Learn Why Proper Pitch On A Sewer Line Or House Drain Is Critical

Sewer Service
March 5, 2013

by David Balkan

Sewer Lines Installed With Pitch

Many people seem unsure of what is the proper pitch on a sewer line or house drain. The term slope is also frequently used and has the same meaning as pitch. If you’ve ever wondered what is the minimum slope for water drainage, it is generally accepted that 1/4″ per foot of pipe run is the minimum for proper pitch on a sewer line. Larger lines such as 8″ pipe actually require less pitch due to the larger circumference of the pipe. But there are other issues concerning pitch to keep in mind.

Pitch on a sewer line for a building or home

Most house sewer lines in Queens, Brooklyn, Bronx and Staten island are 6″ unless they are for very large buildings or for large amounts of rainwater disposal. In the cases of a 6″ sewer line the minimum recommended pitch on a sewer line is 1/4″ per foot, or about one foot for a fifty foot run. At times field conditions such as utility obstructions or a lack of available pitch do not allow for this. In most of these cases as long as the run of pipe is installed without any dips (back-pitched pipe) the sewer line should still function well without the need for any extensive maintenance.

house sewer lines being installed with pitch on a sewer line for each of three sewers
Sewer Lines Installed With Pitch

Did you know that there is a maximum slope for sewer pipe? What many people do not realize is that there is a limit on the amount of pitch on a sewer line that is allowed by code. The NYC DEP and NYC Department of Buildings limits the maximum allowable pitch to the equivalent of 1′ for every 4′ of run of pipe. Limiting the pitch is meant to prevent waste water from running at a very high flow rate as it enters the public sewer. This could interfere with the flow in the public sewer. In some cases this means that the house drain exiting the building may have to be lowered to lessen the difference in elevations.

In some rare instances a riser connection has to be built on the public sewer to lessen the amount of pitch. A riser is a vertical connection built on top of a public sewer. Read more about house sewer line connections. A riser connection is fairly costly to build, and can add substantially to the cost of a house sewer instillation.

diagram of how to build a new sewer riser connection to NYC DEP specifications
NYC DEP approved riser diagram

Pitch on a house drain

Proper pitch on a house drain is very similar to the pitch on a sewer line for a home. The general rule is 1/4″ of pitch per foot of run. However some other issues do come into play. An extreme amount of pitch can cause the waste water inside the drain to flow extremely fast. It is possible that when the water runs extremely quickly through the house trap, or a trap for an individual plumbing fixture, it can cause the water inside the bottom of the house trap to siphon out and leave the trap dry.

Why is a trap without water in it a big deal?

A sewer trap without and water barrier in the belly of the trap can cause sewer gases to escape into the house. It is advisable to use legal bends to alleviate extreme pitch in pipe before the waste water enters a sewer trap. The other and more advisable option is to run the drain line with less pitch to avoid using unnecessary bends. In short, there are cases where too much pitch on a sewer line can cause plumbing problems and issues.

torpedo level on top of a sewer pipe
A Level Helps Ensure Proper Pitch

Three other points to keep in mind when installing drain pipe inside a building:

  1. All plumbing fixtures must be trapped individually so that there is a water seal after the drain outlet of the fixture. Double trapping of any plumbing fixture is not permitted and all traps should be placed as closely as possible to the fixture.
  2. The maximum vertical distance a drain line can run from a plumbing fixture before the trap is 48″. If a greater length of pipe is installed the force of the waste water would cause the water inside the trap to run out and remove the water barrier. A trap without a water barrier allows for sewer gas or other unpleasant odors to enter the building.
  3. The maximum horizontal length of pipe that can be installed from a plumbing fixture until the trap is installed is 24″.

Sewer and drain installations

Everyone loves to save some money and even do it by doing some of the work themselves. However keep the following points in mind. Sewer lines and plumbing drains are meant to last longer than most people do! Installed properly they are virtually maintenance free and work without the use of any mechanical devices. A vital component of a long lasting drain system is proper pitch on a sewer line for your property.

We give little thought to plumbing systems because they typically operate seamlessly. Yet people continue to think that a little bit of plumbing knowledge makes them capable of installing plumbing systems including sewer and drain systems. The typical result is that work has to be re-done which costs more than doing it correctly the first time. In addition there are safety and health issues during such an installation and like repercussions afterwards.

diagram of plumbing fixture traps
Drain line trap

Having a plumbing system that does not function properly or allows sewer gas or other noxious fumes to escape into our homes surely is not worth any potential savings. Our informative posts are meant not as a how-to guide, but as helpful tools to understand basic plumbing principals.

Licensed and insured plumbing professionals performing the work is mandatory for a long lasting plumbing installation that also meets code requirements.

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David Balkan

David Balkan is the CEO of Balkan Sewer And Water Main, the largest and most trusted service in New York City. David is extremely active in various NYC plumber organizations being the Chairman of the Subsurface Committee in the Master Plumbers Council, and Vice President of the Subsurface Plumbers Association. In addition David’s expertise is respected by officials of New York City agencies such as the NYC DEP, NYC DOB, and the NYC DOT. He frequently provides valuable input on a variety of industry related matters.

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