a second.)

The W/M trap was cracked — see pix — (and the drain for the U/S is in a horrendously stupid location thru the legs – and notice the copper to galvanized to pex — so I am starting anew with it all.) I may finish that room at some point, so might install a W/M supply/drain box – not sure.

Overall

Closeup

Q1: The wye for the U/S drain – isn't that a No-No — should have been a San Tee??

Q2: I'll locate the W/M riser/trap 12-18" above the slab – should I use 2" (and also there to the slab) even though the thru-slab is 1-1/2?

Q3: I plan to use an S-Tee for the W/M drain. OK?

Q4: Concerned w/ the high W/M flow/pumping – do I need to back vent the W/M drain (or I could add a second riser/AAV??)

Q5: Any reason to lower the U/S drain and stack the S-Tee above the W/M S-Tee (I'd think it's best to keep as much separation as I can)?

Q6: What's the reasoning for the W/M trap 12-18" and a max 30" riser (just curious)?

Q7: This pic floats around – isn't the wye for the W/M a no-no? Or is that only with a wye on the trap arm itself?
And the sink drain looks too steep – is the vent entry below the trap weir level?

W/M  plumb-in

Thanks for looking at this!

Best Answer

Q1: the code always allows a combo wye whenever a san tee is permitted. The reverse is not the case: vertical to horizontal turn must use a combo wye and may not use san t.

Q2. do not do that. code NEVER permits reducing pipe diameter in the direction of flow. So if the below grade pipe is 1.5 inch everything upstream from it must be 1.5 or smaller.

Q3: yes, san tee is permitted horizontal to vertical.

Q4: there's no need for a second vent merely because there is a high discharge volume. wet venting may be a problem, though. Also, the fact that the washer drain is 1.5 inch and not the code-required 2" is the bigger problem.