Can sewer lines have 90 degree bends?

Author: Assunta Harber  |  Last update: Wednesday, November 12, 2025

In some rare cases, such as when a home sewer goes around a structure or obstacle, a 90 degree bend must be used. In the trade this fitting is referred to as a “long sweep”; never use a 1/4 bend (90 degree short bend).

Can you have a 90 degree bend in a waste pipe?

It's recommended to avoid having a 90-degree bend as this will lead to blockages and unwanted damage.

Can sewer lines have bends?

You are allowed as many as you need, but after every 135 degrees of bend a cleanout must be installed. In addition after every 100′ of line a cleanout must be installed.

How steep can a sewer line be?

In other words, for every 100 feet the pipe travels horizontally, it should drop about half a foot vertically. A pipe with a 30-inch diameter should have a minimum of 0.06 feet (less than three-fourths of an inch) in slope per 100 feet.

Does a sewer line have to be straight?

General. 1) Sewer lines shall be laid on a straight alignment and uniform slope between consecutive manholes. 2) Horizontal and vertical curves in sanitary sewers are not permitted.

Long Sweep 90 Vs Short Sweep– The Exclusive Differences

What happens if drain slope is too steep?

If the gradient is steeper than 1 in 40, the liquid may run faster than the solids in the sloping foul water pipe. This can leave solids stranded and eventually cause a major blockage in the pipework, which can be incredibly disruptive for public sewer connections and pump stations.

Can a drain snake turn 90 degrees?

Snake Coil Size

Coils that are a quarter-inch in size have the necessary flexibility to get around corners and 90-degree turns, making them suitable for sinks and bathtubs.

Can a sewer line be curved?

Using our 8” SDR 35 sewer pipe as an example, the pipe can be uniformly curved along the barrel of the pipe. There is a minimum radius of curvature, which for this pipe is 200 feet. Per the following calculation, this allows curving across one 20-foot length piece of 5.73°.

Can a shower drain have a 90-degree elbow?

Yes, you can use a 90-degree elbow in a shower drain to redirect the plumbing.

Can a sewer line have a 45 degree angle?

Re: Are 45 degree fittings allowed in horizontal drain pipe? To answer your question, yes they are allowed, but only in a horizontal configuration. You cannot use them to change elevation.

Can a toilet drain have a 90?

At the bottom of stacks, the best practice is to install a sweep 90 fitting. These fittings have a slightly greater radius than a short 90 fitting. The longer radius is very friendly to drain-cleaning snakes. This is exactly why plumbers have used sweep-90 fittings for decades.

What is the pipe bending rule?

General Rule

Wrought iron or steel pipe of standard weight may readily be bent to a radius equal to five or six times the nominal pipe diameter. Also, the minimum radius for a standard weight pipe should be 3 to 4 times the diameter.

How many bends can you have in a waste pipe?

There isn't a rule on a maximum number of bends, but the least amount of bends/ chain of directions is better. This will help prevent blockages within the waste pipe. If the pipework has sufficient fall and minimal bends you should be okay!

Can you put a sleeve in a sewer line?

When dealing with a crack or broken sewer line the sleeve will work but only on a temporary basis. It is important to understand that the sleeve will not actually fix the broken pipe, it will only serve as additional support on the inside of the pipe.

What size is the sewer line in a residential house?

Depending on your local plumbing codes, the main sewer line for residential homes is usually 4 inches in diameter. You may think if the pipe were larger, more waste could travel without getting clogged.

Can a sewer line have a 90 degree elbow?

In drainage the Universal Plumbing Code requires long sweep 90 degree elbows for horizontal direction changes and at the bottom of stacks to go from vertical to horizontal regular 90 degree elbow are only allowed to turn down like in a horizontal to vertical direction change.

How steep can sewer pipe be?

The proper pitch on a house drain is very similar to the pitch on a sewer line for a home. The general rule is 1/4″ of pitch per foot of run. However, some other issues do come into play. An extreme amount of pitch can cause the wastewater inside the drain to flow extremely fast.

Can there be a curved line?

A curved line is a type of line that is not straight and is bent. It is continuous and smooth, without any sharp turns. We know that the curvature of the straight line is zero. Hence, when the curvature of a line is not zero, then we call it a curved line.

How to get a drain snake past an elbow?

Bend the end of the snake about 3 or 4 inches from the end before you insert it so it will more easily go around the corner when it encounters it. You can also try pulling back on the cable just a bit when you get to a corner.

Is 90 degrees too hot for a snake?

Boa Constrictor– Your boa requires a heat gradient inside its enclosure with a hot side of ~85 degrees, hot spot of ~90 degrees, and a cooler side in the high 70's. Ball Python– They need a hot spot of 90-95 degrees and a cooler side of 80-85 degrees.

Can you rod a 90-degree bend?

The drain rods are flexible enough to go round a 90-degree bend and have strong universal connections. They come with a 4” rubber disc to apply force and suction within the pipe.

How much slope is too much for a sewer?

Improper drain slope

You probably know that drains need to flow downhill into your sewer. But do you know the proper slope? The ideal slope of any drain line is ¼ inch per foot of pipe. In other words, for every foot the pipe travels horizontally, it should be dropping ¼ inch vertically.

What can happen if drainage lines are installed at too steep of an angle?

A slope that's too steep can cause water to flow too quickly, leaving solids behind, which can eventually result in a drain pipe blockage. On the other hand, a slope that's too shallow may not provide enough force for water to flow properly, leading to stagnant water and potential backups.

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