Draining the waste outdoors from indoors

[Guest 18340]

Hello everybody. Got a question for ya. Within the next few weeks i will be building a 4x8 room sealed room in the corner of my garage.
I will be using a drain-to-waste system to feed plants in coco. I'll be using a 3x6 table with a rez underneath it. Rather than have to add another rez to catch the waste, i want to drain the table to the outside via a pipe thru the wall.
anybody who uses a split a/c knows about the hole thru the wall that runs lines to the outside unit. I figured i can also put a small length of pipe going outside connect to the fitting on the table via a a length of hose.
My only concern is bugs crawling up inside the drain tube from the outside.
Can anybody tell me how to prevent that from happening? Is their some kind of check valve i can use? If so, which kind?
How would the check valve work if the water is flowing down by gravity rather then pumped upwards?

Only having to use 1 rez would make my life easier by not cramping up the room to the point where i gotta pull a rez just to get in there. Theirs just not enough room under the table for 2 rezs'. The door to the room can only be built into the 4' side so i have to slide a rez under the table the long ways.
any help/suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

 

[Beanfish]

I have no experience using one for your application, but you might look into a sump pump 1 way valve. I have one on my sump drain in my basement and it allows the water to go out but not back in. I'm not sure how much pressure, if any, is required to open the valve for drainage though.

 

[Guest 18340]

Yeah, my concern is not having enough pressure(seeing as how gravity will be feeding the waste into a tube/hose) to open a valve.
I was thinking, what if i build a small trap, like the ones under the kitchen sink? The water left in the trap should keep bugs from coming in, no?

 

[PharmaCan]

Take a look under any of the sinks in your house - notice the U-shaped drain pipes. That whole arrangement is called a "P-trap". The U-shaped part fills with water, thereby creating a "block" in the pipe. In your house the P-trap keeps sewer gasses from getting into your house. On your drain line it will keep bugs out.

A P-trap is cheap and easy to make and works on gravity.

Good luck!

Edit: LOL looks like we were typing at the same time. Anyway, the trap should work.

PC

 

[Guest 18340]

Hey Pharma! Thanks for posting, i was just reading some DTW threads and noticed a few of your posts and here you are! LOL! Thanks for confirming that for me. Would i need to install a small vent tube, maybe right before the pipe goes out the wall?
Also, since i need to be able to move the table, can i clamp a small length of flexable hose from the drain on the table to the trap? As long as the hose travels in a downward?

 

[Beanfish]

I didn't even think of a trap. I would go that route. No reason to reinvent the wheel...

 

[gdawg]

i do run to waste over coco and my drain line goes down to the floor, elbow then runs maybe 2 feet and elbows down threw the floor and out under the house. i dont use a vent tube and wondered at first if i would need one, but in a year i havent noticed any problems or bugs coming in that route.

 

[PharmaCan]

Would i need to install a small vent tube, maybe right before the pipe goes out the wall?
Also, since i need to be able to move the table, can i clamp a small length of flexable hose from the drain on the table to the trap? As long as the hose travels in a downward?

Damn, now you're gonna make me have to think.

A vent after the trap probably would be a good idea. It'll keep the water from siphoning the trap dry. If you use a flexible hose, make sure it is a smooth tubing of some kind.

PC

 

[Mickymouse]

Screen on the end.Steel wool stuck in the end.

 

[Guest 18340]

I really appreciate you guys taking the time to answer my question.
Pharma, gotcha on the smooth tubing
gdawg, man i would love to see a pick of the drain side of your setup!
How many "elbows" are you running? 2?

Mickey, I thought about putting some sort of screen on the end but i live in the Dirty south and bugs (especially ants) are around year round, and they are tenacious fucks. But if i can't get a trap in there to work correctly then a screen of some kind may be my only option.
Another concern using a screen is that bits of coco drain from the pot, those bits may clog the screen and if i go away for a few days, oh man i dont even wanna think about that...

 

[gdawg]

hey evlme ill try and snap a pic tomorrow but ya 2 elbows and no screen, i too worry about the coco clog.

 

[DiscoBiscuit]

How big will the drain line be? I have a commercial heat pump for a central unit with a 1" drain and p trap. no need for a vent in a application that small. Don't forget to prime the trap prior to your first drain

 

[Guest 18340]

I'm thinking no more than 1/2" line, something small enough to be able to clamp a length of garden hose from the table to the trap (so i can move the table around alittle).
gdawg, whenever you get a chance bro, i think your setup is exactly what i'm looking for.

 

[gdawg]

dang evlme i totally forgot to take the pic today will get it tomorrow anyways i think i used the 3/4 inch polytubing if that helps. straight down from the table to an elbow on the top of the floor, then over to the edge of the room (2 feet)hits another elbow and down threw the floor. and i do it with more than 1 table no problems so far.

 

[Guest 18340]

Are 2 elbows necessary, or can i get away with 1?

 

[manitu]

I think you will get REALLY green grass where the pipe exits the garage....

.manitu