Plumbing Slope Rule and Why it is CRITICAL

Have an Idea for a video send us an email at [e-mail]
Thanks for Watching todays video. The Products used in today's video are lists below as affiliate links.
Want to send tools for Demo?
PO Box 6451 Logan UT 84341
(Tools will not be returned)

[@barrymilam9665]

If you are using 3" pipe or bigger, you can slope it at 1/8 inch per foot by plumbing code. I'm a master plumber and I've been doing it for 51 years. Also the p-trap is a trap seal by holding 2'' of water so sewer gases are unable to Escape into a structure.

[@sherazwilliam1358]

Sir, quick question, I am new to this and just wondering, if your doing an 2'' pipe is the pitch 1/4?

[@conorlarkin7135]

@@sherazwilliam1358yes

[@DontLookBehindYou1]

​@@sherazwilliam1358 just in case he doesn't get back with you, yes in the IPC code it's 1/4 inch for smaller than 3 inch pipe.

[@nickhunt2245]

1/8" minimum...so no less than 1/8" for 3" or bigger and no less than 1/4" for smaller. So, 1/4" per foot for everything is acceptable. Not familiar with what the maximum slope is, but 1/4" per foot is plenty for everything.

[@martindaudet4604]

What if your poops are more like an Oh Henry bar?

[@Nick32176]

Eating a little chunk of snicker before throwing into the experiment saved him from a big trouble. very smart guy.

[@8691AJ]

Ya got to give it to him. He is persistent at proving a point. Thank you

[@CashflowMeDaddy]

Please do a test for too much slope. We are all told all the time that too much slope causes clog because water would leave the solids behind. But I have had several plumbers swear up and down to me that it's a myth. That they have never seen a clog caused by too much slope.

[@shafiqahmad6658]

That's what I thought exactly.

[@DontLookBehindYou1]

I've been plumbing for quite some time and this always seemed mythish to me. I can see it somewhat, but it mostly seems to be applicable when the water can get pulled from a ptrap... I guess "too much slope" can be relative to the situation and amount of solids, etc

[@shyft09]

I've heard this in connection with the sewers in London and Paris which work with gravity and are over a 100 years old, but they were made with bricks, it might be something passed on from that time even though now we use smooth PVC pipes which maybe don't have that problem

[@dhebert111]

Mythical....😉​@@DontLookBehindYou1

[@billfong5509]

your show is helpful and informative. I run a hotel in such a cold place ( -50c) and have a lot of challenges with the plumbing systems. I found useful tips on how to prevent frozen pipes and improve the slope of the sewer line. Thank you for sharing and experience with me. I appreciate it!

[@devinnorsworthy9154]

Jesus... how many feet beneath the ground does your pipes have to be??

[@debbiebuxton2854]

Lived in Alaska for quite a while, first the valley then Anchorage. Would you mind telling me how you kept the lines from freezing?

[@sjstevens6375]

Suggestion - put food coloring in the water next time so you can see it.

[@devinnorsworthy9154]

People don't want the dye in/on the pipes.

[@FrustratedBaboon]

@@devinnorsworthy9154 WTF are you talking about? He said for the experiment.

[@devinnorsworthy9154]

@@FrustratedBaboon 😄 🤣 😂

[@Mountain-Man-3000]

I feel like this is an argument against low-flow toilets....

[@jodymorris9590]

Absolutely loved Today’s Task today now to find my snickers snack..!

[@latonyaricks3294]

I know he was eating a candy bar….but somehow I cringed every time….lol. Awesome video.

[@lizlund7091]

I smell an experiment for a school project! Awesome!

[@sethbeske268]

Great experiment it shows us what plumbing systems are like when the new houses are built great Job Joel I am from Wisconsin watching Bonnie’s channel for a long time and now this one so awesome!!! 👍❤️ keep up the great work Joel!

[@allwrong3114]

LOL! Great experiment and very entertaining! Getting ready to re-plumb my tiny old house. This practical demonstration was helpful!

