High Maintenence P-trap

[Daddy-0-]

Condensate must have an air gap so you could not tie directly to the tub tail piece. We often see condensate to a floor drain with a trap primer. Of course if you have a 90+ furnace it will produce condensate year round so the trap will be be primed automatically.

 

[Robert Ellenberg]

mtlog--thanks for the response.

If the appliance (pan under the airhandler) is trapped, dumps into a tailpiece and then goes through the shower/tub trap, I believe the appliance would be double trapped but not the plumbing fixture. However, M1411.3.1 on condensate drains addresses pipe size and grade but I can't find any requirement that it be trapped.

The biggest question in my mind was whether or not any of the plumbing codes prohibiting tying the condensate drain into the tail piece of a shower or tub fixture. To me it is the best design as it is a proper disposal of the water, wouldn't depend on a pump (unless it had to be lifted) and eliminates the possibility of sewer gas (unless you never use the tub/shower).

 

[Robert Ellenberg]

DaddyO, Can you elaborate on the air gap requirement? Thanks for helping educate me.

 

[Daddy-0-]

I will have to find a code section on Monday. Look at UB's third picture and you can see the air gap installation. It is also common to run condensate to a secondary pipe in the washer box. Water heaters in a crawl space are the same way. (discharge the TPV through an air gap directly to the outdoors) Sorry...no code books at home.

 

[McShan]

Is it the drain for the pan or the unit itself?

If for the unit would that work or would you have to go to the fixture?

The pan should be drained to an obvious location so the H/O can see the water and call someone and ask what it is.