Help!-Drainage problems remodeled bathroom

15 years ago

Dear Plumbing Experts,

Worried homeowner; need help!

Problems: Just finished a 2nd floor bath remodel (gut renovation, only toilet and shower stayed in same locations, added a tub and second sink) and there are drainage problems already. The fixtures have barely been used. Plumber returns on Monday. Other mistakes made; I dont trust him any more; not yet paid in full.

The toilet (Toto with G Force) wouldnÂt flush. When it clogged initially (with almost no debris), the dirty toilet water backed up into the shower floor and into the bathtub. DISGUSTING. Also, the clog seems clear now, but it still wonÂt flush. (The bowl just fills up with water).

There are other problems such as water coming up the shower drain when the tub drains, gurgle sound in shower drain whenever toilet is flushed with some backup into shower, (before the toilet clog), and more.

Oddities: Toilet wonÂt flush, yet shower seems to drain OK. Tub drain water backing up into shower requires a "U turn." How is that possible given that the shower drains?

Current Layout: Unfortunately my drawing didn't translate to the forum. The toilet is the last fixture in the "drain chain." Imagine a capital "E" turned with the spine upwards. Extend the spine of the E to the left and put the toilet there, and go a bit further to the left where the pipe exits down the wall. The other fixtures' drain lines connect to that "spine", before the toilet. Make the 3 "E" arms 3 different lengths, going from longer to shorter as you go left to right. The first longest arm comes from 2 sinks, the middle arm comes from the tub, and the shortest comes from the shower.

The toilet has its own vent, the 2 sinks have mechanical vents, and the shower and tub have a combined vent.

Questions: (FEEL FREE TO ANSWER JUST BY REFERRING TO QUESTION NUMBERS).

1.Should I consult with building inspector, or is that opening up a can of worms? (He is moody and erratic). We already have a CO. The inspector did not/barely looked at the plumbing in the inspections.

2.I live in Connecticut. Is it consistent with code to have a toilet drain connected to other fixtures? (AND as the last item in the "drain chain"?)

IsnÂt a toilet drain (trap area at least) in a "higher elevation" than a shower and/or tub drain, and thus, a problem if "down the chain"?

4.What do you think of the following idea, call it "Resurrect" old shower drain pipe"?

Background: There is a 2 inch drainage pipe (currently dormant) directly below the shower; the shower drain location did not change in the remodel. The plumber capped it/bypassed it. No idea why. I donÂt think "resurrecting" this drainage pipe would be a big deal; runs inside a wall in laundry room below it which needs painting anyway.

Perhaps the tub drain could be tied into that drain as well. The vent for the shower and tub are combined and in the side wall. Then only the 2 sinks (which have much higher drain-levels) would remain tapped into the pipe that goes to the toilet.

5. If the "resurrect old shower pipe" idea is good, would the 2" pipe need to change to 3"? Drainage burden includes the small tub, (with diverter for tub spout vs. handheld) and the shower has two showerheads, but all have flow restrictors.

6. OR, maybe even just the shower using the "resurrected" pipe would help?

7. Unrelated to above, but I also wanted confirmation that a closed loop hot water heat system requires venting? The plumber either added a vent, or moved a pre-existing, and now IÂm wondering about that. I thought the purpose was to keep air OUT of these systems?

I TRULY APPRECIATE ANY INSIGHTS AND HELP A LICENSED EXPERIENCED PLUMBER CAN PROVIDE.

THANK YOU SO MUCH!!!!!

Lainie

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (5)

jakethewonderdog
15 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
Lainie,

Wow, I had a hard time following what you are saying... I bet I'm not the only one.

A diagram would be really helpful. A lot of people have used photo bucket to get photos and diagrams on here.
lainie55
Original Author
15 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
Thanks for trying Jake. If you take a piece of paper and draw as you read what I'm saying for the layout, you'd probably figure it out easily. HONESTLY!

I read some plumbing code info today (via architect friend) and didn't find anything that said a toilet can't be one of several fixtures "last in aligment" to be drained. Seems wrong to me, but hey, I'm not a plumber.