[@mackellyman5642]

1/4" for 3" by Engineered design. Scouring in sewer piping occurs when the water flows at a certain speed and sediment will not settle at the bottom of the pipe. The general rule of thumb in plumbing engineering is a minimum velocity of 2 feet per second is needed to maintain the scouring action.

[@JTTTTx]

Plumber here-Actually there is a compound that has been created to duplicate the 💩. All toilets are tested with it. It Is somewhat like half cooked oatmeal. The other thing is called “ drain line carry “. Our plumbing system design takes this into consideration- for all layouts , it’s what we do. Venting, fixtures and fixture layout all are factors here. Pro tip- there is a limit to how far the solids will travel in any system even with the proper pitch. As I recall, it’s 45 feet with a 1.60 gallon flush, 2% pitch and 3” pipe.

[@devinnorsworthy9154]

That's also why it is beneficial to have other lines assisting in carrying that waste. Like tubs, sinks, etc. I set up a system today. Have to finish it tomorrow.

[@danieb4273]

​@@devinnorsworthy9154 Is that why toilets have a certain position on a wet vent drain?

[@dianeh.3327]

reminds me of Caddyshack! super informative as always!

[@frankchythlook152]

That's what it was! I was trying to think if it was The Jerk or another movie of that era. Thanks!

[@awesomerpower]

Doody!

[@Stoddy2k]

If it’s my wife using the toilet it’s usually half a roll. 😂

[@gamerval2610]

thank you for explaining it.i keep hearing the rule 1/4 inch per foot but i dont know why. i was just going to make it straight. but now i know why

[@tednisbeth3088]

great presentation !

[@mohamedwagih3388]

interesting video all must see and apply in construction of kitchen & toilet drainage best wishes.

[@kakashigaiden24]

hahaha you change it multiple times, i like the way you test things, consistency is the key.

[@katrinaloving6625]

We had to replace ours line very informative and if anything your kids looked they where having fun learning

[@murphmurph2124]

Bananas soaked in dark coffee work great 👍

[@oh.you.know09]

Ahahaha you're so dang funny! 🤣 I love how your videos are informative and entertaining at the same time!

[@bonniehoellein]

WOW Joel, Just wow

[@theCZarate]

I am about to run lines for a new adu... and your video gave me all the knowledge i need it... ear a subcribe

[@TodaysTask]

Welcome aboard!

[@FrustratedBaboon]

I keep a much higher slope based on the length of the pipe because you lose the momentum, a toilet pipe is usually less than 24" in length to the vertical 4" drain.

[@edthelasttribe9580]

😂 ideally you check whole run with level as longs the bubble sticking out a bit on the other end of level that’s all it matters… toilet usually flushes the water at more faster phase than you pouring the bucket of water.. if you raise the soiled stack to high , you will have siphoning problems inside the toilet pan… you can do calculations referring to the plumbing water regulations, but most of time it’s experience how you use the level and how you install the soiled stack from the first place .

[@chadcutkomp6780]

I'll NEVER look at a snikers the same way. Hahahaha!!!!

[@theresabeauchamp194]

Joel ty for video but can you also explain regarding the different ply toilet papers with the plumbing system??

[@dannynamadula221]

Appreciated. Good demonstration. Keep it up

[@duckyone20]

Listen. I know I'm a grown adult but for some reason the snickers and toilet paper made me chuckle. Great information as always though! I think you just wanted a snickers though lol

[@caseycarlino10]

I think a babe Ruth would’ve been better, think Caddy shack pool scene 😂

[@TodaysTask]

What was I thinking Baby Ruth would have been way better. "Cadyshack"

[@duckyone20]

@@TodaysTask you'll have to redo it now 😂

[@ivysweets]

Lol it made me chuckle too and I’m also a grown adult! 😂😂 great video Joel!

[@sandyc6569]

Loved the bloopers!! 😅😅😅

[@erinbrown9897]

The entire video was a blooper.

