Plumber Help

  • STEVES
    New Richmond, Wi
    Posts: 724
    November 13, 2012 at 2:06 am #1279529

    This weekend we had a plumbing problem in the basement. The floor drain backed up and a toilet overflowed. We have a septic system with a pump to get the liquids to the drain field(mound). I called the pump truck and he pumped us out. He said everything looked normal in the tank. Everything is working now. (It was working before the pumper got here with the exception of “evidence” around the toilet and drain.

    Today I got a camera and snaked it down the clean out to the tank. The only thing that seemed wrong was a half inch of water in the last 5-8 ft of pipe before the tank. I flushed the toilets in the house and ran the sinks and the water seemed to drain properly.

    Any ideas? (I know, more fiber) Thanks

    big_g
    Isle, MN
    Posts: 22538
    November 13, 2012 at 2:11 am #1111732

    I would guess the lift pump didn’t kick on, maybe the float stuck ? Do you have a overfull alarm ?

    kwp
    Eden Prairie
    Posts: 857
    November 13, 2012 at 2:11 am #1111733

    I am sure Mike W. can help you out…

    STEVES
    New Richmond, Wi
    Posts: 724
    November 13, 2012 at 2:36 am #1111738

    Quote:

    I would guess the lift pump didn’t kick on, maybe the float stuck ? Do you have a overfull alarm ?

    No alarm. Filter was “clean”. Tank didn’t appear to have over filled with liquids. An alarm is on my to do list.

    Mike W
    MN/Anoka/Ham lake
    Posts: 13310
    November 13, 2012 at 2:52 am #1111739

    How old is the pump? That is one thing you dont want to be working on borrowed time.

    Kinda sounds to me like the float stuck or you had a partial blockage that might of opened back up. Keep in mind that you want the pump to kick on before the water level gets into the main drain line. If it is above this point solids can drop in the piping and cause clogging problems.

    I have also seen floats (wish I hadnt) get bogged down with soap or grease build up on them. They also do not last for ever. Some crack or find other ways to get water logged. If you tank has a lot of build up on the sides clean it out. It can break off, float around and get hung up on the float.

    Working on failed lift stations sucks. Puked in the last one I opened up it was so bad. Needless to say I dont open them up for free.

    puddlepounder
    Cove Bay Mille Lacs lake MN
    Posts: 1814
    November 13, 2012 at 3:54 am #1111753

    what tank was pumped??? the lift tank down the basement or the tank outside. i was having a intermittent backup problem a few years back. basement toilet would backup, shower would not drain. i would jiggle the lift pump discharge and it would kick on. it would run fine for a week or two and i would have to jiggle it again. finely replaced the lift pump and all is well. did it myself, not to bad of a job. i was cht certified when i was in the navy, so i do have some experience with chit.

    STEVES
    New Richmond, Wi
    Posts: 724
    November 13, 2012 at 11:35 pm #1111945

    Thanks for the input and sorry I couldn’t get back sooner. I don’t have access to a computer at work. The house was built in 2006 so the pump is the same age. Both tanks were pumped. The lift pump is outside in the second or liquid only tank and pumps to the mound.

    The basement has 2 thrones a tub and a floor drain. I assume only one pipe was installed under the concrete and services all the drains. The clean out is “down hill” from everything in the basement. The floor drain and toilet that overflowed are the farthest “up hill” in the basement. This makes me believe the problem is above the clean out. Does tis make sense? I’m not sure if I can get the camera thru the trap in the floor drain or if there is a service bypass.

