Thread: Can I Route Sink Drain Outside Exterior Wall?

I have a drain problem with two possible solutions. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

1. Replace leaking under-slab sink drain by tearing up floor/cabinets/walls through entire length of kitchen, cut trench in concrete slab, replace broken pipe (and water supply lines in same original trench on top of leaking waste line). Patch concrete, install 300 sq. ft. new flooring, reinstall cabinets and (probably new) counters.

2. Abandon old drain in place and install new drain outside along exterior wall, properly sloped, concealed below wood deck conveniently located on other side of exterior wall directly behind the sink and at the perfect height to conceal the drain. This would run about 15' outside before turning back into the house (where there is a lower level) and connecting into the waste stack at the original location. Basically, just offsetting the pipe around the slab instead of under it.

Can anyone weigh in on code issues, freezing issues? Would I need heat trace or just insulation? It can get below zero a few times a year here in the Midwest.

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Originally Posted by Mike T. Jones

I have a drain problem with two possible solutions. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

1. Replace leaking under-slab sink drain by tearing up floor/cabinets/walls through entire length of kitchen, cut trench in concrete slab, replace broken pipe (and water supply lines in same original trench on top of leaking waste line). Patch concrete, install 300 sq. ft. new flooring, reinstall cabinets and (probably new) counters.

2. Abandon old drain in place and install new drain outside along exterior wall, properly sloped, concealed below wood deck conveniently located on other side of exterior wall directly behind the sink and at the perfect height to conceal the drain. This would run about 15' outside before turning back into the house (where there is a lower level) and connecting into the waste stack at the original location. Basically, just offsetting the pipe around the slab instead of under it.

Can anyone weigh in on code issues, freezing issues? Would I need heat trace or just insulation? It can get below zero a few times a year here in the Midwest.

.
Welcome Mike,

By Code the purposed #2 fix should not be done.

#1 fix can be done but there are other Repairs Options on the Market

Pipe Lining, Drain Lining, Sewer Line Cleaning
.

This is all I can find in the code (OPC):

305.6 Freezing. Water, soil and waste pipes shall not be
installed outside of a building, in attics or crawl spaces, concealed
in outside walls, or in any other place subjected to freezing
temperatures unless adequate provision is made to protect
such pipes from freezing by insulation or heat or both.

As long as freeze protection is provided, routing drain piping outside seems viable. Obviously, it isn't ideal, but it may be allowed...

What other creative repair options might be out there, Billy? I'm open to just about anything compared to the expense of tearing up the floor.

Thanks for the reply!

Originally Posted by Mike T. Jones

This is all I can find in the code (OPC):

305.6 Freezing. Water, soil and waste pipes shall not be
installed outside of a building, in attics or crawl spaces, concealed
in outside walls, or in any other place subjected to freezing
temperatures unless adequate provision is made to protect
such pipes from freezing by insulation or heat or both.

As long as freeze protection is provided, routing drain piping outside seems viable. Obviously, it isn't ideal, but it may be allowed...

What other creative repair options might be out there, Billy? I'm open to just about anything compared to the expense of tearing up the floor.

Thanks for the reply!

.
Hi Mike,

You can't connect that drain to a Waste Stack.

Contact a Competent Licensed Plumber in your area.

Nothing they don't do Daily.
.