Maybe I'll re-post my questions with a drawing when I have time to figure out how to do that. Depends on what plumber says tomorrow. And/or maybe I'll have to have consults on-site with other plumbers I know (I have two more projects pending so...).

All I DO know is there are problems and the plumber who did the work needs to solve them. I NOW also know that there were THREE places in the old bathroom in which pipes ran down thru walls to the basement, but I think the guy only used ONE of them for all the fixtures in the renovation, and it is only a 2 inch diameter pipe which also makes several turns. I just don't understand why.

That pipe used to only carry the waste from one sink. Now it's been given the waste for 2 sinks, a tub, a shower, and a toilet....so maybe that is the problem...or maybe he didn't pitch things enough?

Thanks again; maybe someone else will take a stab at giving me some advice?

Lainie
Related Discussions
Repost. New Problem w/ DIY Bathroom Remodel- Cast Iron Drain
Q
Comments (3)
MommieLady, Wow. You have noooo idea how nice it is to read such an uplifting post right about now. Just noooo idea what it means. Thank you so very much! Ok, can you keep a secret? Shhhh...Just between me and you, k? The legs are brown resin with a screw hole drilled in the bottom. Son bought me the correct double-ended screws and it was like magic. Screw one end of double-ended into leg, the other end into bottom of vanity. Another shhhh, K? Searched for almost a year and couldn't find a 24" vanity that didn't take up too much depth space and with a usable drawer. Vanity is a re-purposed microwave cart. Didn't want to lose the utility drawer at the top (with sink hanging inside vanity) so had son reconfigure drawer and glides and put it at the bottom. (gotta have a place for that almighty make-up, doncha know *grin*) Hey, I kept telling everyone I was on a strict budget, now maybe they'll believe me. lol And you are so right, in the grand scheme of things, the quappy work the previous owners did to create a master bath, leaving us with the mess, is a small obsticle when I start to think of the bigger things that could go wrong in other areas of our life. Your post has given me the umph to keep "plugging along"---Thank youuuuu! In fact, I'm printing your post and I'm going to stick it where my new medicine cabinet 'should be' but isn't, yet. lol It will serve as my new "Keep Pluggin' Along" mantra each day from here on out. You're too kind. Amity P.S. The faux work, in all rooms where I couldn't afford the real stuff, was done by me. See? told ya I was on a strict budget. lol Again, many many thanks!
...See More
Bathroom Reveal, Thanks to the Bathroom and Remodel Forums!X-Post
Q
Comments (6)
Lovely! I like the classic white tile and porcelain and how you used furniture pieces in the bathroom. I love that the storage at the end of the tub has pull-outs that can be reached from the toilet. Your custom sink and backsplash and counter are unique and beautiful. Yours may be the first bathroom sink I have seen in which a small or medium dog could be washed! That is a good thing! I showed your pictures to my DH because I am thinking of classic tiled walls with a chair rail for when we redo our bath in a couple of years. He liked it! I was expecting him to say, "too old fashioned." He did not, he said it looked nice. From him, nice is a compliment. He even liked your rows of listello. I was just at the Tile Shop's site the other day looking at the Hampton tiles because someone was selling some on Craigslist. I am hoping to do as you did and get what I can cheaper there, and fill in the rest from the store. I can see that you worked very hard to secure all of your materials - and then cut the floor tiles to size and culled the Hampton tiles, too! You succeeded very well in getting the look you wanted while saving money along the way. Congratulations, and thank you for the pictures and great detail and supply list.
...See More
Bathroom remodel problems
Q
Comments (1)
Fire him. And, find a new contractor. You are going to have problems on down the line with what he has done. Cut your losses and find someone who will do it right.
...See More
Please Help! Need help picking tile for bathroom remodel.
Q
Comments (15)
My opinion will be biased because I have very similar tile in my master we redid 12 years ago. 4" squares on the diagonal for the shower floor and 12" squares on main floor and up the shower walls. Coincidentally we are in process of redoing my kids' bath the past few weeks (it was also redone 12 years ago) because a hard-to-find leak in the tub prompted us to consider replacing it....which then brought about the issue of replacing the tiled tub-surround that would be damaged...and we would also have to try to retile some spots on the floor because a new tub would be a smaller footprint leaving some bare spots once old tub was pulled out. My point is that we also had to figure out the whole, "do we do an updated 'patch job' to save a lot of money, or do we just gut it and accept the cost as the price of being at peace with it/enjoying a new look and improved function. Right or wrong...which is always a very subjective thing....we gutted it and I'm thrilled. I was not interested in painting my cabinets just to have them have peel-issues due to steam, and we also got rid of the tub altogether and opted for a stand-up/walk-in shower for my older kids. Resale was considered on this issue...but by the time we move, someone can either love it as we've made it, or we will price the house with an "allowance" in mind. The old space had hot-chocolate colored walls and 'slate' porcelain floor and tub surround...an overall warm and cozy feel but also tired and dated. The new space is a porcelain 'marble' hex with white subway walk-in shower that is awaiting glass doors...an overall calming feeling that is also bright and fresh. I now actually wish SO BADLY that I was able to redo/retile MY whole bathroom (tile similar to yours). And there's nothing wrong with my bathroom, and a planned paint job on the walls will help me like it even more...... In my kids' bathroom, however, even unfinished with the floor and shower tile installed just waiting for the rest to come together (waiting on backordered tile base moulding) ......... I walk in and just smile and breathe deeply because of the way the space now makes me feel :) So my very biased vote is to gut it ;) ;)
...See More
User
15 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
Are you sure this guy is a licensed plumber? Routing all you describe plus a toilet through a 2" waste pipe is the work of a complete hack. And it doesn't sound as though it's vented properly either. I'd get an independent licensed and bonded plumber to come in and take a look at it. They guy who did it doesn't seem to know enough to DIY a garden spigot.
davidro1
15 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
2. i think you wrote that the toilet was the last thing tied into the drain before it went out of the building. That is good. Search on "bathroom group" and you'll learn more.

