| Basement construction in clay soil poses | | | | synthetic polymer sleeve that slips over the |
| several problems. Expanded soil can bring | | | | ends of both pipes. Steel clamps are used to |
| about cracking in the basement walls, floor | | | | hold the coupling and pipes together. Once |
| and foundation if proper precautions are not | | | | applied, the coupling will allow for a small |
| taken. Common movement caused by expansive | | | | amount of movement in the pipes. It is |
| clay soils also call for special precautions | | | | important to make sure you have the expansion |
| to be taken when installing basement | | | | couplings and not regular couplings as the |
| plumbing. Its important to remember that | | | | expansion couplings are made to breathe with |
| pipes can burst if plumbing is too rigid. | | | | the home and the regular couplings aren't |
| Floating walls help keep the walls and floors | | | | made to move. When installing a shower you |
| from being damaged as the home moves with the | | | | can use reverse floating walls to stabilize |
| expansion of clay soil. This allows the walls | | | | pipes in the basement and allow movement in |
| to shift independently from the floor of the | | | | the top of the pipes. You should put as much |
| basement. The pipes need to be able to move | | | | of the plumbing in the same area as possible |
| upward with the floor but not push against | | | | and use the same wet wall. A chase should be |
| the first floor of your home. The drainage | | | | included and access can be either along a |
| pipes under the basement floor need to be | | | | wall or in the ceiling. Flex lines are |
| able to breathe as well. When you install | | | | needed for water supply lines. The main water |
| bathrooms, laundry room, or a mudroom in the | | | | supply line should go into the chase and have |
| basement you need to allow for natural | | | | flex lines attached in that area to the pipes |
| movement of clay soil. Installing flexible | | | | used in the basement. The most logical place |
| expansion couplings and expansion joints on | | | | for the chase access panel is in the utility |
| basement plumbing will allow for this | | | | room along with the hot water heater. As well |
| movement and keep the pipes from leaking at | | | | as having expansion joints and flexible |
| the joints or cracking. Your pipes should | | | | couplings installed the pipes there should be |
| ideally be new during installation. If you | | | | enough space between the pipes and the |
| are working with pre-existing pipes make sure | | | | ceiling/floor to keep from having the pipes |
| not to go from one type of metal to another. | | | | push into the ceiling as the ground expands |
| If you are using copper stay with copper | | | | with the changes in the moisture in clay |
| pipes and the same goes for other metals. | | | | soil. Expansion joints will be needed for |
| Take care to not to change the size of pipes | | | | installation of ground water drainage pipes |
| accidentally. It is possible to go from one | | | | also. This can be done below the basement |
| size to another but it is not always usually | | | | floor, above the foundation. Drains can be |
| wise idea. You should also start with new | | | | placed in the basement floor allowing |
| pipes whenever possible. Older pipes can have | | | | moisture that does enter the basement to run |
| lead solder break up while you are working | | | | into the drainage system and away from the |
| with them and you do not want this to get | | | | home. |
| into your water supply, even if it is for a | | | | |
| shower and not drinking water. Anywhere that | | | | Looking for a basement makeover? How about |
| you are attaching one length of pipe to | | | | info on installing floating walls in your |
| another you need to add an expansion | | | | basement? Tips on basement bar ideas. |
| coupling. Expansion couplings are made of a | | | | |