We are done with the installation of the new sewer lines, which spread across the basement like a spiderweb. I documented the new lines to have a reference of what is where. This may become handy sometime in the future.

On the street side of the basement, we have the connection to the existing 6 inch sewer, which is followed by a clean out. After the clean out we have a reducing wye that splits the line into the 4 inch sanitary sewer and the 4 inch storm sewer.

The two 4 inch lines extend about 1/3 into the basement, where they turn by 45 degrees to cross between two spread footings on to the west side of the basement.

Shortly after that turn, the storm line turns again by 45 degrees to continue all the way toward the back. At this point the sanitary line splits. One arm is following the storm sewer, while the other arm is continuing further to the west foundation wall.

Close to the wall it turns by another 45 degrees, leading to the main drain stack that will serve all plumbing on the 1st and 2nd floors.

The parallel storm and sanitary lines continue toward the back of the basement, toward the downspout and check valve respectively.

A wye in the sanitary line connects to the check valve. All basement plumbing is connected to that check valve, which is our basement flood protection. The lines crossing above the storm and sanitary sewer are part of the basement plumbing. More on that below.

The sanitary sewer splits again at the end of the regular basement, leading to a drain stack that we put in place to serve a future half bathroom. Because we eventually would like to install a composting toilet, we may never need this stack. It’s more about code compliance in case we need to sell the house at one point.

Both lines, sanitary and storm, terminate in the old grease trap in the back porch. The sanitary line is closed off with an end cap. We may need to install a floor drain in the porch area sometime in the future. If so, we can connect that floor drain to the sanitary line. The storm sewer stub won’t remain like this. I will need to connect it to the existing clay tile that is connected to the roof downspout.

It is relatively easy to follow the main lines. The basement plumbing on the other hand appears somewhat complicated. To document and understand the layout and routing, I need to switch to a bird’s-eye view. The plumbing serves the basement bathroom, kitchen, laundry room and utility room. The problem is that there are not walls - yet - just the rough in plumbing.

Check it out and see if you can decipher the spaghetti bowl!

Connecting our new sewer to the exiting 6 inch line was just the warm-up. We now need to extend the storm and sanitary sewer throughout the basement. It got really interesting in the back, where we have the check valve and connection to all of the basement plumbing.

I had been endlessly pondering about the detailed pipe layout and routing for all of the basement fixtures. I even tried figure it out by drafting it up in SketchUp (a 3D design tool) – to no avail.

I did not feel so bad about it anymore, once my plumbers told me that they only start with a schematic layout – sometimes a sketch on a napkin. The fixture locations (such as the water closet or the shower) don’t change, but how to get the pipes there may.

The exact details are always resolved during installation. Peter, one of the plumbers, said that they always have to adjust based on what they encounter during installation.

He and his colleague Chris appreciated my presence and knowledge of the building plan. This way we were able to resolve all questions on the spot, which made for a smooth and fun installation.

It feels like we are nearing the end of a long journey. Early this year, we started with the basement sewer project by finding the old sewer lines, inspecting them, and deciphering how they worked.

We took the old sewer stack down, began to think long and hard about a new sewer layout, and finally came up with a good solution. We trenched for the new sewer lines, removed the old vitrified clay pipe, and cleaned out the grease trap.

And finally, (imaging the drum beat) everything is place to install the new cast iron soil pipe (CISP) sanitary and storm sewer. Boy, have we been waiting for this day!

It started early in the morning with the delivery of the CISP and accessories. I looked at the pile of cast iron laying in the back yard and knew that I had we had the work cut out for us over the next couple of days. Don’t think that I am mad enough to attempt the installation myself. I had professional help from Mariusz, Peter and Chris.

As with the trenching, we started the installation in the front of the basement. We removed the old check valve, which I had left in place ‘til now and connected with a non-shear coupling to the existing six inch sewer, which was coming into the building from the street.

I never would have thought that hauling around cast iron piping could be so much fun.