05:10 PM
bowhunting4
New Member Join Date: Apr 2008
Posts
My home was built in the 1970's it is vented but I am not sure how well. The washing machine is in the basement and when I run it it makes the toilet in the master bed (up stairs) drain and the toilet in the basement bathroom bubble. I recently replaced the old stall shower with a pre fabricated base and walls. I had to replumb the drain due to location of shower drain in base and drain in concrete floor. I had to shorten the existing drain and plumbed my shower drain into it. There are no blockages as far as I know but when you shower after about 5 minutes the water starts to leak up and around the pvc that I plumbed into the drain. I have tried to use silicone and numerous other things to stop the water from backing up around the pvc. The shower base and walls are already attached and framed into the bathroom. Is there anything I can do to stop the leak.

05:10 PM
bowhunting4
New Member Join Date: Apr 2008
Posts
my home was built in the 1970's it is vented but I am not sure how well. The washing machine is in the basement and when I run it it makes the toilet in the master bed (up stairs) drain and the toilet in the basement bathroom bubble. I recently replaced the old stall shower with a pre fabricated base and walls. I had to replumb the drain due to location of shower drain in base and drain in concrete floor. I had to shorten the existing drain and plumbed my shower drain into it. There are no blockages as far as I know but when you shower after about 5 minutes the water starts to leak up and around the pvc that I plumbed into the drain. I have tried to use silicone and numerous other things to stop the water from backing up around the pvc. The shower base and walls are already attached and framed into the bathroom. Is there anything I can do to stop the leak.
You have more then one problem. Let's address the shower first. Is the leak from around the drain lip? The trap? The pipes connected to the trap and drain? Exactly where? I can't be of much help until I know. I hope you bedded the base with mortar or cement. If you didn't you will have problems later on. I'll put up a shower drain tell me where it's leaking from. Regards, tom

I actually had to run plumbing from the shower drain like the one you put up to the existing floor drain. I used 2" pvc from the shower drain to the floor drain. The water is coming out of the floor drain from around th 2" pvc nothing seems to stop it.

OK, Time to fill me in. When you said Is the shower trapped? Did you just jam the PVC down into the floor drain and now it's backing up? (Answer these ones!) If so you will need to snake the floor drain and clear the line. Since it takes so long to back up the clog must be quite a way down stream. Good luck, Tom

I have snaked the floor drain and it did not help. The shower is the last one in line leaving the house. The floor drain is only about 6 feet from the main line leaving the house going to the septic tank. Everything else in the house with exeptions to the washing machine drains really good. The PVC goes into the floor drain about 5 inches and I tried to use silicone to seal it off. I don't know if that works or not. My plumbing skills are lacking to say the least. When I wash a load of laundry the toilet that is near the shower bubbles and gurgles. I don't know if this problem is related. Could it be as simple as bad venting.

I think Tom and I both may suspect the septic tank need a quick look too. If you have a 48 year old tank and field there may be issues there also. When was the tank last pumped and inspected? Can you find and open the tank lid, usually 24" buried?

The tank was pumped and inspected 2 years ago. The leach line also had work done to it at that time. My wife showered today and it leaked a bunch other times it does not leak that bad. I don't have any ideas how to stop the leak. Its like it backs back up around the pvc that I plumbed into the drain.

I had a problem about 6 months ago and the whole house was snaked by a local plumber. He ran the snake all the way to the tank and looked in the tank as well at that time. He did not seam to think that the tank was bad then. The only problem I am having is with this new shower drain.

Like Tom pointed out, you have two problems. You new shower drain was not properly connected and now it's a bear to fix unless you can reach the trap and drain from underneath. Since you mention the concrete floor that probably isn't going to be easy. It is the basement shower that we are talking about, right? The other issue is no matter how many times your plumbing has been snaked it is not flowing as fast as it should. Did you or the plumber rod the vent stack from the roof?

Yes it is the basement shower so it is not possible to get to the trap and drain from underneath. No neither the plumber or I have done anything with the vent stack. The leak is very slow so I agree it is a draining problem. Is there anyway to seal off the area around where the PVC goes into the existing floor drain to try to stop the leak?

Going to hafta ask it again Bow. OK, Time to fill me in. Is the shower trapped? Back to you, Tom

I don't know if the original drain was trapped. There was a floor drain cemented in when they poured the basement. The shower that was in the house when I bought it was plumbed directly into the drain. I had to use pvc to get the drain from the new shower over to the existing floor drain. I don't know what is under the basement floor.

I dont know if the original drain was trapped. There was a floor drain cemented in when they poured the basement. The shower that was in the house when I bought it was plumbed directly into the drain. I had to use pvc to get the drain from the new shower over to the existing floor drain. I dont know what is under the basement floor.
Not what I was asking about. I want to know if you installed a trap on the new shower? Regards, Tom

Unless I miss my guess this is like a shower Tom helped me with 3 months ago. When I ripped out the basement fiberglass shower stall I found a cast iron floor drain, trapped , under the shower. The old shower had a 2" PVC drain going straight down out of the shower floor into the floor drain, no true water tight connection but the floor drain flowed freely so it never backed up. If this is what you have it supports my thought that your drain is still not completely clear but you will have one heck of a time snaking through the shower drain and then the floor drain.

