Does draining a dishwasher to basement floor drain count as an air gap?

[Gregory A. Liebig]

I've seen hundreds of washing machines and laundry tubs use a makeshift "stand pipe" to divert the water to a basement floor drain. But I've never seen a dishwasher use the same method. For some reason, this is a DLR (Doesn't Look Right).

I would not think this would be a sanitary method of draining the dishwater. What would others recommend in this case? Maintenance Repair or a Defect and call in a plumber? There isn't a Wye connector at the base of the piping, either, but maybe the Tee connector will slow down the flow enough that it won't spill all over the floor.

[Robert Ernst]

If it doesn't look right mention it. They drain sinks into floor drains like that in restaurants all the time but in the basement like that with food in the dishwasher waste I would just tell them to call out a plumber. Doesn't look like a professional install anyways.

[Jeffrey R. Jonas]

There is a very thin line between "gray water" and "waste water".

Water from a clothes washer, a laundry tub, a bar sink (glasses only), a bathroom sink/shower, and a mop bucket drain are considered grey water.

Water from a dish washer and other sinks that would contain food particles, as well as the obvious other nasty drains containing feces are considered waste water.

At least that is how I was taught.

It's a defect... write it up.

JMHO.

[Bob Elliott]

The DW drain must have a high loop that is at least 32 inches above the base of the unit.

Some areas such as Chicago require an air gap but not all do and in Chicago I doubt it is ever called out by anyone other than us (inspectors).

The drain situation is no different than having a slop sink drain there in my opinion so if you call those out then call this out as well.

Very often the basement drain goes to a sump which can either empty to the yard or the town sewage which is often against local codes.

[Gregory A. Liebig]

I don't call out slop sinks in basements with municipal sewer that drain to a floor drain. It is very common in our area that washers and/or utility sinks discharge to basement floor drains. These drains are usually 4 to 6 inches below the finished poured floor. I agree with Jeff's comments. I did call it out in the finished report.

[James H. Bushart]

Check the owner's manual and see what the manufacturer recommends. Recommend accordingly.

[Gregory A. Liebig]

Originally Posted by jbushart

Check the owner's manual and see what the manufacturer recommends. Recommend accordingly.

It wasn't available

[James H. Bushart]

Originally Posted by gliebig

It wasn't available

Use the serial number and find it online.

[Bob Elliott]

Yet another reason on site reports are inferior.

[Christopher Currins]

Originally Posted by jbushart

Check the owner's manual and see what the manufacturer recommends. Recommend accordingly.

Or if allowed by AHJ.

[Jeffrey R. Pope]

Originally Posted by belliott

Yet another reason on site reports are inferior.

I beg to differ.

I carry all reference material on my computer. I am always connected to the Internet and can download anything I might need - all while on site. How is that "inferior?"

Air-gaps are required in most CA jurisdictions. This is not an acceptable method (by CA standards) for draining of a dishwasher, even if it could be considered an "air gap." CA requires the air gap to be above the flood level of the sink.

[Charley L. Bottger]

Just one quick question can the sewer main/line back up into the dishwasher as it is installed???????

[Simon Abosso]

Master Plumber here- It's a defect. Definately write it up. That hose is not "hard piped"- one kick and the hose is now discharging food particles all over the floor. The dishwasher discharge hose needs to be piped to a standpipe under the sink in a permanent fashion so that it cannot drain anywhere that it is not supposed to. The standpipe will have a built in air gap fitting. A hose running across the floor is not an "air gap". An air gap needs to have physical separation from the drain to which it discharges straight down typically 2 times the pipe diameter or a minimum of 2"- i.e. 2 inch pipe need to discharge 4 inches above the drain it is discharging to.