Dirgo Valve...

[Neil Moy]

Hi I wonder if anyone can help? I have recently had an extension and had a new bathroom fitted upstairs as part of it.. the "less than helpful" plumber fitted a dirgo valve on top of the pipe which I then boxed in.. The toilet has since been fitted and although working fine initially after a couple of days the loo started filling up with water and takes an age to disperse.. as if blocked, I have unsuccesfully tried sulphuric acid to remove any possible blockages although this is highly unlikely as the toilet had only been in for a few days when this started occuring. There is very little suction and a friend suggested that the Dirgo valve may be faulty or need adjusting, I wanted to see if anyone thought this might be a reason as it will involve me removing tiles which is a pain.. When I boxed in I didnt leave much of a gap between the top of the valve and the ply.. could this cause any issues do you think?

I would appreciate any advise anyone could give.

Kindest
Neil

 

[seco services]

if you have completely boxed it in it can't vent.
they need to vent to work fully.

 

[ChrisR]

Lack of vent wouldn't stop it flushing though.
Not the Durgo, no. The soil pipe's blocked.
If Sulphuric doesn't work the blockage is likely to be something like plastic, or around one of those things which clip on the edge of the pan, until they fall in.
Try a big plunger, like the Monument wiggly ones, and/or a drain snake. Once it's clear, see if you can block it again with loads of paper. If you can, call the pumber back. He may have left something rough or restricted.

 

[Neil Moy]

Ref.. venting, where the soil pipe fits into my boxed in area I left a square gap instead of the round pipe to give circulation, is this not enough?

 

[Neil Moy]

Chris, it will Flush just doesnt disperse as quickly as it should and without any "suction"..

 

[kirkgas]

the pan could be blocked but it is 99% that the durgo valve is stuck, remove boxing in and tap valve water level will drop in pan immediately

 

[Softus]

if you have completely boxed it in it can't vent.
they need to vent to work fully.

Air admittance valves relieve negative pressure - they don't vent.

the pan could be blocked but it is 99% that the durgo valve is stuck, remove boxing in and tap valve water level will drop in pan immediately

How would a stuck valve prevent the pan from emptying?

 

[seco services]

if you have completely boxed it in it can't vent.
they need to vent to work fully.

Air admittance valves relieve negative pressure - they don't vent.

air is drawn into the system when subject to negative pressure.

 

[seco services]

if you have completely boxed it in it can't vent.
they need to vent to work fully.

Air admittance valves relieve negative pressure - they don't vent.

air is drawn into the system when subject to negative pressure. so if it's boxed in hows it going to breathe ?
the boxing in needs to vent to the open air/loft

 

[Softus]

air is drawn into the system when subject to negative pressure.

Why do you feel the need to point out that an air admittance valve admits air?

so if it's boxed in hows it going to breathe ?

Your idea of boxing in seems to include the assumption that there will be a vacuum inside the box. There won't be. Furthermore, AAVs don't "breathe".

the boxing in needs to vent to the open air/loft

Which one? Loft, or open air? Or do you regard the loft as open air? Is the loft not just a big box? How could the AAV breathe if it was in the loft?

I'll have another go: an AAV is not a vent, and does not vent, and does not need to vent.

 

[seco services]

http://www.bbacerts.co.uk/certs/43/4325i1_web.pdf

no they don't need ventilation do they.

a loft is not a big box a loft can breathe.

 

[kirkgas]

its years since i was at college so i honestly can't remember whether they relieve negative pressure or they vent, but the bottom line is if its stuck the pan won't empty it is all you need to know to get access to it and either free it or change it, i seem to remember from years ago we fitted loads of them in community sports centres etc and they didn't work properly if they were enclosed as was borne out by either extending them into the loft or removing the boxing in. let us know how you get on

 

[Softus]

How would a stuck valve prevent the pan from emptying?

the bottom line is if its stuck the pan won't empty it is all you need to know

I need to know more.

 

[doitall]

If the pan fills you have a blockage end of story, unless the pan is faulty of course

 

[Softus]

Don't spoil the fun John - we're learning from the experts here.