Plumbing a new bathroom is a tricky task. You need to ensure everything is laid out correctly, as mistakes here could be incredibly costly and make your bathroom build more complicated than it needs to be. As you plan your new bathroom layout, you might be tempted to cut corners and use the same waste trap arm and drainage lines for the toilet and the shower.
However, while the drains can be connected to the same main drain line, they shouldn’t be connected to the same waste trap arm. We’re here to explain, so continue reading to learn more!
Are Toilet Pipes Connected To The Shower?
No, the toilet pipes aren’t directly connected to the shower drain pipes. The toilet has its own drain pipes that connect to the main drain line. The same applies to the shower drain line – it eventually connects to the main drain line.
The main drain line is the primary pipe that connects to each of the drains in your household. This includes showers, toilets, and sinks throughout your home. All the wastewater you generate in your home flows into these pipes, eventually ending up in the sewage system.
Are Toilet And Bathtub Drains Connected?
Like the shower drain, toilet and bathtub drains are connected to the main pipe. However, the drains themselves aren’t usually connected to one another, as this can lead to issues.
Why Do Showers And Toilets Need Separate Waste Trap Arms?
The plumbing system in your home is an intricate network of pipes, each leading to the necessary spot to escort wastewater out of your home. In some cases, each drainage system may lead to a different spot. For example, black water and grey water might end up in different locations.
Some septic systems, such as those with septic tanks, send both grey and black water to one place. If you’re familiar with the workings of RV plumbing systems, you’re probably familiar with grey and black water, but if you’re not, we’ll explain them below.
What Is Grey Water?
The grey water you generate in your home comes from your shower. This water is less likely to carry diseases, so regulations surrounding greywater disposal are laxer than those surrounding black water. While the regulations aren’t as strict, rules still exist.
You cannot dispose of grey water in any body of water used as a drinking source. This includes lakes, rivers, and streams.
In some homes, grey water is sent to a separate septic tank, but this varies from one home to the next. Some folks repurpose grey water, using it to water plants or wash their cars. However, before using it to hydrate your plants, it’s important to ensure there aren’t any harmful chemicals in the water (from soaps or detergents).
What Is Black Water?
Blackwater, on the other hand, is more strictly regulated. The rigid guidelines are in place because of the water’s content. This water contains high amounts of feces and urine, so it could potentially carry disease and pose a significant risk to living things, humans, plants, and animals included.
These regulations ensure that blackwater doesn’t end up somewhere that it could harm people, animals, or plants. Blackwater ends up in sewage treatment facilities, but before that, it’s stored in septic tanks.
This is why drainage in your home is so important. Cross-contamination can be a hazardous occurrence, so it’s vital to set up your bathroom’s drainage system properly. Generally, this entails separating the drain lines, which ensures the shower and toilet drains have separate waste trap arms.
Where Do I Dispose Of Blackwater Or Greywater?
If you live in an RV or motorhome, you’ll need to empty your blackwater and greywater tanks. Many RV parks, campgrounds, and dealerships have a specific location where you can safely dispose of the contents.
On the flip side, if you live in a fixed home, you need to dispose of the contents at a wastewater treatment plant or recycling area. Smaller towns might not have these plants, so you might need to drive to a larger city to dispose of the contents.
How Often Do I Need To Empty My Septic Tank?
If you live in a regular home in the countryside, there’s a good chance you have a septic system. In a septic tank, there’s a delicate balance of bacteria that helps the system function properly. In some scenarios, you might have a greywater tank and a separate blackwater tank, although some homes send both to the same area.
Generally, homeowners need to have their septic tank pumped every three to five years, although this time frame can vary. Pumping the tank regularly helps avoid costly issues, such as a sewer backup or a clogged drain field.
If you’re not sure what companies offer these services in your area, look online or check with a professional plumber for recommendations.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Why Is My Toilet Water Backed Up Into My Shower?
Generally, when toilet water backs up into your shower, it’s due to a clog in the secondary sewer line. To explain things better, we need to understand the sewage system in your home. The system is somewhat like a tree: there are main lines and secondary lines in your home. The secondary sewer lines feed into the main line.
When there’s an obstruction in the secondary line, only a few drains will back up. This is generally the case when toilet water backs up into your shower. When the main sewer line has a blockage, you’ll most likely have an issue with most of the drains in your home.