Any plumbers?

[DevilDamo]

We have a slight problem at home with the utility sink.

Have a look at the photo...

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a229/DevilDamo/Pipework2.jpg

1. T-pipe
2. Trap
3. Washing machine waste

Now, the sink and washing machine waste "should" go through into the T-pipe, through the trap and then out to a gully.

However, the sink and washing machine waste go into the T-pipe, through the trap, which then clogs up and because of that, it then causes the sink to backup and overflow.

Today, I have removed all the pipework, cleaned it out as there was lots of what looked like clay (i.e. hard water?) and put it all back again. I also went outside and cleaned the two drains as well as the gully. I have read on the internet that appliances should have their own waste disposal. We've had this problem for about a month now. It never used to happen.

Can anybody shed some light on the subject and give me some pointers as to what might be causing the overflow?

[saxo_jake]

ring a plumber

[stiffler69]

ring a plumber

Wow Couldnt you have kept your mouth shut if you never had anything productive to say

[Jackman]

ring a plumber

thats not the childish response's hes after.

why waste money on ringing a plumber when there is probably one on here willing to give free advice.

[smiith]

ring a plumber

that, actualy....

reall really really

most probably

is the most pointless post ever!

think mate, it might be coz if the washin machine is gettin old, all the crap from it will be washing dow the machines waste pipe and gettin stuck in the trap, sure washin machines have filters n whatnot, so if you dont clean em, silt is it called? goes down the waste pipe into the trap.

try cleanin out your washin machine, and check the waste pipe on it and whatnot :)

hope this helps

[stiffler69]

Pipe number one mate try turning it the opposite way so that the t piece is closer to the ubend i think whats happening is back pressure and by bringing the t-piece closer to the u-bend it may cause the back pressure to go the opposite way out of the pipe.

Just a suggestion im no plumber but that looks what it could be to me trapped air in the bend

[DevilDamo]

smiith... I was hoping to avoid doing that. But if all else fails, that will be the only option.

stiffler69... I tried that but the trap/U-bend will not connect to the T-pipe if turned the other way round.

[smiith]

only other suggestion i got is to move the T piece, and cut abit of pipe outa that bit where it goes straiught down the back of the wall, and T it into there, so the waster from the washing machine is after the trap, then the shit wont get stuck in the trap, in theory anyway.

then use the bit of pipe you cut out for the T piece, to replace where it origonaly was

[marc_safc]

why not take that t-peice out and replace it with a straight and then put another t-peice on the part further down after the trap where it goes behing the cupboard???

[smiith]

why not take that t-peice out and replace it with a straight and then put another t-peice on the part further down after the trap where it goes behing the cupboard???

thats my thought, im a joiner/roofer by trade :p bt i have done bits of plumbin. in theory, if the T is after the trap, it should wash itself straight down the waste, but before the trap, silt and shat will deposit itself into the trap and eventualy clog up.

all you will need to do to do it, is turn the water off, and get a saw to the pipe:)

make sure u measure it right tho, im sure merchants will only sell piping by the meter :P so ull be stuck with a shat load spare

[98silvervts]

if you put it after the trap the washing machine will stink of the drain!!!

the white / grey build up is washing powder..
i too have had a simular problem.

now you've cleared the pipe it should be ok now.. we now use liquid instead, no more blocked pipes

Pete

[Oli_K]

ur gonna need to replace the trap with a straight thru trap and then reconnect the washing machine waste below onto the trap waste, make sense ?

[DevilDamo]

I thought that if the T-pipe was located after the trap/U-bend (i.e. nearer to the back wall) then the build up shouldn't happen. But the thing that I can't understand is that this has only happened over the past month and the utility room has been there for 3/4 years now.

[DevilDamo]

I think the problem may lie a little deeper (i.e. below ground). I'm 99% sure the toilet and sink/washing machine waste go into the same pipe underground but the toilet's fine so there can't be anything wrong with the main pipe. However, the problem may lie where the sink/washing machine pipework joins the main pipework. It looks like we're going to move the washing machine outside where it was before we had the utility room built.

[GTI_TC]

hi mate,

i am a fully qualified plumber and there is nothing wrong with the pipework in the picture.

the waste traps do clog up over a period of time and need cleaning or replacing.

when the waste pipe goes out the wall does it run along and strap boss into the 4" black soil pipe for the toilet or does it just come out the wall and go straight into the drain?

there is a chemical that you can use called "one shot" but make sure you read instructions and use gloves and don't spill it down you otherwise your screwed!!

[Oli_K]

ah sorry didnt notice that it was fine before and just started to happen, get some drain unblocker see if that helps

[Barkham]

have you changed the brand of soap powered, maybe try the little gel packets you get.

[belly_VTS]

hi mate,

i am a fully qualified plumber and there is nothing wrong with the pipework in the picture.





second that.
theres nothing wrong at all with the way its plumbed up mate, so the problem might by with the washer machine itself.

[Predator_R32]

im in training damo :p

give me a few year :y:

but like said seems ok to me

with the T piece id see about putting in a swept T piece so the water flows a bit better, it may flush the trap better and reduce clogging up, you can only try

or

use one of these, and connect it up seperately to the sinks trap, you dont have to but its probablies a lot better

http://www.screwfix.com/prods/18640/Plumbing/Wastes-and-Traps/Washing-Machine-Trap-40mm

[belly_VTS]

normally, there will be a filter on your washing machine, that will filter the shyte that your finding in the trap, try cleaning/replacing that mate.

[Predator_R32]

or use some calgon to get rid of any limescale :y:

[DevilDamo]

Thanks for your help peeps :)

We had a friend round this morning who's a plumber by trade and he blew into the pipe which drops down into the ground and that has managed to clear it temporarily. So I think the problem still lays with the pipe that goes from the bottom of the sink pipework (i.e. at floor level) to where it connects to the main steel pipe.

[Predator_R32]

open the mnahole cover and get it cleaned out with some rods

[max_vtr]

Why not just ditch the t piece completely and replace with with a trap,then put in a washing machine waste,this would give the water being dispensed from the outlet of the washing machine a greater head of height and pressure to the flow and help prevent any blockages?

its extremely easy to install just need another trap,some 40mm pipe,and a strap on boss!!

[belly_VTS]

Why not just ditch the t piece completely and replace with with a trap,then put in a washing machine waste,this would give the water being dispensed from the outlet of the washing machine a greater head of height and pressure to the flow and help prevent any blockages?

its extremely easy to install just need another trap,some 40mm pipe,and a strap on boss!!

as devildamo said, the problem never use to happen, and has only been happening in the last month, so he shouldnt need to alter waste.

[max_vtr]

id check the main drains then "out with the rods" might be backing up!!