Very Slow Draining Bath Tub that can back fill the toilet and vice verca

[Tomellis921203]

Hi,

Looking for some advice/help/thoughts

There is no blockage in the bath trap.

Our bathroom on the 1st floor has a bath running along the back wall and a toilet at a 90 degree angle to it, looking under the box at the end of the bath they both exit through the same large waste pipe which goes out the wall and drops vertically to the ground to the mains drains. The toilet and Bath have separate waste but join the main waste pipe (T junction to exit) if that makes sense.

Problem I have is I the toilet when I flush can back fill the bath tub and the opposite happens if I empty the bath tub it can lead to the water level rising slightly in the toilet and on occasions even a tiny bit of water leaking out the back of the toilet connector (guessing due to the water trying to flow into the back of the toilet which it shouldn't).

One person who has looked at it suggest that because there is very little gradient from the bath plug to the waste exit out of the house this is why the bath is draining so slowly and wants to put a non return valve further up the pipes to stop the toilet water ending up in the bath.

Whilst useful to stop the toilet water ending up in the bath I think there must be a blockage in the main waste pipe as its not just the toilet back filling the bath it is the bath back filling the toilet also. Can anyone give any suggestions please ?

 

[oldbutnotdead]

Has this problem always been there or is it recent? Or have you just moved in?
Blockage is quite likely, there should be rodding points, time to get wet & mucky

 

[Tomellis921203]

Is a recent problem we had a new bath put in but didn't have to alter any pipe work other than a new bath trap to fit new plug exit, I can't see it being the lack of gradient on the waste pipe as 200litres of water (a full bath) should create enough pressure for it flow horizontally even without much of a drop from bath plug to waste pipe as the waste pipe goes out the wall then has vertical drop, plus i don't feel that would explain why when I empty the bath it is causing the water level in the toilet to rise.

 

[Tomellis921203]

Has this problem always been there or is it recent? Or have you just moved in?
Blockage is quite likely, there should be rodding points, time to get wet & mucky

Uploading some images of the pipe work from bottom of the bath to waste pipe exit out the wall

 

[HERTS P&D]

Check the manhole, if clear then you have a blocked stack.

Anything gone down the toilet that shouldn't?

Andy

 

[Tomellis921203]

Check the manhole, if clear then you have a blocked stack.

Anything gone down the toilet that shouldn't?

Andy

Hi Andy,

Not as far as I am aware, Looking outside its all clear at the bottom as part way down the pipe our neighbours waste connects in to it and they don't have any problem so assuming the blockage is at the top before it gets to the vertical drop ??

Attached a photo of the outside view of the pipe work (ours is the pipe exiting the granite wall)

 

[HERTS P&D]

Is there a vent pipe?

Andy

 

[Tomellis921203]

Is there a vent pipe?

Andy

Not sure I can't see anything obvious, where would I find it other than near the pipes on the photos I have put in the thread ?

I only have the 1 bathroom upstairs no other bathrooms or toilets and then a kitchen with water supply downstairs

 

[lostinthelight]

Is that the bath waste going into the bottom of a horizontal soil branch?

 

[Tomellis921203]

Is that the bath waste going into the bottom of a horizontal soil branch?

They appear to join at like a T junction and then they drop vertically outside the house see the photo further down the thread. This is how it has always been before and was never any issues

 

[Hugh Jaleak]

How long exactly is the section from where it exits the junction shown under the bath, to where it emerges from the external wall? Doesn't look to me to have too spectacular a fall on it, and possibly even a slight backfall. That would be enough for waste to collect and start to build up which may well be the cause of your issue.

Whole thing is a bit of a pigs ear to be honest, you've no way of getting into it to clear anything that is in there without cutting into the pipework....

Can you take another photo of the exterior pipework please, ideally from further back, interested to know what the pipe to the right of the stack is.

 

[Tomellis921203]

How long exactly is the section from where it exits the junction shown under the bath, to where it emerges from the external wall? Doesn't look to me to have too spectacular a fall on it, and possibly even a slight backfall. That would be enough for waste to collect and start to build up which may well be the cause of your issue.

Whole thing is a bit of a pigs ear to be honest, you've no way of getting into it to clear anything that is in there without cutting into the pipework....

Can you take another photo of the exterior pipework please, ideally from further back, interested to know what the pipe to the right of the stack is.

From the T junction it is only about 30-50cm to where it emerges from external wall

Yeah the plumber wants to cut the pipe towards the end of the bath and put a non return valve and hopefully rod down towards the main waste pipe at the same time.

I'll take another photo in morning but the pipes to right handside are for the neighbours house waste and drains not to do with are house, they havent reported any drainage issues.

 

[Hugh Jaleak]

Plumber's idea is a bodge, but without major reconfiguration, it's probably the easiest option to get you flowing again for now. Long term, the 110mm pipe needs to be checked for fall, and realigned if fall is insufficient. Wastes really need rerouting independently to outside the building and then connecting into the stack at a suitable point.

Stack also really needs some sort of ventilation on it, at the minimum an Air Admittance Valve, I am just wondering if the Neighbours pipework offers the drainage some ventilation, hence the question.

 

[lostinthelight]

You have access for a camera or snake through the end cap on the “T”. ?

 

[Tomellis921203]

Plumber's idea is a bodge, but without major reconfiguration, it's probably the easiest option to get you flowing again for now. Long term, the 110mm pipe needs to be checked for fall, and realigned if fall is insufficient. Wastes really need rerouting independently to outside the building and then connecting into the stack at a suitable point.

Stack also really needs some sort of ventilation on it, at the minimum an Air Admittance Valve, I am just wondering if the Neighbours pipework offers the drainage some ventilation, hence the question.

Thank you i'll take a photo tomorrow from further back to see if neighbours pipework does have some form of Ventilation.