    Could a failing lift pump cause a back up that would skip a toilet and a tub and effect the next two drains up the line?

    jeff_huberty
    Inactive
    Posts: 4941
    November 14, 2012 at 11:40 am #1111988

    If your basement drain is a gravity service directly to your outside tank, you need make sure there is not a backwater valve in the line.
    These were installed when there is a possible back up from the tanks getting into your basement.Considering that you found no problems with your pump or tanks, the device itself could be the source of your backup.

    big_g
    Isle, MN
    Posts: 22538
    November 14, 2012 at 12:50 pm #1111995

    Gotta be a restricted pipe. Like you said, if they are “uphill” thats a sign, it is not a tank overfull issue. Especially if the “tub” (2nd lowest drain, next to the floor drain” didn’t back up and a toilet did

    chappy
    Hastings, MN
    Posts: 4854
    November 14, 2012 at 3:07 pm #1112020

    Hate to Hi jack ZITS post, But I have a problem too. Mine is that when I flush the toilet,It goes down and fills to a “normal” level. But afer a minute or so it all drains down and there is only enough in the bowl to fill the exit. Any ideas? Thanks

    jeff_huberty
    Inactive
    Posts: 4941
    November 14, 2012 at 3:15 pm #1112022

    Sounds like you may have a partially blocked drain,if a plugged main is blocking the free flow of air it will cause the bowl to siphon.
    Or it could be a blocked vent pipe,typically kind of rare event, but not out of the question.

    chappy
    Hastings, MN
    Posts: 4854
    November 14, 2012 at 3:37 pm #1112034

    I have run a snake down it a couple different times.Guess I’ll have to check the 2nd option. Does each toilet have it’s own vent?

    jeff_huberty
    Inactive
    Posts: 4941
    November 14, 2012 at 5:48 pm #1112075

    Depends on how many Bathrooms You have in your home and their location.

    Before you flush the toilet is there enough water in the bowl? Or is it just not refilling?

    Mike W
    MN/Anoka/Ham lake
    Posts: 13310
    November 14, 2012 at 7:23 pm #1112100

    Quote:

    I have run a snake down it a couple different times.Guess I’ll have to check the 2nd option. Does each toilet have it’s own vent?

    Before running around checking vents and such check inside the toilet tank. Make sure bowl fill tube is in the over flow tube and water is coming out of it. This is what refills the bowl after flushing,

    chappy
    Hastings, MN
    Posts: 4854
    November 15, 2012 at 10:32 am #1112257

    When I flush it, It fills the bowl up to normal level and then within a couple minutes,it drains down to just enough to cover the exit…I add water to it and that also drains down. This all began about a year ago. Original toilet.(19 yrs)

    jeff_huberty
    Inactive
    Posts: 4941
    November 15, 2012 at 11:30 am #1112266

    If you are pouring water into the bowl and it drains out then another thing to look at is there could be a sand hole, or defect in the bowl,depending on the age of the fixture.
    Older toilets are pretty much bullit proof, the ones that have been made for the past decade or so are not so reliable. When they cast the bowls it is not uncommon for then to have sand holes, and they will then put a cheap patch over them that can fail.

    Mike W
    MN/Anoka/Ham lake
    Posts: 13310
    November 15, 2012 at 2:09 pm #1112338

    Sounds like maybe a partial clog Chappy. Keep trying the closet auger. If that doesnt help might have to pull it up and flip it over to see what is in there. You could always try the ice fishing camera in there to. Maybe see if you can borrow one from BK.

    jeff_huberty
    Inactive
    Posts: 4941
    November 15, 2012 at 3:00 pm #1112362

    Quote:

    You could always try the ice fishing camera in there to. Maybe see if you can borrow one from BK.

    Thats a great Idea BK is always filming sewer trout.

    Mike W
    MN/Anoka/Ham lake
    Posts: 13310
    November 15, 2012 at 3:43 pm #1112380

    Just tell him you want to take a look at a log jam in one of you favorite spots.

    Okay, thats it for my toilet humor today.

    Denny O
    Central IOWA
    Posts: 5827
    November 16, 2012 at 12:02 am #1112544

    I’m thinking with a 19 year old potty I think he said.

    Running a heavey coat hanger through the rinse holes that create the swirll action that are under the rim clean them out. Then go after the bottom flush hole that acts as a push in the right direction.

    AM I off track?
    I’m thinking that it could be a build-up of deposits in the water flush ports. But with that said, I yeild the plumbers that make their money every day from this.

    btw,(I started learning about plumbing and sewer work when I became a teenager under my Dad.)

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