ᐅ Drainage pipe below the slab is blocked. Suspected ventilation issue.
Created on: 11 May 2021 11:40
T
Tx-25Hello,
this might take a bit longer because quite a lot has already happened.
We moved in last year on June 1st. Since then, we have had a clog 4 or 5 times. It always starts with the upstairs toilet gurgling, meaning the trap is emptying itself.
I have attached a picture of the pipes below the slab as well as the pipe layout with labels.
Here’s what has happened so far:
We used a camera from the drain (gully) to the foundation, where the pipe was intact and clear. Unfortunately, the camera couldn’t be pushed around the bend at the foundation. We also inspected the pipe with a camera from the utility room during the second to last clog. The pipe was completely full of water, so we couldn’t see anything through the camera. From the utility room, we also used a drain snake, and I observed from the outside drain to see what was happening. The snake was pushed under the foundation to the outside but didn’t bring anything out. This means the main line from the kitchen and utility room was relatively clear. Most likely, the smaller branch line from the utility room sink to the main line is always filled with water. Unfortunately, the camera broke that day, so we couldn’t inspect the pipe from the guest bathroom anymore. Since the clog wasn’t resolved, I later ran water everywhere until it eventually cleared.
We suspect the problem is exactly where the line from the guest toilet connects to the main line from the kitchen. Once the clog is noticed, we try to clear it with water by flushing and running all the taps. Eventually, this causes both toilets to stop draining and also the sink and shower in the guest bathroom to drain very slowly. The water in the toilet can then sit for up to 15 minutes before draining. I also already tried a plunger without success. The clogged shower only bubbles but nothing more happens. The kitchen and utility room drains have always been fine. However, the camera showed a pipe full of water. We didn’t investigate further because the water blocked the view. Probably only the small branch from the utility room sink was full of water. The strange thing is that the water from the kitchen and utility room reaches the drain clearly. So the main clog is likely not there.
When we run water in the kitchen and utility room, it reaches the drain properly. Occasionally some toilet paper gets through. To finally clear the clog, the best method is to fill the sinks in the kitchen and utility room and then let them drain all at once. Then the whole clog passes through (even though the pipe should be clear). So, is it possible that the clog is only located right at the junction between the two pipes?
Now about the venting: I believe the plumber completely misplanned the venting. According to the picture, the vent is located where it can be seen. So only about 50cm (20 inches) of pipe under the slab is vented, correct?
To improve this, I installed Wirquin air neo traps in the guest bathroom and upstairs bathroom. According to the manufacturer, a membrane opens there if negative pressure occurs. Since we installed them about 3 to 4 weeks ago, the clog happened again this morning. Would it still make sense to install some kind of vent on the kitchen trap? That line is not vented at all yet. Can you recommend anything here? Are there other measures or advice you could suggest?
We have already given the plumber deadlines and follow-up deadlines for other defects, which he ignored. So we cannot expect any further help from him.
this might take a bit longer because quite a lot has already happened.
We moved in last year on June 1st. Since then, we have had a clog 4 or 5 times. It always starts with the upstairs toilet gurgling, meaning the trap is emptying itself.
I have attached a picture of the pipes below the slab as well as the pipe layout with labels.
Here’s what has happened so far:
We used a camera from the drain (gully) to the foundation, where the pipe was intact and clear. Unfortunately, the camera couldn’t be pushed around the bend at the foundation. We also inspected the pipe with a camera from the utility room during the second to last clog. The pipe was completely full of water, so we couldn’t see anything through the camera. From the utility room, we also used a drain snake, and I observed from the outside drain to see what was happening. The snake was pushed under the foundation to the outside but didn’t bring anything out. This means the main line from the kitchen and utility room was relatively clear. Most likely, the smaller branch line from the utility room sink to the main line is always filled with water. Unfortunately, the camera broke that day, so we couldn’t inspect the pipe from the guest bathroom anymore. Since the clog wasn’t resolved, I later ran water everywhere until it eventually cleared.
We suspect the problem is exactly where the line from the guest toilet connects to the main line from the kitchen. Once the clog is noticed, we try to clear it with water by flushing and running all the taps. Eventually, this causes both toilets to stop draining and also the sink and shower in the guest bathroom to drain very slowly. The water in the toilet can then sit for up to 15 minutes before draining. I also already tried a plunger without success. The clogged shower only bubbles but nothing more happens. The kitchen and utility room drains have always been fine. However, the camera showed a pipe full of water. We didn’t investigate further because the water blocked the view. Probably only the small branch from the utility room sink was full of water. The strange thing is that the water from the kitchen and utility room reaches the drain clearly. So the main clog is likely not there.
When we run water in the kitchen and utility room, it reaches the drain properly. Occasionally some toilet paper gets through. To finally clear the clog, the best method is to fill the sinks in the kitchen and utility room and then let them drain all at once. Then the whole clog passes through (even though the pipe should be clear). So, is it possible that the clog is only located right at the junction between the two pipes?
Now about the venting: I believe the plumber completely misplanned the venting. According to the picture, the vent is located where it can be seen. So only about 50cm (20 inches) of pipe under the slab is vented, correct?
To improve this, I installed Wirquin air neo traps in the guest bathroom and upstairs bathroom. According to the manufacturer, a membrane opens there if negative pressure occurs. Since we installed them about 3 to 4 weeks ago, the clog happened again this morning. Would it still make sense to install some kind of vent on the kitchen trap? That line is not vented at all yet. Can you recommend anything here? Are there other measures or advice you could suggest?
We have already given the plumber deadlines and follow-up deadlines for other defects, which he ignored. So we cannot expect any further help from him.
We just discussed this exact topic recently – didn’t you find your "old" thread https://www.hausbau-forum.de/threads/verstopfung-unterhalb-bodenplatte-raetsel.38779/ anymore?
https://www.instagram.com/11antgmxde/
https://www.linkedin.com/company/bauen-jetzt/
https://www.instagram.com/11antgmxde/
https://www.linkedin.com/company/bauen-jetzt/
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