[@shannonser5368]

This is the first time you didn’t know s**t! 😆 Had to say it. 💜

[@coatknight]

media.tenor.com/-AYZ8Z08BbsAAAAM/spaceballs.gif

[@NYC_Plumber_Guy]

Great video thank you for taking the time

[@Δημήτρης-δ8η]

Awesome video! Thanks mate.

[@shanehowle8894]

Informative and very entertaining- thank you

[@vasili_pasioudis]

An update to this video would be the perfect opportunity to MythBust that over sloping may risk water over running and leaving solids behind. Is this true or old wives tales from the times of clay pipes + requirement of minimizing water velocity into municipality sewer lines.

[@SlackerU]

That's not 2% slope, 2% is 1/4 per foot so I imagine you're just under 1% when the bubble is touching the line. I wish you had 100ft of pipe to video flow rates at different slopes for stormwater-drainage. I know the flow-charts are very accurate. For stormwater drainage a 4inch smooth-wall pipe actually needs 2.8% slope to achieve 3-feet-per-second velocity for self-cleaning capabilities. I have a stormwater playlist if you're bored with extra pipe to play with.

[@dannykhoury8027]

Thank you

[@AnthonySomes]

Good demo. Improvement suggestion. Colored water to see better in pipe

[@SusyTH]

Interesting! And Thanks!

[@shellyplant78]

i love joel and ive noticed kids always hang around because joel has chocolate but if joel wasn't using chocolate the kids wouldn't be hanging around

[@mistervelux]

😂😂😂

[@mattd8411]

Good job thanks for the time and dedication this took. Seems like sometimes its higher up so that would help also wonder if a vent would have helped.

[@guskalo1981]

I'm having a nightmare of a time with one of the bathrooms in the office building I look after with a bad slope and urea buildup.

[@electrictonix9891]

Good idea ,...".done all

[@butterflies222]

Great video Joel!

[@Southpaw07]

You got an A+ for the demo. 😂

[@kevinalfrey2633]

I keep thinking off the baby Ruth pool scene on candy shack 😂

[@millanightingale7062]

This was a great video

[@AshwanikumarSainiARTER]

The experiment is very useful to understand the dynamics, Thanks:-) As I understand 1/4inch per foot is the slope for a pipe with 2.5 inch or less diameter pipe or is it the same for all diameter pipes?

[@johncouch7785]

i would like to see a more realistic demonstration using the actual ‘product’ to be flushed. And including the taking a bite. That will definitely generate a lot of views.

[@jasonholman1209]

People say that it’s 1/4 or 1/8 inch per foot required but that is code MINIMUM.

[@jking3892]

LOL ,, everybody wants to take a bite of the snickers

[@charliep5139]

Once I saw the pile of Snickers bars, I knew this dude was legit... nice video. next time, color the water to make it easier to see or maybe put some glitter or something in it for that first plain water demonstration. Also, it seems like it would've been easier to find an extra toilet somewhere and rig it up on a table to do the demo instead of the ladder thing, heh.

[@Bamacher59]

Great video but try venting the pipe 2-in vent pipe

[@nosferadu]

I will never eat Snickers again.

[@robertpaget809]

Don’t forget to put the cistern water in on the flush

[@sulimanorlanes8167]

Please make sa video of too much slope. thanks.

[@roberte.6892]

We get it bro. We got it about 45 seconds in.

[@shyft09]

If only KZbin had some kind of button you could click to switch to another video once you "got" it

[@TheRTM]

Question: Is there a meter or digital gauge that can be placed on the pipe to give you an accurate read on what the slope is?

[@johnb4859]

More simple to measure length of pipe and then raise the start side 1/4" per foot of pipe . . 8 foot pipe should be 2" higher at start end.👍

[@sandyc6569]

Nooooo Did it have to be Sneakers? Why not Almond Joy!! 😂😂🤣🤣😂😂

[@annaahmed8144]

Haha, hi Sandy, I’m from England, I too love a Snickers (many years ago it used to be called a “Marathon” bar here). I wish he’d used a Mars bar - urgh, soooo sweet/sickly. Love all the new house build videos and looking forward to seeing the final grand reveal.

