I made a big mess for myself yesterday. I ran sump pump and it blew up into the demo'd mstr bath old 1X diagional sub floor boards and/or open closet flange & open tub drain.
In Michigan, 1934 neglected house I bought that I am totally renovating. Currently, sump pump is running thru the 1950's cast iron septic drain pipes (I will change later). There is a huge sump pit in basement. I ran pump once a year ago and not aware of a problem. I've left pump unplugged as I work on other areas. Plugged in yesterday and heard water gushing after a few seconds. Looked into dirt crawlspace under the demo'd mstr bath and saw water dumping onto the dirt, splashing around on bottom of subfloor!
First thought was broken pipe. Actually, very first thought was UNPLUG PUMP! Then thought froze drain line. (Planned to explore septic system this spring). But maybe just shooting out open closet flange & cut off tub drain below subfloor, downstream?
I saw water at several pipe areas so I thought it was blocked and coming back out at several joints but maybe it was just splashing around as it was going up into bath or dripping back down. I was by myself so I had a limited view.
I'm not fully versed on main drain lines yet, can you tell? I've been dreading going into that tight, dirt crawlspace too!
Plan: Make temporary caps for old, rusty cast iron flange & cut off tub drain (currently w/ drum trap); then, w/ a helper, cautiousily plug in pump and watch closely to see if water goes thru to septic tank.
Later, when working on mstr bath: will replace some of dwv as I move things around (i.e. demo drum trap, replace closet flange, etc), tackle what's in crawlspace, find and inspect/pump septic tank, etc.
Did I explain situation clearly? So, for short term, I want to empty sump pump cause spring melt is near. I am hoping nothing is broke or froze and I was just a moron w/ the 2 openings in the downstream drain lines.
I am hoping my newly renovated 2nd floor bath w/ new toilet has been going thru alright. It didn't yesterday tho.
Right now I am busy w/ rough electrical.
If my plan is good, how can I make a temporary "test cap" for the old flange? How much pressure/force to keep water tight? I think I can probably get a rubber fernco type clamp on cap for the tub drain pipe at local plumb shop.
In Michigan, 1934 neglected house I bought that I am totally renovating. Currently, sump pump is running thru the 1950's cast iron septic drain pipes (I will change later). There is a huge sump pit in basement. I ran pump once a year ago and not aware of a problem. I've left pump unplugged as I work on other areas. Plugged in yesterday and heard water gushing after a few seconds. Looked into dirt crawlspace under the demo'd mstr bath and saw water dumping onto the dirt, splashing around on bottom of subfloor!
First thought was broken pipe. Actually, very first thought was UNPLUG PUMP! Then thought froze drain line. (Planned to explore septic system this spring). But maybe just shooting out open closet flange & cut off tub drain below subfloor, downstream?
I saw water at several pipe areas so I thought it was blocked and coming back out at several joints but maybe it was just splashing around as it was going up into bath or dripping back down. I was by myself so I had a limited view.
I'm not fully versed on main drain lines yet, can you tell? I've been dreading going into that tight, dirt crawlspace too!
Plan: Make temporary caps for old, rusty cast iron flange & cut off tub drain (currently w/ drum trap); then, w/ a helper, cautiousily plug in pump and watch closely to see if water goes thru to septic tank.
Later, when working on mstr bath: will replace some of dwv as I move things around (i.e. demo drum trap, replace closet flange, etc), tackle what's in crawlspace, find and inspect/pump septic tank, etc.
Did I explain situation clearly? So, for short term, I want to empty sump pump cause spring melt is near. I am hoping nothing is broke or froze and I was just a moron w/ the 2 openings in the downstream drain lines.
I am hoping my newly renovated 2nd floor bath w/ new toilet has been going thru alright. It didn't yesterday tho.
Right now I am busy w/ rough electrical.
If my plan is good, how can I make a temporary "test cap" for the old flange? How much pressure/force to keep water tight? I think I can probably get a rubber fernco type clamp on cap for the tub drain pipe at local plumb shop.
Last edited: