ABS pipe

ABS is the BLACK  plastic drain pipe . Normally use 2 inch on sink / tub and 3 inch on main runs, then 4 inch out to septic tank........... what are you looking at ?

Edited by steve(ill) - 08 Feb 2022 at 4:43pm

I work for a local pharmacy doing remodels so elderly/handicapped can stay in their houses! At least half of our projects have ABS vent and drain pipe. Our plumber cannot find ABS pipe or fittings anywhere! He uses a ‘mission’ fitting (rubber with clamps) and then uses PVC pipe and fittings to complete the project.

Are you sure this is the kind of black drainage pipe you want? I've heard that frequent leaks can occur if not installed correctly. Be careful if you are going to attach the purchased pipes yourself. I understand that you want to save money on special installation services. But leaks are dangerous to the emergence of different types of mold. I'm not saying you can get a very toxic one, but black can grow from water on the floor. I know what I'm talking about because we've had that happen. We had to use service solutions restoration. Only professionals got rid of this horrible mold for good. My wife was afraid the kids would breathe mold spores and get asthma.


Edited by ibrahincomp - 03 Aug 2022 at 8:05am

for a giggle, I checked local HD and LOWES. HD has ZERO(ok, 4 pcs ,3" x 3' ??) ABS, LOWES has LOTS(esp 12' pcs...)

The ABS doesn't seem to hold up as well as PVC. The line from the house to the septic tank at the farm is ABS and will soon be replaced with foam core sch40 PVC when the new tank goes in. But it has lasted over 55 years. Way back when I spent a few years working on restaurant equipment one county code required that the drain plumbing under the sinks be 1 1/2 or 2 inch copper and that would only last a couple of years before the chemicals they used ate it up.

I would not use FOAM CORE - PVC for inground burial in a septic system , unless you bed it properly in sand or pea gravel which is compacted when bedding pipe . 
 It has little strength to lateral loading and will warp and settle creating low spots and dips in pipe . Did repair jobs on quite a few instillations where foam core was used underground and settling created problems .

I'm wondering how thick the inner PVC  wall is ? Will it survive an aggressive 'snake' attack ? It can't be very strong as Coke points out.