How to Hang Drain Lines so They Stay Straight and Secure
Plumber Bruce Norman shares his secret to keeping PVC waste pipes right where he wants them.
There’s a better way to hang a drain pipe.
If you need to hang a drain line in a basement and make sure it stays at the proper slope, you could use some flimsy strapping and hope no one bumps it out of alignment, but there’s a better way.
Bruce Norman of Portland, Ore., installed rigid standoffs that are progressively longer as they move down the run.
For example, if he wants a 1/4-in.-per-ft. fall, which is standard, one standoff will be shorter than the next by 1 in. if they’re on 4-ft. centers. The way this works: Bruce takes his plumbers tape and attaches it to a joist, then runs the tape down through the piece of pipe standoff, around the drain line, and back up through the standoff. Then, he screws that to the joist and goes to the next piece. This ensures a constant slope and it makes for a very rigid installation. To ensure nothing gets bumped out of alignment, he puts in a 45° standoff as well, just to make sure everything stays put.
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That's crap & ugly. Only a amateur would do it that way. Do it the right way involves threaded rod, clevis hangers and either hanger bolts & rod couplings or just base plates. If your dealing with wood framing. That's the way I would do & have done it. Course I have had 38 years training as a Journeyman Pipefitter under my belt. And, there is only one way to do it & that's the right way.
kwhit, Take a look at Bruce's video "Make Basic Pex Connections" where he suggests using Sharkbite fittings in concealed locations.--because it's approved. One could write a book on products, materials and techniques used in homebuilding that were at one time approved but subsequently banned.