seanp
New Member
So I was feeling good about my DIY plumbing work until I discovered today that the toilet has been backing up into the shower trap. Now I have a real dilemma on my hands. This is part of a remodel of a small bathroom to add a shower to what used to only be a toilet and sink.
Details: 2nd floor/half story; undersized 2x6 floor joists; no way to elevate the floor without a major remodel
In order to be able to add a shower, I had to move the toilet from its original location and go to a wall-mounted model so I could run the waste line through the wall rather than bore through what are already undersized joists. The toilet waste 45s into a wye where the shower waste connects. Due to the undersized framing, I couldn't roll this wye to 45, but it is slightly elevated. With only liquid waste on a full flush, the water level in the shower trap doesn't budge, so I thought I was good to go. However, the discovery of toilet water in the trap today after a week of use suggests that solids and paper on a full flush provide enough of a slowdown that its backing up into the shower line.
I think when the shower is hooked up it will wash the line, but I know there will be problems down the road if I don't fix this. Due to the 2x6 joists, I just can't elevate the 2" shower line and come in from above the 3" waste. Ideally I would go all the way to the outside wall where the cast iron turns vertically and tie in there, but I looked today and it would be extremely difficult to do this -- tight space, lots of HVAC ducts. Would it make a difference if I tied in the 2" line further down the 3" line so it's not right after a 45 turn? Seems like this might ensure that everything is flowing straight before the 2" enters. Are there any other ideas that I'm just not seeing?
Details: 2nd floor/half story; undersized 2x6 floor joists; no way to elevate the floor without a major remodel
In order to be able to add a shower, I had to move the toilet from its original location and go to a wall-mounted model so I could run the waste line through the wall rather than bore through what are already undersized joists. The toilet waste 45s into a wye where the shower waste connects. Due to the undersized framing, I couldn't roll this wye to 45, but it is slightly elevated. With only liquid waste on a full flush, the water level in the shower trap doesn't budge, so I thought I was good to go. However, the discovery of toilet water in the trap today after a week of use suggests that solids and paper on a full flush provide enough of a slowdown that its backing up into the shower line.
I think when the shower is hooked up it will wash the line, but I know there will be problems down the road if I don't fix this. Due to the 2x6 joists, I just can't elevate the 2" shower line and come in from above the 3" waste. Ideally I would go all the way to the outside wall where the cast iron turns vertically and tie in there, but I looked today and it would be extremely difficult to do this -- tight space, lots of HVAC ducts. Would it make a difference if I tied in the 2" line further down the 3" line so it's not right after a 45 turn? Seems like this might ensure that everything is flowing straight before the 2" enters. Are there any other ideas that I'm just not seeing?