Budman
May 14, 2004, 03:16 PM
Hi ho!
My son bought a house with an overhead sewer system.
It looks like the basment back-discharge toilet was added in recent history. There is also a utility sink with its own motorized pump connected to the sewer drain discharge pipe (on its way to the street). The main sewer system has a "pit" where the basement toilet connects and the main drain is pumped to the street.
He has a floor drain in an adjoining room that smells upon occasion. His theory is that the drain trap has the water siphoned out of it when the basement (only) toilet is flushed.
I have avoided overhead sewer and/or sump pump properties in my lifetime. Now, alas, I am interested in learning about the dynamics of an overhead sewer system.
Tried the library and internet but have had virtually no success in seeing a diagram or explanation of how overhead sewer systems work. Can you refer me to an authoritative source.
It would be real interesting if we knew how the pipes (PVC) were run or who did the work. Talked about having a plumber or Mechanical Engineer that does HVAC stuff come in 'splain things, but it seems like we should educate ourselves if and before we bring in an expert.
One suspicous thing he found is the vent from the basement bathroom running to the attic where it crossed over and runs back down to the "pit" vent without tapping into an outside vented soil stack.
Thanks for reviewing this and any advice or referral will be appreciated.
Regards,
Budmann
My son bought a house with an overhead sewer system.
It looks like the basment back-discharge toilet was added in recent history. There is also a utility sink with its own motorized pump connected to the sewer drain discharge pipe (on its way to the street). The main sewer system has a "pit" where the basement toilet connects and the main drain is pumped to the street.
He has a floor drain in an adjoining room that smells upon occasion. His theory is that the drain trap has the water siphoned out of it when the basement (only) toilet is flushed.
I have avoided overhead sewer and/or sump pump properties in my lifetime. Now, alas, I am interested in learning about the dynamics of an overhead sewer system.
Tried the library and internet but have had virtually no success in seeing a diagram or explanation of how overhead sewer systems work. Can you refer me to an authoritative source.
It would be real interesting if we knew how the pipes (PVC) were run or who did the work. Talked about having a plumber or Mechanical Engineer that does HVAC stuff come in 'splain things, but it seems like we should educate ourselves if and before we bring in an expert.
One suspicous thing he found is the vent from the basement bathroom running to the attic where it crossed over and runs back down to the "pit" vent without tapping into an outside vented soil stack.
Thanks for reviewing this and any advice or referral will be appreciated.
Regards,
Budmann