Home Improvements

Started by Wingspan, October 29, 2007, 02:16:00 PM

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Wingspan

You deserved a real execution for using the term "easy-peasy"
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Sgt PSN

#76
Quote from: Father Demon on July 07, 2008, 12:20:36 PM
I think I may have to put my house on the market within a few weeks

You may want to reconsider discussing all of your home improvement blunders then. 


And just so you know, my balls get all tingly everytime your wife calls me too. 

Seabiscuit36

sounds like a great time. 

My wife is home painting the house today, already got the worried phonecall that it looks streaky
"For all the civic slurs, for all the unsavory things said of the Philadelphia fans, also say this: They could teach loyalty to a dog. Their capacity for pain is without limit." -Bill Lyons

PoopyfaceMcGee

Quote from: Wingspan on July 07, 2008, 12:23:08 PM
You deserved a real execution for using the term "easy-peasy"

Worse:

Easy Peasy,
or
Oopsy Daisy?

Sgt PSN

Tough call.  I just can't decide.  Oh fiddlesticks!

Zanshin

Okay, I'm having a weird problem and would rather not incur the cost of a plumber right now.  Any thoughts?

I have this slop sink in the basement and it has a pump to get the water out, since it's below water level. I also have a hose running from the washer into the same pipe, because the washer is above water level. The washer water gets out of the house no problem. But when the slop sink runs and the pump goes, the water backs up and out of where the hose goes into the pipe for the washer,  thereby making a big f'n mess.

And because the humidifier drains into the slop sink, it's a daily event. I don't know why the sink water won't get out, but the washer water will; I thought maybe it was the volume, so I tried draino and I tried to snake the drain. Didn't work. I was thinking of taking the pipe apart to see if there's a clog or some sort of buildup....but I still don't know why the washer water gets out while the sink water backs up-- it's the same pipe out. It's been the same setup for the last five years, and hasn't been a problem until now.

Any ideas, other than calling a plumber?

Seabiscuit36

I'd just get a sink snake at Homedepot and try that first.  I had a similar problem with a sink, and that did the job
"For all the civic slurs, for all the unsavory things said of the Philadelphia fans, also say this: They could teach loyalty to a dog. Their capacity for pain is without limit." -Bill Lyons

reese125

Quote from: Zanshin on January 27, 2009, 03:56:42 PM
Okay, I'm having a weird problem and would rather not incur the cost of a plumber right now.  Any thoughts?

I have this slop sink in the basement and it has a pump to get the water out, since it's below water level. I also have a hose running from the washer into the same pipe, because the washer is above water level. The washer water gets out of the house no problem. But when the slop sink runs and the pump goes, the water backs up and out of where the hose goes into the pipe for the washer,  thereby making a big f'n mess.

And because the humidifier drains into the slop sink, it's a daily event. I don't know why the sink water won't get out, but the washer water will; I thought maybe it was the volume, so I tried draino and I tried to snake the drain. Didn't work. I was thinking of taking the pipe apart to see if there's a clog or some sort of buildup....but I still don't know why the washer water gets out while the sink water backs up-- it's the same pipe out. It's been the same setup for the last five years, and hasn't been a problem until now.

Any ideas, other than calling a plumber?

Zan--I obviously dont know your house set up, but it sounds like your drainage system is very close together. Although it has worked for the past 5 years you could easily have that build up now that is causing a backfill. This drainage system between the 2 outlets should be about 5-10ft away from each other...and because of that your pump might not be strong enough.

Regardless, I would call a plumber because he could very well need to add an additional drainage line, but its not worth fiddling with and incurring damage costs


shorebird

I don't see how the washer is draining but the sink backs up into the washer drain when the pump runs. Thats baffling.

Diomedes

I have found that, short of the most basic tasks such as installing a new sink, toilet, or faucet, or trying a stopped drain, it is always wise to call a plumber.

There is considerable overlap between the intelligence of the smartest bears and the dumbest tourists." - Yosemite Park Ranger

Rome

Dio is right about that.  Even installing toilets can be a nightmare if it's a situation where you're actually living in the house and need the thing to work immediately.  I had a 1950's-installed commode in my crib that was literally bolted to the floor.  I ended up snapping two of the anchor bolts when I was removing the toilet.  Thank God a buddy of mine is a jack of all trades.  He came over and helped me finished the job quickly before (1) it became a mess and (2) before my wife found out what I had done.

shorebird

After thinking about it, if there is a partial blockage that the washer can still drain through with nothing but gravity behind it, a pump pushing the water at a much faster rate might be too much for the drain to handle, so it backs up at the washer drain.

So.........yes, if your initial attempt at snaking the line didn't work, call a plumber.

Zanshin

I know each of you is on the edge of your seat, so I thought I'd close the loop with an update.

I managed to borrow a commercial drill attachment snake via my father-in-law and drop it in through the open top of the pipe. There was a buildup of hair and assorted other sick smelling goodies about 12-15 feet in, which is why I couldn't get it with the smaller hand snake.  Took a few passes at it, and it seemed to do the trick.  Must have been just enough to let the washer water through, but not the volume from the sink.  Anyway, seems okay now.

Thanks for the replies on it.

Tomahawk

Glad to hear it worked out for you Zanshin.

On an unrelated note, I bought my first house in May. Now that the girlfriend moved in, I need to update the kitchen; however, have no idea where to begin. Do I call contractors or designers? Because god knows I shouldn't be deciding on layout or even color

phillymic2000

Quote from: Tomahawk on February 02, 2009, 01:22:20 PM
Glad to hear it worked out for you Zanshin.

On an unrelated note, I bought my first house in May. Now that the girlfriend moved in, I need to update the kitchen; however, have no idea where to begin. Do I call contractors or designers? Because god knows I shouldn't be deciding on layout or even color

Have some vendors, top of the line down to the cheap guys come in and give you ideas and prices. See if you can do any of the work yourself to cut costs, then pick and choose what you like. Also stroll thru Home Depot, Lowes or other places to get some ideas of what you may like.