Loading...
24/7 Emergency Drain Cleaning Service Available
1-844-470-0597Loading...
Calculate proper drain slope
Kansas receives 30 inches of annual rainfall.
Climate Zone
4
Electricity
$0.13/kWh
Labor Costs
85% avg
Calculate or verify proper drain pipe slope
Enter measurements to calculate the existing slope of a pipe run.
Kansas is in Climate Zone 4 - Mixed-Humid/Mixed-Dry (balanced heating and cooling). Homes here typically have higher heating demands than cooling.
Drain slope is measured as drop per unit of horizontal distance:
Standard is 1/4 inch per foot (about 2%) for pipes 3 inches and smaller. Pipes 4 inches and larger can use 1/8 inch per foot (about 1%). Maximum slope is typically 1/2 inch per foot.
Yes. If a drain is too steep, water flows faster than solids, leaving waste behind to accumulate. This is why code limits slope to about 1/2 inch per foot maximum.
Measure the elevation at two points a known distance apart. Divide the elevation difference by the distance. For example, 3 inches of drop over 12 feet is 0.25 inches per foot (3/12=0.25).
Bellies form when soil settles unevenly beneath a pipe, or when pipe supports fail. Water and waste collect in the low spot, leading to slow drains, odors, and eventually clogs.