How to Lay PVC Sewer Pipe

PVC couplings are used to join PVC pipes together.

PVC sewer systems in the home consist of a main sewer line, which most or all sewer lines from individual water fixtures run into. The main sewer line, in turn, runs either into the city sewer or private septic tank. The individual sewer lines attach to the main sewer line via a connecting coupling, which is sealed with PVC primer and PVC cement. Other types of couplings are available (30, 45, 60, 90 and 180-degree angles as well as Tee couplings) to install the pieces of the sewer line together.

Things You'll Need

• Marker pen
• Tape measure
• Hacksaw
• Utility knife
• PVC primer
• Connecting coupling
• PVC cement
• PVC pipe
• PVC couplings

Instructions

1. Mark the place on the main sewer line where the new sewer pipe will connect to it. Make a second mark on the same pipe, two inches along from the first mark. Cut through the main sewer line at both marks, making the cuts straight and parallel with each other. Use a hacksaw, or handsaw. Remove burrs or plastic fragments from the pipe cuts with a utility knife.

2. Apply PVC primer around the outside of both cut pipe ends. Also prime the inside ends of a PVC connecting coupling. Wait 20 seconds for the primer to dry fully.

3. Apply PVC cement to both primed pipe ends, and the primed inside ends of the connecting coupling. Quickly push the coupling between the pipe ends, making sure that the coupling's side spout faces up and towards the fixture that the new sewer line will connect to.

4. Prime the inside end of the coupling's side spout, and one end of a new piece of PVC sewer pipe (measure and cut this pipe to size first, and remove burrs). Wait 20 seconds while the primer dries.

5. Apply PVC cement to both the primed inside end of the coupling's side spout, and primed end of the new piece of pipe. Quickly push the pipe into the spout, and hold in place for 20 seconds. Now following the same process, measure, cut, prepare and install new PVC pipe and couplings to create the new sewer line, until it reaches the water fixture that it will serve.

Tips & Warnings

• Depending on the water fixture it will serve, the end of the new sewer line will be connected to a P-trap (sinks, showers, bathtubs and washing machines), or a closet flange (toilet).

• Sewer pipe can also be cut with a portable power saw or miter saw to create a cleaner, straighter cut.

• A connecting coupling is the same diameter as the main sewer line it connects to, with its side spout the same diameter as the new sewer pipe that will be installed.

• Wear eye goggles when cutting through the sewer pipe.

References

• This Old House: Gluing PVC Pipe
• "Home Improvement 1-2-3"; Benjamin W. Allen, Christopher Cavanaugh; 1995
• Bob Villa:Installing PVC Pipe