The average fee per hour to hire a plumber is $45 to $200 in US
Surprised…? That’s a fact.
But why this high price?
The fact is, they have knowledge about the plumbing codes that you may don’t know.
Knowing plumbing code is an important thing, if you want to be a DIY worker for your own home. And when you go to the plumbing of your kitchen sink, you don’t have any option rather than learning the relevant codes. Because it is one of the toughest plumbing section of any home.
So, in this article, we will discuss about some common kitchen sink plumbing codes. There are a lot of codes adopted by IPC for the kitchen sink area. Among them, we will discuss some common codes here.
Okay, keep on reading.
Common Kitchen Sink Plumbing Codes What You Need To Know
Here are the common kitchen sink plumbing code that a DIYer should know.
Correctly Fitting Drain Pipes
Drain pipes are the core part of a kitchen sink. You must do the perfect fitting for the drain pipes, following the relevant plumbing codes.
Generally, according to the code, the drain pipe slope should be a minimum of 1/4 inch per foot. Some states codes allow level vents. In this case, your vent pipes slope should be 1/8 inch per foot at least.
Using A P- Trap
The p-trap is the pipe that looked like a ‘P’. It’s a necessary material for all kitchen sink drainage systems.
Always remember don’t use any traps shaped like ‘S’. It was commonly used at one time, but this trap is not suitable for today.
Most plumbing codes apply specific requirements for the p-trap –
Water could drain out of it smoothly and ensure a minimum 1/4 inch per foot slope toward the drain.
The vertical pipe that connects the trap with the sink, called tailpiece, shouldn’t be longer more than 24 inches.
The tailpiece and the trap must have the same diameter. The diameter is usually 11/2 inches.
Venting The Kitchen Sink
The connection of the vent of your kitchen sink formed behind the sink wall with a fitting is known as sanitary tree.
And when you fall repeated drainage problems, the cause might be an extension beyond the allowable distance between the trap and the tree.
So, according to the code, always you should keep p-trap and the vent as close as possible. The distance between p-trap and vent should be no more than 6 feet.
Air Gap Fitting For Dishwasher
If your kitchen sink has a dishwasher, according to the plumbing codes of the kitchen sink, you need to use a fitting called air gap.
An air gap is tubular in size and looks like a dome. You need to install it on the back part of your kitchen sink. This special fitting spits water when the dishwasher is started draining.
In this modern era, most of the modern kitchen sink comes with an attached air gap. So, if an air gap is pre-equipped with the dishwasher of the kitchen sink than you don’t need to re-install it.
Installing A Kitchen Faucet
The kitchen faucet is an important fixture of your kitchen sink. And you must install it complies with the standard applied by the ASME (American Society of Mechanical Engineers).
If you use an apron sink or a vessel sink, you must install a kitchen faucet in these types of sinks.
Also in some states of the US, you need to attach a flow restrictor to the facet according to the relevant codes. So, know more about your local kitchen sink plumbing codes before installing a kitchen faucet.
Final Words
Kitchen sink Plumbing is a tough job, but it is easy if you maintain proper guidelines and codes.
In this tiny article, we tried to make a useful discussion about some common kitchen sink plumbing codes.
We hope this article will be helpful for you to do your DIY jobs.
Good luck!