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Plumbing question: Ice machine drain

Posted on 2/10/16 at 9:18 am
Posted by VetteGuy
Member since Feb 2008
28107 posts
Posted on 2/10/16 at 9:18 am
If you put a ice machine in a garage do you have to plumb the drain line into the main drain?
Posted by CaptainsWafer
TD Platinum Member
Member since Feb 2006
58314 posts
Posted on 2/10/16 at 9:20 am to
As far as what code says?


FTR I don't know the official answer. Just helping to clarify the question.
Posted by CanShakersDecayedNut
Member since Sep 2006
3144 posts
Posted on 2/10/16 at 9:22 am to
You could just plumb it to a storm drain.
Posted by ksayetiger
Centenary Gents
Member since Jul 2007
68272 posts
Posted on 2/10/16 at 9:24 am to
Run it outside. Just water.

Except when you pour bleach to clean it out.
Posted by VetteGuy
Member since Feb 2008
28107 posts
Posted on 2/10/16 at 9:25 am to
quote:

As far as what code says?


Both, I guess.

I have a call into our plumber, but just wondered about the answer.
Posted by Scooba
Member since Jun 2013
19999 posts
Posted on 2/10/16 at 9:27 am to
quote:

Run it outside. Just water.



I was thinking it would be similar to a drip pan drain on a window unit. It's just water; but don't take my word for it. I'm no plumber.
Posted by CaptainsWafer
TD Platinum Member
Member since Feb 2006
58314 posts
Posted on 2/10/16 at 9:27 am to
The easy answer would be to run it outside and let it drain like the AC or water heater pan if it's not into plumbing.
Posted by 4WHLN
Drinking at the Cottage Inn
Member since Mar 2013
7579 posts
Posted on 2/10/16 at 9:28 am to
quote:

do you have to plumb the drain line into the main drain?

Tie it into the closest existing pipe and your good to go
Posted by 4WHLN
Drinking at the Cottage Inn
Member since Mar 2013
7579 posts
Posted on 2/10/16 at 9:31 am to
quote:

The easy answer would be to run it outside and let it drain like the AC or water heater pan


only issue with this is now you would have a wet spot year round next to your house. Ice machines put out a lot of water continuously.
Posted by terd ferguson
Darren Wilson Fan Club President
Member since Aug 2007
108738 posts
Posted on 2/10/16 at 9:32 am to
Do you already have a plumbing drain in your garage? If not, it might be damn near impossible to run to an existing line inside the house (due to drop over distance).

I would say its entirely dependent on your plumbing layout and where the ice machine will be installed.
This post was edited on 2/10/16 at 9:33 am
Posted by VetteGuy
Member since Feb 2008
28107 posts
Posted on 2/10/16 at 9:37 am to
quote:

Do you already have a plumbing drain in your garage?


We have one in the bathroom, but man, I don't know how you'd tie into it without doing a ton of work.
Posted by VetteGuy
Member since Feb 2008
28107 posts
Posted on 2/10/16 at 9:39 am to
quote:

where the ice machine will be installed


Yeah, the ice machine would be on the back wall, towards the rear yard. The garage bathroom is the on the left side.
Posted by 4WHLN
Drinking at the Cottage Inn
Member since Mar 2013
7579 posts
Posted on 2/10/16 at 9:41 am to
quote:

We have one in the bathroom, but man, I don't know how you'd tie into it without doing a ton of work.

Its going to be a PITA! You will have to saw cut out the concrete from ice machine to the bathroom line you want to tie into. Its doable, just might not be cost effective.
Posted by CanShakersDecayedNut
Member since Sep 2006
3144 posts
Posted on 2/10/16 at 9:42 am to
Ice Machines put out a lot of water. The ice is constantly melting in order to keep the ice fresh. I'd be surprised if you didnt' end up with an issue in your yard.
Posted by terd ferguson
Darren Wilson Fan Club President
Member since Aug 2007
108738 posts
Posted on 2/10/16 at 9:43 am to
quote:

Yeah, the ice machine would be on the back wall, towards the rear yard. The garage bathroom is the on the left side.


Sounds doable... is there a sink in the bathroom?
Posted by jbgleason
Bailed out of BTR to God's Country
Member since Mar 2012
18897 posts
Posted on 2/10/16 at 9:44 am to
Put the machine on an exterior wall, punch a hole through the wall and run the drain into your yard/flower bed and down a couple of feet into a homemade French drain.

This will sound crazy but I did this at my last house. Small laundry basket filled with medium sized stones. Wrap entire basket in that flower bed mesh you buy at Home Depot. Run the hose into the middle of the basket and bury the whole thing a couple of feet down. It will disperse the drain off into the surrounding ground and you won't have the aforementioned wet spot in your yard. I did this for an outdoor kitchen sink and had zero issues. That's a lot more water than an ice maker will put out. Up to code? No. But who is looking at that? Since it's clean water, I would rather have it in my yard than going into the sewer anyway.
Posted by pennypacker3
Charleston
Member since Aug 2014
2736 posts
Posted on 2/10/16 at 9:47 am to
Drain should drip into a larger drain and not be connected. The two pipes should not touch to decrease the chance of contamination from the drainage lines of the house.

ETA: Had a situation much like yours and had to elevate the ice machine to accommodate the existing drainage at the site. Good Luck.
This post was edited on 2/10/16 at 9:53 am
Posted by Hammertime
Will trade dowsing rod for titties
Member since Jan 2012
43030 posts
Posted on 2/10/16 at 9:48 am to
Put it anywhere not draining on the floor
Posted by terd ferguson
Darren Wilson Fan Club President
Member since Aug 2007
108738 posts
Posted on 2/10/16 at 9:52 am to
quote:

down a couple of feet into a homemade French drain.


I was thinking of something like that too.

To get it into the plumbing drain will probably require a pump (more $$$)
Posted by JohnZeroQ
Pelicans of Lafourche
Member since Jan 2012
8513 posts
Posted on 2/10/16 at 9:53 am to
Ran one to the edge of warehouse... put a rubber hose from drain to a opening in the framework of building. Very little water drains so it matters not IMO
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