Humidifier drain line

[mathew stouffer]

Is this an acceptable connection to a waste line. It is a humidifier drain line.

[James Duffin]

This is the closest thing I could find in the plumbing code.


802.1.3 Potable clear-water waste. Where devices and
equipment, such as sterilizers and relief valves, discharge
potable water to the building drainage system, the discharge
shall be through an indirect waste pipe by means of an air
gap. Drinking fountains may be connected directly or indirectly

[Scott Patterson]

Is this an acceptable connection to a waste line. It is a humidifier drain line.

No it is not. That is a good way to suck some funky stuff into that air stream.

That is also not the correct way to attach a line into the ABS pipe.

[wayne soper]

Plug the hole, not with bazooka, buy a condensate pump, drill a hole in the box plate and send it outside to a needy bush.

[Jerry Peck]

Plug the hole,


Actually ... ;) ... there is no approved repair other than to replace that test tee. Yeah, it could be a pain, but whoever drilled those holes in there is the one who created the problem, not the HI reporting the problem. :D

[mathew stouffer]

If it looks like a cluster and smells like a cluster, nine times out of ten it's a cluster. ;)

Thanks

[David Bell]

If you can't pump outdoors, indirect to a trapped waste arm, like a washing machine drain.

[James Duffin]

A $8 pack of JB Weld and a flat file will make the fitting as good as new. The repair will be stronger than the pipe. (ducking now)

[Randy Mayo]

Mathew

That is a safety/health issue... technical term "cross connection"

PROTECTION OF POTABLE WATER SUPPLY
P2902.1 General. A potable water supply system shall be
designed and installed as to prevent contamination from
nonpotable liquids, solids or gases being introduced into the
potable water supply. Connections shall not be made to a potable
water supply in a manner that could contaminate the water
supply or provide a cross-connection between the supply and a
source of contamination unless an approvedbackflow-prevention
device is provided. Cross-connections between an individual
water supply and a potable public water supply shall be
prohibited.

Randy Mayo, P.E.
RLM & Associates, LLC

[David Bell]

Mathew

That is a safety/health issue... technical term "cross connection"

PROTECTION OF POTABLE WATER SUPPLY
P2902.1 General. A potable water supply system shall be
designed and installed as to prevent contamination from
nonpotable liquids, solids or gases being introduced into the
potable water supply. Connections shall not be made to a potable
water supply in a manner that could contaminate the water
supply or provide a cross-connection between the supply and a
source of contamination unless an approvedbackflow-prevention
device is provided. Cross-connections between an individual
water supply and a potable public water supply shall be
prohibited.

Randy Mayo, P.E.
RLM & Associates, LLC

Technically it's not a cross connection since the water supply to the humidifier indirectly flows down the humidifier drain and into that waste pipe. It is not correct but, not directly connected.

[Jerry Peck]

A $8 pack of JB Weld and a flat file will make the fitting as good as new. The repair will be stronger than the pipe. (ducking now)


You ducked too late, that repair failed after it snagged some waste and some paper, blew out, and covered you with what backed up into the pipe ... :rolleyes:

[Randy Mayo]

David

Technically an air gap device is required. The question is does this particular humidifier's internal plumbing have an acceptable air gap?

[Randy Mayo]

David

Technically an air gap device is required. The question is does this particular humidifier's internal plumbing have an acceptable air gap?

[James Duffin]

You ducked too late, that repair failed after it snagged some waste and some paper, blew out, and covered you with what backed up into the pipe ... :rolleyes:

Don't be so paranoid....plumbing is your friend and is not out to get you. I've seen a JB Weld patch hold on a 6" water line for over 15 years....under pressure. It was still there when I retired. You seem to have no problem spending other peoples money....are you sure you are not a politician? :D

[H.G. Watson, Sr.]

Of course there is NOTHING correct about what is pictured in that photo.

Furthermore what is proposed by David Bell is neither safe nor legal.

ABS is not welded it is cemented.

The hub of the street fitting with cleanout has been compromosed. There is NO WAY to "repair" this must be removed and the sections of sch. 40 ABS replaced.

The compromise to the stack (wet vented) has also compromised the system connected to it. Cross contamination IS an issue, not only of the potable water supply but invasion of the HVAC ducting system. Not only organisms but of gases. Methane is explosive at far lesser concentrations that what can cause asphixia.

Pictured IS A PUBLIC HEALTH HAZARD, is illegal, and needs to be remediated. Anything connected "upstream" of this illegal "tap" must be considered CONTAMINATED.

A LICENSED PLUMBER, preferably a Master Plumber, is who should be deferred to for remediation of the DWV. The HVAC system will likely require at a minimum TOTAL decontamination and potential at least partial removal and replacement. A public health expert, environmental engineer, or similar likely should be further consulted regarding the extent of contamination and in the decontamination/remediation efforts. I doubt the humidifier can be saved. Chemical treatment alone is generally insufficient to remediate BIOSLIME. The more agressive bioslime treatments will prove destructive to the hvac equipment.

http://www.inspectionnews.net/home_inspection/attachments/heating-ventilation-air-conditioning-hvac-home-inspection-commercial-inspection/19214-humidifier-drain-line-100_0762.jpg

[Rod Butler]

. . . . . The HVAC system will likely require at a minimum TOTAL decontamination and potential at least partial removal and replacement. A public health expert, environmental engineer, or similar likely should be further consulted regarding the extent of contamination and in the decontamination/remediation efforts. I doubt the humidifier can be saved. . . . .



Seems a little rigid H.G.

Show it to a code official and he will tell you to fix it. Show it to a lawyer and you will get a different story.