How to Install Bathroom Plumbing in a Basement
A basement bathroom can be very convenient and make a living area more accommodating and versatile. The installation of such items as toilets, showers and sinks below the sewer inlet level presents unique requirements and challenges. These challenges must be met with careful planning and specialized appliances. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- Hack saw
- Tee coupler (3)
- Water valve (3)
- Piping
- Tee junction
- Drain line
- Wiring
- GFCI outlet
- Wire cutter
- Wire stripper
Instructions
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1
Turn off the water supply to the home before beginning work. Locate a hot and cold water line as close to the new bathroom as possible. If installing an entirely new room, attempt to locate the lines beneath an overhead bathroom. If remodeling an existing room find the nearest water lines to the new construction in order to limit your material needs and make installation as easy as possible. Cut into both water lines and insert the tee joints. From these tees, continue the piping to the desired location. Bring both water supply lines to the planned location for the sink. Install a valve at the end of each water line. On the cold water line you will need to install a second tee joint facing toward the toilet area.
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2
Install a pipe from the cold water tee to the area where the new toilet will be located. Install a valve at the end of this line to which you will apply a flex hose to the toilet. Cut into the closest sewer drain line available and install a tee junction for the toilet drain. This needs to be as close to the new bathroom as possible. It will be required to pump the waste water up from the toilet. Less vertical distance and shorter travel distance will require less work by the pump allowing your system to operate more efficiently.
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3
Install the new toilet. This toilet must be an up-flush model which includes a holding tank, electric pump, and a check valve to prevent any waste water from flowing back into the unit. Many of the nicer models include inlet ports for a sink drain as well as an inlet port for a tub or shower. This will allow you to have a single pump for the entire bathroom, making installation far easier and far less complicated. Once the toilet is in place connect the flex hose to the water inlet. The drain line will then be installed and plumbed to the overhead tee junction which you installed in Step 2. Install the drain line from the sink to the up-flush toilet and your plumbing is completed. Check all fittings to be certain they are secure and water tight.
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4
Check your power supply. Depending on the model of up-flush toilet you have installed, you will either need to hard-wire the pump, or have an outlet available. The outlet must be a GFCI (Ground Fault Circuit Interruption) device as required by electrical code. This will provide added protection from electrical fire and electrocution.
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Tips & Warnings
Many areas will require any electrical work to be performed by a licensed electrical contractor. Check your local codes to determine your requirements.
Ensure all electrical power is turned off at the breaker panel before starting the project.
Temporarily cap off the tee junction on the sewer line to block fumes. These fumes can be hazardous and should be contained until the drain line can be completed.
