Toilet Mystery! Can you solve it?

[mikim]

Doc - I really hope I'm not coming off here as some kinda know-it-all or suppin' ....cause I really don't mean to.. be mean that is - but doc -- the stupid ....studor vent didn't work .... or it did but only for a while .... do the roof thing -- If you try to vent it after the commode - you won't get a good siphon like it needs to flush well. OR just replace the studor every 3 years.

 

[scott_vt]

The first thing I'll admit is that I'm no plumber. The second thing that I'll admit is that I often do my own plumbing. And with that out of the way let me share a strange plumbing problem......that I eventually solved. Let's see if you can.
. )

Evenin George,
A good story for sure ! I am proud that you got her figured out !!! But I have to admit, I had the same thoughts as you before I got to the end of the thread ! That still doesnt make me a plumber, just a good guesser ! Good job !

 

[turnkey4099]

I must be missing something because your solution worked.

How does opening a vent _after_ the toilet improve the flush if the valve was sealed? Only if the pipe was running full of water would that affect it and I haven't seen any 4" sewer pipe run full from a single flush. There is a possible due to a build up of sewer gas holding that valve shut until the vent was opened (which then allows the valve to open). that is a bit unlikely as if there was that much pressure built up, you would know it as soon as you loosened the vent.

Not on the subject of the poor ventilation but just some information.

The day of the wax ring has passed. There is now the waxless variety and if you use one once, you will never go back to wax.

Fernco Waxless Toilet Seal is one.

The nice part is you can pull a toilet and then reinstall it using the same seal, no messing around scraping wax, etc.

Anohter bennie is not having to wiggle the toilet arund to get it seated properly.

Harry K
Harry K

 

[N80]

I must be missing something because your solution worked.

How does opening a vent _after_ the toilet improve the flush if the valve was sealed?

This vent stack is the toilet vent stack. It goes straight up from behind the toilet. Valve was stuck closed so no air could come in when we flushed. Take the valve off and the vent stack sucks air like its supposed to and toilet flushes just fine. Put a new Studor vent on and it works just the same.

But now that everyone is telling me how I just have to cut a hole in my pristine, non-leaking metal roof I guess I'm going to be shamed into cutting a nasty hole in it. And when it leaks, I'm going to call you guys to come help me fix it!

The day of the wax ring has passed.

Thank goodness. As I was replacing this one I looked at my wife and told her that I think the Romans used these things.

 

[Redbug]

I don't know about that George...I think the Romans had a marble slab with multiple holes down the length. You could sit cozily alongside with friends and family in the bathroom. I remember when I was active duty Air Force, I remember using an Army latrine. It was composed of about 10 naked thrones located along the wall. Sorta like Rome. Sorry for the digression of your thread...It just brought back a memory...

 

[kenmac]

This vent stack is the toilet vent stack. It goes straight up from behind the toilet. Valve was stuck closed so no air could come in when we flushed. Take the valve off and the vent stack sucks air like its supposed to and toilet flushes just fine. Put a new Studor vent on and it works just the same.

But now that everyone is telling me how I just have to cut a hole in my pristine, non-leaking metal roof I guess I'm going to be shamed into cutting a nasty hole in it. And when it leaks, I'm going to call you guys to come help me fix it!



Thank goodness. As I was replacing this one I looked at my wife and told her that I think the Romans used these things.

I wouldn't cut the roof just for 1 vent. Stay with the studor vent. You now know what to look for when the toilet won't flush. Just replace it when it goes bad again in xxx # of years. Keep an x tra studor on hand .They don't cost that much and are easy to replace ( just don't glue it on)

 

[N80]

I remember when I was active duty Air Force, I remember using an Army latrine.

I remember when I was active duty Air Force reading about how to make and inspect those latrines (military public health)...slit trench deals.

Never actually had to do it though.

 

[N80]

Kenmac, I'm getting advice all over the place now! (And I appreciate it all.)

Will let you guys know how it eventually turns out.

I'll have to say that building this cabin (it still isn't totally complete) has been one of the toughest and at times most frustrating things I've ever done....but I've learned tons and wouldn't trade the experience for the world. Wouldn't do it again....but still glad I did it......

Anyone ever built their own masonry fireplace?

 

[kenmac]

I remember when I was active duty Air Force reading about how to make and inspect those latrines (military public health)...slit trench deals.

Never actually had to do it though.

Of course not doc. Officers don't do that sort of thing The grunts do

 

[CurlyDave]

One of the things I always do with vents is to use two elbows to make a U fixture and put this on top of the vent pipe, so the opening points down, not straight up.

Cheap & easy to do, and it keeps leaves and other debris out of the vent.