Plumbing Drain Pipe Installation Could Cost You A Lot of Money When Building A Guest Home

[@FromAcrossTheDesert]

In California, an separate building needs to have a separate line to the sewer main. The additional line may "Y" into the main line leading to the street.

[@SidewaysInTraffic]

Thank you, that's something ill have to consider.

[@tylerC8937]

This is exactly what I’m looking for. Thank you for the helpful information.

[@gregvancom]

Glad it was helpful!

[@matthewbazerkomccusker74]

Outhouse!!!! Done and done !!!

[@tonycortez8556]

Awesome video I have had this question going around in my head for a while, great info keep it up.

[@gregvancom]

Glad you like video and I will try to keep making more videos like these in the future.

[@gpdewitt]

Good video. As a private inspector, I have encountered several unpermitted, added buildings with sewer mains that were partially or completely non functional. This can be very expensive or even impossible to fix. I recommend camera inspection of all sewers to determine condition. On a side note, there are many homes built above Hollywood on steep hillside lots where the sewer main is exposed as it comes from the house to the edge of the street. Apparently, this was considered OK back in the early 1900s.

[@gregvancom]

I can't think of very many things that weren't considered okay back in the 1900s. Thanks again for sharing and glad you liked the video.

[@jfelix7650]

Greg, thanks for another fine video. Couple of thoughts: this could be easier if the main house had a basement with the sewer line under the basement floor, whereby the second structure could possibly tie in under the floor. Could be messy but still avoiding the long trench around the main home. Also, many local jurisdictions do not allow separate structures to share a tap off the main. Therefore an entirely new lead would be required for the new structure. That also suggests higher costs for tap fees and possible street reconstruction. Again, thanks for your good work!!

[@gregvancom]

I'm glad you enjoyed the video and enjoy some of our other videos. To separate the structure from the house by installing additional utility meters like water and electrical could actually be quite expensive and thanks for sharing.

[@ibrazeau3044]

Short sweet and to the point. Thanks for posting

[@gregvancom]

Awesome, some of my viewers think my videos are to long or to short, but you're the first to call them sweet. Thanks for the kind words and you're welcome.

[@ibrazeau3044]

gregvancom - lolll. In general, architecture and building engineering is boring and dry... I can appreciate the effort made in the videos and the enthusiasm needed for them to work. Can't please everyone but yep, this one was concise and interesting... short sweet and to the point.

[@nativeofwest]

So useful, thank you!

[@jamiedrewery8482]

Absolutely fantastic video. Thank you

[@gregvancom]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@brianmanbeast4737]

Thank you for the video! You do a very good job of clearly explaining your content. And your use of the CAD definitely makes it easy to see from all angles. Do you have any tips regarding an extra building that's been plumbed and how that would tie into an existing septic tank? It would be offset from the main structure, plenty of room everywhere, and would be within 200' feet of septic tank and field. Thank you for any feedback!!

[@gregvancom]

You're very welcome and I don't have any videos, but think you can connect somewhere at main line going to the septic tank.

[@chadpaul8522]

Grinder Pump to the gravity system

[@gregvancom]

I've never used one, but if it could be approved by your local building authorities, then definitely another method to look into.

[@mponce661]

Very informative. I want to do the same thing with my detached garage. Luckily I have enough slope to tie into the clean out in front of the house. Is it ideal to run the waste pipe out of the wall??? I would hate to have to drill through the footing. I’m only adding a sink where the washer will drain to, therefore I only meed the waste pipe to start at the wall.

[@gregvancom]

It would be better to have your pipes in an area where someone can't damage it by digging. If it was me, I would choose the easiest path with in reason.

[@mponce661]

@@gregvancom thank you

[@goatsticks101]

What a great video. Thanks so much!

[@gregvancom]

You're welcome and thanks for watching.

[@zachrawlings6523]

My friend is to move his mobile home to his parents property on many acres in the oklahoma countryside by summertime. He plans on having a leach field. Still throwing around ideas on whether or not to pour a slab to park it on, or maybe just pour concrete piers. Once moved, the home will basically be in its forever permanency. The mobile home is an older model we have been remodeling, and the roof line that meets the wall has leakage issues. So we plan to build a secondary at its permanent location that will extend wide enough for my friend to have a wrap-around porch. "Any" suggestions appreciated!lol

[@gregvancom]

I think I would go to a local mobile home park and see what they did or what they're doing.

[@AnthonyDibiaseIdeas]

Thank you so much!

[@gregvancom]

No worries!

[@epicaesth]

hi Greg. I have the kind of sewer set-up you mention in the beginning: the main runs from the house to the alley - directly under the garage (24x24). Do you have any videos on how to connect to the main in this situation? I've been looking for a step-by-step DIY video on this topic. Thanks!

[@gregvancom]

I don't, but I would think you would need to remove a section of the garage floor to connect if you can't go around.

[@rtaabar]

Greetings, when the run is too long and you're faced with either elevating the structure or having to dig a separate trench, what about a sewage ejector pump mid span? Appreciate your feedback.

[@gregvancom]

I would check with your local building engineers or building inspectors.

[@Alicia-gp7nh]

Great video and it answered a lot of my questions. I am looking to turn my garage into a livable space. What other alternative is there for a bathroom when plumbing is no longer an option for me? I guess I could do a compost toilet, but what about the shower? Any advice would be appreciated.

[@gregvancom]

I won't be much help here.

[@elizabethpetart]

looking for directions to connect in the straightforward manner ; straight back to the granny house from a back of the main home clean out. Main house is lower than the granny house.

