Expert: Anthony - The Plumber - 10/30/2009

Question
QUESTION: when the washing machine drains, sometimes the down stairs toilet bubbles then the water is suck down and then the next cycle of the washer the toilet backs up. I have invested in a professional snake and over the last two years I have had to snake out the line about every six months, before that we had professional plumbers doing it. Not once has there actually been anything pulled from the pipe, until recently. Over the last 8 weeks the line backs up every weekend when we do the laundry.  Normal use during the week does not cause a problem. Recently I pulled roots out of the line and that allowed one week of relief. Funny thing is I had snaked that line for 4 weeks before that with nothing so I find this a bit surprising. so a lay out of the system. two story house built in 1962 in Salem Oregon. two bathrooms up stairs one down with kitchen and laundry. Laundry is furthermost away with possible 2" line that is not used because it overflows so washing machine discharge is into laundry sink which flows very well, this line runs to the kitchen sink then off to meet the discharge from the downstairs toilet, the elbow from the toilet to the point of entry of the laundry/sink is four feet, it then runs a few more feet into a Y where it meets the upstairs. the upstairs line comes from the other side of the house, at the Y they run to out the front of the house to the city main line. the distance from the Y to the exit of under the house is 18 feet, then 36 feet to the street. I do not know the distance from the bend exiting the house to the bend to obtain the grade through the yard but with my snake it feels about 2 - 4 feet. I have a 75 foot snake so I am pretty sure I make it almost if not completely to the city main. The roots were encounter between 40 to 50 feet and the last two times I snaked the line, it was clean. Vents; the Laundry sink vents directly out the roof above, it was snaked and it is clear. The kitchen sink and down stairs toilet are a different situation, the Kitchen sink runs up over the kitchen and with a few bends meets up to the vent from the toilet which comes out of the bathroom, turns 90 degrees and meets the kitchen in a T then runs another 6 feet turns 90 degrees up and exits the roof. I was not able to snake this line due to the bends %26 and I was not about to drag my big snake on the roof. It is galvanized pipe and I was not able to break the treads (need more tools). When we moved in 4 yrs ago this was an occasional problem but as I have cleared the laundry line it pretty much drains immediately down the drain as opposed to 4 years ago when we were worried that the sink was going to overflow. I realize the pipe is undersized, galvanized and cast iron. I have been under the house %26 I know I can replace the pipe myself but this was not an expected expense. So do you think I have a vent problem, partial clog problem, both? I was thinking of renting a camera to have a look see and also thinking about changing the vent for the downstairs toilet, kitchen sink. and laundry sink if it is a vent problem. Any suggestions?

ANSWER: Emmett,

I believe you have a drain problem that has recently gotten serious.

The clue is that now you are getting roots when you weren't getting any
before.  This means you have an active root issue.

If you can camera the line yourself, then I would invest the money to
do this, even if you have to contact a plumbing company that can do this
for you.

Then, I would remove the section of pipe the roots have intruded upon as
well as installing an additionally cleanout to accommodate the full length
of your main waste system.

Let me know what you decide to do.

Hope this helps.



Regards,


Anthony



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---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: I snaked the line again last night and it was clear, water flows from the vertical stack and I get a little bubbling. the downstairs toilet does not hold water, it will eventually leek out to just below the exit point. I snaked the vents for the downstairs toilet and the Kitchen. Is it possible that the toilet is no longer functioning correctly? I will find the sewer line in the yard and remove the box woods and pipe. is it ok to use one of those rubber cuplings under ground?

Answer
Emmett,

Clearing the vertical riser between floors is good, but snaking the vents is
usually not necessary.

I would concentrate on the main waste line and make sure that remains clear.

As for the rubber couplings with two metal bands, yes, you can use them.

Keep me posted on your progress.


Anthony