hi
my mum moved into a high rise block of flats. all the plumbing in the flat (from kitchen and bathroom) leads to a main service shaft that runs vertically through the block, only authorized tradespeople get access to it. we noticed the bathroom (sink and shower tray) drain slowly and were actually backing up however with much plunging and some use of drain clearing solution these are now draining reasonably. never any issue with toilet but will this be going to a separate main waste pipe than other services? i give you all this back story for a reason!
the plumbing under the kitchen sink was leaking so i replaced it with a 1 1/2 kitchen sink 'kit' (i know real plumbers hate these kits!) that can accommodate a washing machine waste. here's it all connected:
http://pho.to/4lSKU
section A of the kit (with u bend) connected to main waste that runs behind chipboard. section B (with horizontal section for sink drainage & washing machine waste nozzle) attached into section A. this then meant the length of sections C (i.e. the drop from the sinks) was dictated by the rest of the plumbing.
when i run water through the sinks even on full-ish flow things drain okay. if i 1/2 fill either of the sinks and let the water out in one go things drain okay although sometimes water comes up the other plughole slightly. similarly, when the washing machine drains water comes up the main sink slightly i.e. 0.5cm - 1cm then drains over a few secs.
taking the scenario of the washing machine draining the water starts off draining okay i.e. you can hear it ... then you hear it backing up until it reaches the sink plughole and beyond
ideally, i'd like sections C to be shorter, thus creating a longer clear drop between water sitting in the u bend and where it enters from the washing machine nozzle and sinks. i'd achieve this by inserting a small additional section of pipework between sections A and B. i'm thinking the longer section of clear pipework will buy the main waste a bit of drainage time and lessen chances of water backing up into sink when washing machine drains or a 1/2 sink full of water is released at once. what do you reckon?
or, 'if' there's an issue with slow draining water from the flat as a whole, is altering the plumbing i've done a waste of time i.e. will it make no difference?
my mum moved into a high rise block of flats. all the plumbing in the flat (from kitchen and bathroom) leads to a main service shaft that runs vertically through the block, only authorized tradespeople get access to it. we noticed the bathroom (sink and shower tray) drain slowly and were actually backing up however with much plunging and some use of drain clearing solution these are now draining reasonably. never any issue with toilet but will this be going to a separate main waste pipe than other services? i give you all this back story for a reason!
the plumbing under the kitchen sink was leaking so i replaced it with a 1 1/2 kitchen sink 'kit' (i know real plumbers hate these kits!) that can accommodate a washing machine waste. here's it all connected:
http://pho.to/4lSKU
section A of the kit (with u bend) connected to main waste that runs behind chipboard. section B (with horizontal section for sink drainage & washing machine waste nozzle) attached into section A. this then meant the length of sections C (i.e. the drop from the sinks) was dictated by the rest of the plumbing.
when i run water through the sinks even on full-ish flow things drain okay. if i 1/2 fill either of the sinks and let the water out in one go things drain okay although sometimes water comes up the other plughole slightly. similarly, when the washing machine drains water comes up the main sink slightly i.e. 0.5cm - 1cm then drains over a few secs.
taking the scenario of the washing machine draining the water starts off draining okay i.e. you can hear it ... then you hear it backing up until it reaches the sink plughole and beyond
ideally, i'd like sections C to be shorter, thus creating a longer clear drop between water sitting in the u bend and where it enters from the washing machine nozzle and sinks. i'd achieve this by inserting a small additional section of pipework between sections A and B. i'm thinking the longer section of clear pipework will buy the main waste a bit of drainage time and lessen chances of water backing up into sink when washing machine drains or a 1/2 sink full of water is released at once. what do you reckon?
or, 'if' there's an issue with slow draining water from the flat as a whole, is altering the plumbing i've done a waste of time i.e. will it make no difference?