[@marcusramirez464]

It's remarkable how similar my plan is to your example trenching all the way around the house. Of course it's a long term plan until funds are available, but I'd like to get the pipe in ground before all the landscapin so I don't have to rip it all up again. I don't see how that's possible given they'll want to inspect the entire line when the project finally happens. Should I just plot the course of the sewage line, and make sure everything in the path is removable? Or go ahead and bury the line now, and just dig up the pipe joints later for inspection? I will consult with a local plumber soon, but don't have a clear workable idea yet.

[@gregvancom]

Yes, check with local plumber and building department.

[@ChefMustafaAl-Kadhimi]

Thanks for the video, I am trying to do exactly what you are showing and I already have a bath at the back of the house, my problem is I am thinking about adding a bathroom in the back of the house but on the other side of the guest house, my question is can I get a pipe from the new bathroom into the new guest house and connect it to the back of the house where the existing bathroom is located. Thanks in advance

[@gregvancom]

As long as the pipe connections and slope of drain pipe meets local building codes, then it should be possible.

[@ChefMustafaAl-Kadhimi]

@@gregvancom perfect, thank you so much.

[@BrandonRosenstrauch]

Great vid!

[@gregvancom]

Glad you liked and thanks for letting us know.

[@MMBMagoo]

Man I’m screwed

[@sr9253]

Could one raise the floor of the ADU? I have a garage I want to convert.

[@gregvancom]

Yes, absolutely, just make sure you don't raise it to where you create a low ceiling in the room.

[@originalfallinggirl]

I have a trout stream running through my backyard. Could I just route some pvc from my guesthouse toilet into that? The stream is down hill so it should work? I’m worried that critters might crawl up the pipe and get in the house though.

[@gregvancom]

Even though it might work, you're building department might not ever approve it.

[@solsansy]

Im thinking to build a Granny Flat ADU at back of our house, backyard, , but cant have SET BACK because space is tight jusyto convert the Existing Storage at back.for a small ADU.. need advice SIR,, need help bc we may need this ADU as a Place in case in the future we might get COVID VIRUS BY ACCIDENT>> instead of going to a NURSING HOME FOR TEMP quarantine. Sotelee Santee.... ,,,,,,,,,

[@danlindeke2561]

Would it be against code to bring sewer pipe thru basement and tie into existing house line?

[@gregvancom]

I don't see why not, but check with local building department to verify.

[@sdowning533]

Thank you for the video. I have a. project where the In-las suite is in the rear and we have a 12% decline toward the back of the property. Main house will be 25' away and it has a crawl space. The sewer line is above dirt in the back of the house where it ties into a bathroom. Is there any way to do this because no matter what it is going to be uphill even if I went around the house to the front because it keeps elevating. Hope someone has the answer or its bucket time. :-)

[@gregvancom]

I would contact a plumber in your area or local building department.

[@BrentDaughertyMe]

No mention of sewage pump? When I tried running plumbing from the back of the house to the "granny flat" the pipe was only about 3 inches below the surface, which makes me a little nervous.

[@gregvancom]

Sometimes mechanical devices like pumps aren't allowed to be used and you would need to check with your local building department for clarification. 3 inches below the surface, that's almost unheard of and makes me wonder if there was ever a permit pulled.

[@BrentDaughertyMe]

@@gregvancom To clarify, running gravity fed pipe would result in 3 inch below surface at granny flat, so I'm planning to use a sewage pump instead. Any reason why pumps wouldn't be allowed? In my specific situation, I can't connect in the front of the house either because the drop off isn't enough.

[@MD-cd7em]

GOOD VIDEO..MAYBE IN SOME CASES..PUT IN SMALL SCEPTIC SYSTEM

[@gregvancom]

There you go and definitely something else to consider.

[@robertbarrett7238]

When I built my guest house, I ran into this issue to a small degree. Needed about 4 more inches of clearance. I opted to pour the foundation 4 inches higher because of it.

[@gregvancom]

At least you figured it out before you poured:)

[@loueber]

the REAL problem is calling it a "Granny Flat" lol. Just kidding.

[@gregvancom]

Maybe I gave away my age and should've called it a guesthouse :)

[@proanswers]

solution: compost toilet

[@gregvancom]

Definitely and maybe even an outhouse, but one with plenty of deodorizers:)

[@proanswers]

@@gregvancom properly built and proper composting material no smell. Any unmaintained toilet will smell. NO such thing as maintenance free. Had and used one for over 10 years. Like your profession and passion it starts with the foundation and correct materials.

[@gregvancom]

@@proanswers Glad to hear and you're absolutely right about the maintenance. Do you mind if I ask how many people use your toilet daily and is there a maximum usage on toilets like yours.

[@proanswers]

@@gregvancom well it wasn't commercial, yet- believe Mr. Bill Gates is developing a commercial toilet (compost?) for third world countries. Great question greg- think this is where user error comes into play in maintaining no smell on compost toilets/outhouses. Everyone was trained on the proper use procedures. Grandmother (who was a botanist) had a family recipe: ash, hemp, pine straw, dried rosemary, and a particular sagnum moss as foundation for filtration would have to look up name. One key is creating layers, filtration and not over doing the nitrogen or other materials that will cause the smells to increase well decomposing. There are compost products on the retail shelves that do pretty good as grandmothers recipe. This was a family of 7 with hopefully everyone having a bowel movement daily it adds up but with the proper materials used per use the short straw drawn for cleanup was not as disgusting as one would think. Human waste is a fertilizer essentially one of the best fertilizers is Miloganite. Again cant stress enough trying to create anaerobic bacteria. Grandmother was a brilliant human being and knew science.