azw
Dec 8, 2008, 10:31 PM
Hello,
I am wondering about the best way to fix a sluggish toilet. This toilet has never flushed well. We often have to pour a bucket of water down it to get it to flush completely.
When I look into the joist space under this toilet, I don't see any vent connected to it.
In the photo below, you can see a 3" pipe Wye. Follow the branch of the Wye that goes up. Just after it curves to the right (where it's supported by a 2x4) is the end of the pipe and the toilet flange. The flange is probably 40" from the Wye.
A bath tub and kitchen sink also empty into that same drain line. Both of these appear to be vented, but their vents are at least 12' away from the toilet.
https://www.askmehelpdesk.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=14399&stc=1&d=1228800304
If you were to follow the 3" pipe that runs left to right in the photo, about 8' further to the left (including a 90° bend), there's the 3" goes up to the roof as a vent. I'm guessing that there used to be a toilet there. (No, not on the roof... but then again... who knows!)
In the photo below, you can see that the 3" toilet drain is close to a 2" vent that joins with the 3" in the attic. I could open the wall behind the toilet and connect the vent to a new Wye on the 3" drain.
https://www.askmehelpdesk.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=14398&stc=1&d=1228797365
I've got even better access to a 1 1/2" pipe near where it joins the 2" vent. I could connect there fairly easily without opening the wall, but the connection would be lower than the toilet flange and the pipe is only 1 1/2", so it's probably a bad idea. (I have no idea why that 1 1/2" pipe is there. It runs toward the 3" and may join with the 3" as it heads down the wall. Maybe it was once a sink drain, but it's no longer used.)
How would you fix this mess?
Would installing a pressure-assisted toilet help?
Please let me know if you want me to try drawing a diagram of the complete tangle.
I am wondering about the best way to fix a sluggish toilet. This toilet has never flushed well. We often have to pour a bucket of water down it to get it to flush completely.
When I look into the joist space under this toilet, I don't see any vent connected to it.
In the photo below, you can see a 3" pipe Wye. Follow the branch of the Wye that goes up. Just after it curves to the right (where it's supported by a 2x4) is the end of the pipe and the toilet flange. The flange is probably 40" from the Wye.
A bath tub and kitchen sink also empty into that same drain line. Both of these appear to be vented, but their vents are at least 12' away from the toilet.
https://www.askmehelpdesk.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=14399&stc=1&d=1228800304
If you were to follow the 3" pipe that runs left to right in the photo, about 8' further to the left (including a 90° bend), there's the 3" goes up to the roof as a vent. I'm guessing that there used to be a toilet there. (No, not on the roof... but then again... who knows!)
In the photo below, you can see that the 3" toilet drain is close to a 2" vent that joins with the 3" in the attic. I could open the wall behind the toilet and connect the vent to a new Wye on the 3" drain.
https://www.askmehelpdesk.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=14398&stc=1&d=1228797365
I've got even better access to a 1 1/2" pipe near where it joins the 2" vent. I could connect there fairly easily without opening the wall, but the connection would be lower than the toilet flange and the pipe is only 1 1/2", so it's probably a bad idea. (I have no idea why that 1 1/2" pipe is there. It runs toward the 3" and may join with the 3" as it heads down the wall. Maybe it was once a sink drain, but it's no longer used.)
How would you fix this mess?
Would installing a pressure-assisted toilet help?
Please let me know if you want me to try drawing a diagram of the complete tangle.