Is the pipe 3" diameter at that point?
lainie55
Original Author
15 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
Actually since I posted my original question, I did more investigating in the basement, attic etc.

The plumber's rough sketch gave the wrong impression...he drew it with the "exit" mid-way between a 2 inch drain line (for old sink; I think/hope this is totally dead/capped) AND a 3 inch drain...so I think he MUST have used the 3 inch drain, and just did the drawing very inaccurately.

He also told me the "exit" was in the exterior wall, and I'm pretty sure that's wrong too. I think the 3 inch pipe runs down an interior wall, about 3 feet in from the exterior of the house.

The toilet (with no change in location with remodel) rests over that interior wall, which is directly over the main stack for house. (But toilet drain has to go about 2 feet horizontally to reach it).

Apparently he didn't care how accurate his description/sketch was!
He was "let go" by the owner a few weeks after he did our bathroom; not a good sign.

In the meantime, the owner of the firm did not show up when I was told he would, (yesterday) and they're not returning my calls, at least not yet. They're making me very nervous.

Yes, the owner is licensed and I assume the employee who actually did the work is licensed. A permit was pulled; we have the CO (but as I said in my "much too long" question), the inspector barely looked at the plumbing.

The contract says the workers must be licensed.

Maybe I just need to be more patient. Will call again tomorrow, and also call the carpenter/GC who recommended them to ask for his help.

If no luck, will bring in someone else to fix the problem(s). Hopefully will be fixed for less than my outstanding balance.

If fixing costs less, I'll pay him the difference despite the fact that he is jerking us around.

If not, will bill him and take legal action if he doesn't pay.

I've never had contractor problems and this is the 4th major project on house. I think I treat people with respect and I try to be professional and knowledgeable. I just wish they'd at least call.

Lainie

Help!-Drainage problems remodeled bathroom

Comments (5)

jakethewonderdog

lainie55
Original Author

Related Discussions

User

davidro1

lainie55
Original Author

COMPANY

BUSINESS SERVICES

GET HELP

CONNECT WITH US

Help!-Drainage problems remodeled bathroom

Comments (5)

jakethewonderdog

lainie55Original Author

Related Discussions

User

davidro1

lainie55Original Author

COMPANY

BUSINESS SERVICES

GET HELP

CONNECT WITH US

lainie55
Original Author

lainie55
Original Author