[@sandyc6569]

@@annaahmed8144 Yeah or that one!! 🤣🤣 I to am excited for their future for sure!! 🥳🥳🥳

[@vancester1st]

I think a Babe Ruth is actually code.

[@geneduclos4003]

agree. too many corners on a snicker bar.

[@GTSSignDesignGTSSignDesign]

Maybe put the snickers bar in before the toilet paper... i usually don't wipe before i poop LOL

[@kencleg7721]

One reason we kept the old toilets and just rebuilt them 12$ each why there the old 3-4 gallon tanks. 80’. It’s a ride

[@dannydanny9875]

Science Rules, Joel!

[@rachellehmann9962]

You should let the boys and Olivia participate in a more vlogs

[@TodaysTask]

I really like when they can help.

[@Steve-G-Maine2]

Where you buy the clear pipe?

[@knowleskarateacademy3347]

What slope would be considered too much?

[@ibrahimmohammed4368]

great work

[@deadphishcheesespread]

It would have been easier to buy a toilet.

[@foxy5833]

Enjoy those snickers!

[@oscarc6949]

So I have a 100 foot run drain to main sewer line.. so .25 for every foot means i need to drop it 25 feet..! Lol thats no possible.. im i missing something..?!

[@TodaysTask]

I see what you are saying, but 100 x.25 25 inches not feet. So it would be roughly 25 inches deep.

[@Monterrico14]

Con Oscar!

[@jamesraub2626]

25 inches 2ft1inch learn to math

[@MrRain-hk4zi]

Nice demonstration. Poor use of the Snickers, you should have ate them first 🤔😉

[@geneduclos4003]

a baberuth bar would be more realistic. too many corners on a snicker bar.

[@davidkomer3890]

Should be using 1.5 gallons per 'flush' to be accurate.

[@hopelessnerd6677]

Is this really a fair test, since there's no corn in a snickers bar to provide buoyancy? At least you took a bite out of it first. LOL!

[@kookia213]

Just to understand, when you say 1/4 inch for every foot => that is the height / depth of the leverage you need to position under the beginning of the tube? (like the black thing you put under it to simulate?). Thank you.

[@mannylopez4133]

for every horizontal foot you elevate 1/4'". 4 feet elevate 1 inch. 12 inches elevate 12 *1/4 of an inch which will be 3 inches.

[@карлчэпек]

Snickers imitate poop!

[@prnfl]

i really don't understand why you don't just have a bidet and less paper waste down the toilet

[@roylcraft]

Attach a 1" block to the end of a 4ft level, done!

[@gregjones3453]

try 1/2'' block! Its called 1/8" per foot, we do it everyday on 4" and bigger pipe.

[@nikkihillhouse]

nice video, but I would have eaten those before the video started,, 🙂

[@budtackett8347]

thats about normal ,small tank is a double flusher every time!

[@alpinehs]

😂 interesting video

[@TomatoTriVias]

Id rather use 5% slope instead of 2%.

[@jonathanklopf7581]

your not using enough water.

[@misscracka]

Not working cause your table too long and it's tubing so it's level on the back side.

[@Casual_monkeVR]

Need a vent lmao?

[@jeffwright9431]

Sorry but that demo was poorly staged. Did you actually ever achieve a successful flush? Plus who in the world craps half a snickers bar?

[@KendalMike]

I think it's time you guys joined the 20th century and started using metric like the rest of the world!

[@irafair3015]

20th century?

[@ResumeWritingTips]

you wasted the chocolate, never waste food like that...

[@ronrocha316]

Amazes me how people do these demonstration videos without practicing first to test results. FAIL.

[@TodaysTask]

Absolute fail.

[@august3231]

ᑭᖇOᗰOᔕᗰ

[@mobeans7945]

Can't see the lines on your level so the videos absolutely useless

[@SPURVWastewaterProgram]

Candy bars are heavier than poop.

[@TodaysTask]

I wish I would have known that.