[cpotts454]

Hello to anyone willing to help!

I am having some drainage problems with my recently renovated home.

I am just adding the finishing touches to my new house (1929 was her born on date) but new to me! I am not a plumber nor did I want to pull a permit to figure out how good of a plumber I am, so I just left the existing system in tacked, and just upgraded the fixtures. Probably one of the biggest mistakes of my rehab.

Here is the problem. I just recently finished installing the tub, toilet, and sinks in the upstairs bathrooms, and I am not having a problem with drainage of any of the three mentioned above, but I am however, having problems with the kitchen sink on the 1st floor filling up whenever I use anything from the upstairs bathroom. You hear some gurgling noises and then eventually the kitchen sink starts to fill. Even when you use the kitchen sink now it doesn't want to drain.

I have checked the vent, seems to be clear. I have used about 1 gallon of drain opener but with no result whatsoever.

Anyone have some ideas, or inexpensive fixes? (I am already so far over budget!! )

Thank you SOOOO much in advance.


Attached is a daigram of a side view of the house. It roughly shows how everything is attached the main system.

[massplumber2008]

Hi cpotts.. let me evaluate.. will be right back. Wait for 3-4 minutes.

[massplumber2008]

Hi again. If you have water coming up and out of kitchen sink... then you do indeed have an issue with drainage from the new fixtures... ;)

BUT NOT TO WORRY... I hope! If your drawing is accurate I have some ideas. Answer the following questions:

1) How is first floor bathroom sink, tub and toilet doing?

2) If 1st floor fixtures OK... possible there is a branch off that horizonatl main drain line you drew?

3) If 1st floor fixtures OK.. then have to figure CLOG is after that kitchen sink drain... but before the 1st floor bathroom. There should be cleanouts in basement... look for these.

Then I would ask you to repost a more accurate diagram (great one by the way)... only if necessary, of course.

Let me know answers... I am online for another 10-15 minutes. By the way... quick thought... is this a single bowl or double bowl kitchen sink?

[cpotts454]

Answers:

1. 1st Floor Bathroom is still working perfectly.

2. No branch off for the bathroom, the large pipe the runs from roof to basement is a 5 in cast iron pipe, and the once it gets to the basement it 90's going horizontal with one other directional change to head toward the 1st floor bathroom. After this, it goes to the main sewer.

3. I originally thought it was a clog, but after so much drain-o without a result, plus this problem pretty much started overnight (fixtures in the upstairs bath work for about 2 weeks).

Also, on a side note, it snowed (and frozen rain) here pretty heavy for the first time since I've owned the place, but the snow is not over the vent, the same night before we woke up to find the kitchen floor flooded. Coincidently? I don't know...

[cpotts454]

Double Bowel kitchen sink, with a P trap, upstairs bath is a double bowl S trap. If that might help...

[massplumber2008]

ANy cleanout anywhere? Drain-o will not clear a real clog in drain line. Need to snake.

You could also have a clogged vent. I live in Boston ans have never seen a frozen vent.. but I have seen clogged vents... wonder if this could be issue... but I doubt it.

Another idea... try to flood system past the kitchen sink.. do not just use 1st floor bathroom... flood it (run all fixtures for 5 minutes.. keep flushing)... what happens..

[cpotts454]

No clean outs anywhere that I can find... I did get on the roof (almost the worst mistake of the rehab) and about fell off. Its still pretty snow covered. I stuck a tape messure down the vent and I was met with little resistance around 16 feet. In which would get me pretty close to the basement 90. I guess I am going to have to go buy or rent a long snake and try to clean it out from the vent.

I have read a few forums about how my setup would require a "AAV" ? To properly vent my sink. But would this have an effect on how well the upstairs bath drains?

[cpotts454]

And here comes the real dinger! I cannot flood past the kitchen... I can run 1st bathroom sinks for hours and flush toilets and take showers, I cannot get it to stop draining.

If this main feed is supposed to be venting my bathroom downstairs, then if there were a clog I would feel a slower drain in the downstairs bathroom right?


I should also point out that the downstairs bathroom is pretty acurate in the diagram. Each fixture has its own drain that T's into the main feed.

[massplumber2008]

(1st repost) It could.. but I do not think this is an issue as the sink must have drained fine for years or they would have fixed this (vent is hopefully behind wall... look under sink and see if a tee fitting stubs into sink base.. if it is a tee fitting then sink is vented.. if not... well may be good idea to add an AAV.. check this).

I am sticking to clogged line.. and darn the luck cause should be cleanouts here to help you.

By the way, if you do not want to go on roof can snake the drain through the 2nd floor toilet drain line. (lift toilet...;) )

[cpotts454]

Good advise. It took me 4 hours to get that damn toilet set right, I think I would rather risk my life on the roof then risk my sanity of reseting that damn toilet.

I will try some snaking around my next day off. Appreciate all the help massplumber! I am going to go look under the sink for a Tee.

I am just having a horrible day and wished all my plumbing problems would be over!! Lol.

[cpotts454]

This is what my kitchen sink looks like under the hood...

[massplumber2008]

The pic. Suggests no vent... that could be issue in itself. I never use AAV (not allowed in Mass.).. but Speedball and others onsite love them... talk to him tomorrow. Good night! I will watch post as you go.