I noticed when someone takes a shower in my one-and-only bathroom, what I think is the vent pipe gets warm and I can hear water running through it down in the basement. There are two pipes connected to the sewer line in the basement of my 1927 house. On the right is a 4-6″ cast iron pipe with bell connections leading up where my second-floor bathroom would be. 8-10 feet to the left is a 2-3″ galvanized pipe which seems to line up with the vent through my roof.
I can definitely hear water in the pipe on the left when someone takes a shower. Haven’t tested yet what happens when someone flushes the toilet or runs the sink. I also hear a burbling sound from the kitchen drain when the shower’s running.
Is this a sign that the waste line is clogged somewhere between the shower and the cast-iron waste pipe? Should there ever be anything flowing in a vent line?
Thanks so much for your thoughts and suggestions on this.
-Kevin Zembower
Replies
It sounds like both of the pipes you described are drain lines from different parts of the house. Your vent pipes are not likely to be down in the basement. The vents will more likely connect at a much higher elevation in the system.
Kevin Halliburton
"One machine can do the work of fifty ordinary men. No machine can do the work of one extraordinary man." -Elbert Hubbard-
Based on what you've said, I'd guess the cast iron pipe drains the toilet. The galvanized pipe is more than likely the drain for the shower and sink.
The vents are porobably combined somewhere back in the wall and go up through the roof.
Lost your cat? Look under my tires.
Thank you both, Kevin and Boss Hog. I always thought that the vent ran all the way from the roof down to the horizontal pipe that went out to the sewer in the street. I really need to look at some plumbing diagrams before I ask dumb questions.
Thanks, again.
-Kevin
Hey, get me into an electrical panel and you haven't hear a dumb question yet. none of us know it all... makes this forum all the more important.
Besides, no one with your name could be anything less than brilliant! Welcome to Breaktime- jump on in!Kevin Halliburton
"One machine can do the work of fifty ordinary men. No machine can do the work of one extraordinary man." -Elbert Hubbard-