Tom no I did not trap it when I installed it. And it sounds exactly like ballengerb is saying. Any ideas how to solve the drain problem.

I really don't know anything about plumbing so I did not know to trap it. I had to raise the new shower up about 14" in order to get the new 2" PVC over to the cast iron floor drain that is in the floor. I have not had any issues with the shower draining up to the point of putting in the new shower. It is the last drain in the house and everything else drains very good. With the toilets bubbleing when the washing machine drains could I have a venting problem. I only have one vent leaving the house through the roof. I have no clue what to do and on County wages I can't afford to hire someone to try to figure out my problems.

Even though I said rodding would be difficult I would still try to rod. Start with a 1/4" round rod and see if yoy can get past the PVC/cast transition and then the trap. If you get past all this rod back and forth and roll the rod over making alike a candy cane as you push foward. Try a 1/2" rod if the 1/4" makes it in but I think you will hit a wall. Especially if you are using a flat rod.

If its safe to be on the roof rod with at least a 1/2" rod down from the roof to the basement floor and then 20' more. Some folks swear by dumping a 5 gallon bucket of hot water down the stack. Try it but after you rod.

tom no i did not trap it when i installed it. and it sounds exactly like ballengerb is saying. any ideas how to solve the drain problem.
I was thinking a double trap problem. Bob, I'm thinking double trap here. . If the new shower is trapped and instead in terminating in a indirect waste like you did he jammed it down in the floor drain and attempted to make it a closed system the shower trap would hinder the drain action of the floor drain.

But you shot that down. Do you know what a indirect waste is? Because I'm getting ready to give you instructions on how to terminate the shower drain. So, pull the shower drain out of the floor drain and let's test it out.
Take a 5 gallon bucket of water and keep pouring it down the floor drain until it backs up. How much water did it take before it backed up? Let me know! Tom

By rodding are you talking about a snake or is it a different thing all together? The roof is safe so I will try that. I have been told to use a garden hose and run water down the vent pipe is that a good idea or no? My father in law put the drain into the shower can you take the metal grate off without having to take the shower apart. Sorry guys like I said I am clueless when it comes to plumbing. If it was a criminal deal we were talking about I would be good but when it comes to plumbing it's a whole different story.

Heck, I wish you were my son-in-law, at least you are trying to fix things. Snake and rod are the same animal and both have more force than a garden hose. The hose may help and if the water builds back up to the roof in the stack you got your answer. Lets go with Tom because he's got so darn much experience I want to learn his tricks too. Get you bucket(s) ready and follow Tom's directions, I'd even get two buckets ready just for the fun of it.

Tom I don't believe I would be able to do that. I thought that it would work the way I had it due to the old shower being plumbed in the same way so I have already framed the shower in. I would have to take the whole thing out again drywall included to try this. Sorry. I have no clue what indirect waste is.

Bow, tell us how your father-in-law installed the drain, some fiberglass shower pans just use a big thick rubber collar around the PVC and they are removalable after your take out the screen.

Tom I dont believe I would be able to do that. I thought that it would work the way I had it due to the old shower being plumbed in the same way so I have already framed the shower in. I would have to take the whole thing out again drywall included to try this. sorry. I have no clue what indirect waste is.
You don't have to do anything to the shower. A indirect waste terminates a few inches above the drain,(see image) that's how it should have been terminated in the first place. I still want you to0 pour water down the floor drain to see if you have a blockage and if so how far out it is. Regards, Tom

The drain that he installed looks a lot like the one posted on the first page. It has threads on the main housing and there is a nut that tightens up under the floor of the shower. I will run down stairs and see if there is a way to take the top off without taking the shower apart and starting over. I will try the garden hose thing due to not being able to make it to town today. I live about 25 miles out of town and am on days off from work with gas at 4.00 a gallon I will try other things and then get a snake. Please keep the suggestions coming you guys are wonderful.

Bow just do it, Tom walked me through this a few months back and it really helped me.

Tom I will pour water down the drain and see how much it takes and get back with you. Thanks...

Bow, we were typing at the same time so my answer is based on posts 1-24 only, did not see #25 until now.

Just a little over five gallons and it started to bubble inside of the shower and then the water came up around my pvc in the floor drain.

You have a clog downstream several feet I'm guessing. Tom probably has a chart in his head that says 5 gallons= 6.5' in a 2" drain.

With this being the problem the snake should be able to fix it if I am not mistaken correct?
One more question: If it is about 6' from the drain there is a toilet that is only 3 feet from the drain could I take the toilet out and snake it from there or would they be on a different drain line?

Tried the snake thing through the shower drain. Did not seem to solve the problem.