At least I assume this is a vent stack problem but….
According to my father-in-law, every time the clothes washer kicks in, it literally sucks water out of the bowl of the toilet. I’ve never actually seen it happen, but he assures me it does. And yes, that’s as best he can describe it. He tells me it sucks about half the water out of the bowl. The laundry is next to their bathroom so it may share a vent stack. (Since I didn’t do the plumbing in this house, I’m not sure how they ran the stacks or if they’re up to codes. It’s a rural county, so things are a bit less strict. They probably only had a foundation, framing & final inspection.)
I know it’s not the water going into the washer that could do this since the toilet bowl water can’t possibly suck back up into the tank and then back down the line to the washer – too much gravity and a one way valve in the toilet tank. So can this be some sort of suction created when the washer empties into the drain or what?
Or is the old guy crazy? Any ideas? Thanks!
Replies
Yup, it happens.
My terlet loses water when the wind is real strong..must create a vacuume at the stack top.
Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks
"Success is not spontaneous combustion, you have to set yourself on Fire"
the vent stack is probably upstream of the toilet...
should be downstream of the toilet and upstream of the washer discharge into the main drain line.
It can be complicated, but when a waher is dumping, the vent is actually allowing air into the drain system to prevent a vacuum that can suck the traps (the toilet has a trap) dry.
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Edited 1/2/2008 5:41 pm by Hackinatit
what's a vent stack?
It takes studs to build a house
That part of the plumbing system that sticks up through the roof. It allows air in to avoid a vacuume, and stink from the septic to exit out.Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks
"Success is not spontaneous combustion, you have to set yourself on Fire"
that's what I thought
It takes studs to build a house
the plumbing pipe that sticks out of the roof...
prevents a vaccum lock in the drain lines..
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Actually .... the vent stack is the common vertical pipe for fixture venting until it passes the highest vent connection, after which it referred to as the stack vent (where it passes through the roof).
Jeff
Awe,,you just made that up! (G)Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks
"Success is not spontaneous combustion, you have to set yourself on Fire"
here's a vent stack / stack vent tip for ya ...
after U run the very first one thru the roof and have the vent stack / stack vent boot all nice and tight and shingled in .... spray that bright white piece of plastic sticking thru the roof with a spray paint that matches the shingles ...
helps something fairly ugly blend right in.
tell them U thot it up all by yourself.
Jeff
might even be able to "lighten" abs ... never tried. Buck Construction
Artistry In Carpentry
Pittsburgh Pa
we keep ours white... we want people to know we have indoor plumbing...
p
Thats great!Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks
"Success is not spontaneous combustion, you have to set yourself on Fire"
thought I read on some pvc product that it had to be painted to be protected from uv????
Dunno, but we've covered a fair number with lead or copper boots.Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks
"Success is not spontaneous combustion, you have to set yourself on Fire"
I didn't know you were from Arkansas?
spray that bright white piece of plastic sticking thru the roof with a spray paint that matches the shingles ...dont you love plumber that will have the vent exit the roof on the front of the house
Yeah, the toilet's improperly vented. Probably no biggie, but hard to say what worse things may be present with the plumbing.
Check the stack, could be a nest or a critter.