Essentials of Plumbing Lesson

INSTALLING WATER LINE PIPE RUNS

Install water line pipe runs during the building construction. The following steps will make it easier to rough-in pipe runs with fittings, support the pipe runs, and test the rough-in water pipe system joints for leaks. The pipe runs consist of distribution lines, branch lines, and riser lines which will service the fixtures or equipment.

Main Distribution Lines. Install this pipeline, with all fittings required for the branch lines, between or through the floor joist from the meter stop. The pipe size will be the same as the water service line.

Branch Lines. From the fittings on the distribution line, install the branch pipelines between or through the floor joist to those fixture points that the riser pipes will service.

Fixture Riser Lines. From the branch pipeline fittings, install fixture supply pipe risers by drilling holes through the sole plate or floor. Set the risers with fittings to connect the water supply. Set the air chamber to control the pipe noise.

Install Rough-In Water Lines. Drill a hole through the center of a joist. The hole cannot be larger than one quarter of the depth of the joist. Center the hole between the top and bottom of the joist. For example, if you are using a 2- by 8-inch joist, the hole cannot be any larger than 2 inches.

Install Rough-In Water Lines

Add Notches. Notches can be at the top or bottom of a joist. The notch width should be slightly larger than the outside diameter of the pipe. The notch depth can be no more than a quarter of the joist depth. Cut both sides to the proper notch depth with a handsaw. For example, if the joist depth is 8 inches and the notch depth equals 1/4 of 8 inches, the notch depth would be 2 inches. Use a hammer and a sharp wood chisel to cut away the wood between the saw cuts.

Add Notches

Brace a Joist. With the notch cut up, place a 2- by 2-inch board on each side.

Center the Boards. Under the notch, center boards and nail in place. When the notch is cut at the bottom, center a steel plate over the notch.

Brace a joist and center the boards

Cut a Wall Stud. Cut a notch no larger than one-third to one-half of the stud's depth.

Insure the cut-out notch is able to take the pipe size to be installed.
Measure the depth of a wall stud before cutting notches.

Cut a Wall Stud

Brace Notch Cuts. When bracing notch cuts in the wall studs with pipe runs, insure the studs with the notch cuts at the top or bottom have steel plates centered over the notches.

Brace Notch Cuts