Wish I had Richard - I went thru six plumbers to find a leak to no avail so I understand the frustration. Turned out the county sewer department knew exactly where the problem was and saved me a fortune! Always check with them first to make sure the line is clear from the street to the house.
Jeff: He was classic: But scary is that high-tenured plumbing pros admitting to their lack of roundedness. You indicate this gracefully, but; still, stark of ignorance.
After watching this video, I put drain snake into vent pipes and unclogged my drain pipe. Saved me hundreds or thousands of dollars. Thank you guys. You’re the best.
Wow! I have a feeling a lot of plumbers would have just thrown their hands up. This guy knows his stuff! Just goes to show the importance of proper venting in a plumbing system.
Brian P: You wrote: _" I have a feeling a lot of plumbers would have just thrown their hands up."_ It is a disconcerting shock to the system that workers, whom we trust, procure nebulousness regarding their skills and ability.
Hi Sir! I want to extend my gratitude for uploading such informative videos here on RUclips. I am from the Philippines and is currently reviewing for the Architecture Licensure Examination this June 2019. Your videos help me to have a visualization for the actual plumbing system and give me a vivid comprehension of plumbing concepts from the books, translated from actual plumbing problem stories. More powers to your team and God bless!
I'm studying to become a home inspector, and looking at the walls I could tell there were settlement issues with the home, which would make sense to have the pipes sag. Awesome work!
He might be right but the proof is in the pudding. It ain`t over till it`s over. The weather man gives all kinds of theories too and how often is he right? Just sayin`.
@@REDMAN298 exactly....here's my reply made yesterday...it's not gospel....but it's a rational possibility; Whole house trap? Get rid of that.....you have it mostly dug up anyway. If turds and paper are making it through the "bellied" pipe and that whole house trap...they'll make it with out it. That model he made (towards the end of the video) of what the plumbing looks like underneath the slab is pure conjecture (not sure why there are 2 other traps...there's only a toilet (toilets have a built-in trap) and a sink down stairs....but it looks cool I guess). What you CAN see from the basement is the upstairs bathroom draining into the same vertical pipe as the downstairs is draining into.(someone probably added that bathroom upstairs later) When you flush the toilet upstairs, that water is falling very quickly past the branch lines serving the bathroom downstairs...that's going to cause air to move no matter what....and that's why its against code. Upstairs needs a dedicated 3" waste line going up.(much less $$$ and work than the other plan) So this homeowner may spend all that money and still have the same problem. The bathroom probably smells occasionally because the wax seal under the toilet is leaking....few people know how to properly set a toilet...the tile in that bathroom looks relatively new...tile guys are not plumbers....it's not as easy as you might think. I've been a professional union plumber since Jr. High....I'm 59 now. (end) Out of curiosity I'd pull that downstairs toilet (check the wax seal) and watch what happens when the upstairs toilet is flushed. Heck, I live in a new house and when it's really windy outside, toilet bowl water will move that much....and I never saw any bubbles come up in this video.
@@readmore3634 how have you been in the union since jr high school? Lol but I know what you mean. Did you work in a union shop as a tradesman until you got in? When I joined , we needed a valid drivers license and a high school diploma. ..Anyway, about that bathroom, I think the one downstairs was the add on due to its location (in the basement) and the wall was only rocked on one side. The smell probably comes from the traps because all the water evaporated due to lack of use. Those family photos are a dead give away that it's a guest room bathroom. . its location keeps it from getting much use otherwise.
@@jdog4534 _______Well, I guess I miss-typed. From about 1960 to 1990 my dad ran the only union plumbing shop in southern Calif that primarily did housing. We had about 20-30 guys at one time and plumbed 1,000's of tract homes. They couldn't build houses fast enough(if you are old enough to remember). When I was in Jr. High, (1972) my dad would bring home CASES of tub/shower valves for me to pre-fab. Finally a reason to play with fire (torch)! I worked every summer vacation afterwords. Tried college, ran out of money, got sworn-in in 1979, 4 years apprenticeship school.....went into business for myself in 2008. As for that bathroom above ^, one of them seems added to the same vertical pipe. Dried out traps for sure will stink too. I don't know much...but I know plumbing...hand me a set of plans and I'll plumb that whole multi-million dollar house myself. Thanks for the reply.
@@readmore3634 right on brother. Im in nor cal. Ive only been on one residential job tho. Im in a combination local (plumbers, fitters and pipe welders. We do commercial plumbing. I dont know how the shop I was working for at the time landed a housing tract. Other than that, the closest thing to residential plumbing ive done have been hotels and patient rooms in hospitals but the hospitals still get closets hung on carriers with flushometers and all pipe is cast iron for waste n vent and copper for water. They also usually some med gas piping, at least medical air, oxygen and evac. Yea, I figured it was some kind of shop experience you were getting at such a young age. I've had a couple superintendents who had the same experience. Both of them in the same shop, at the same time. Now they're both probably about your age, living large and in charge, at the same shop. I took a different route. I joined the army first, then went to college, less than a week after I graduated, I took the test to get in the union (one of my army buddies had joined a couple years earlier and was loving it. I wanted to join sooner but they were only testing every other year. That was '95. You know it's a 5 year apprenticeship now, huh. ..and there's talk about adding a 6th). Anyway, I always figured the building trades ran a very fast pace down there in so cal. Is your shop still a union shop? Ive been thinking about opening up my own union shop and taking advantage of my veteran status. Supposedly, on federal jobs, veteran contractors get some kind of preferential treatment during the bidding process. I'll have to watch the video again to check out the piping a little better. Its been maybe a month or more since I saw it. I just remember thinking that the lower bathroom was added on due to its location and all the exposed plumbing on that wall with rock on only one side. You know, if that's a handyman special pipe job, it could be that it's not vented .. Lol Hey, thanks for your reply..
Easily the best TOH video I've ever seen, and it's not even close. Full diagnosis and explanation. Incredible work. Too bad the first plumber he called wasn't as thorough, although I'm glad we were able to get this video as a result.
Maybe the guy did but the homeowner wanted a second opinion because the solution was so expensive. This owner is in a pickle either way. Some major remodeling. Hope he solved it in the end.
This is a wonderfully made video! I teach a class called Be Your Own Handyman in Vermont and often reference TOH videos. This is a perfect video to share with my class on plumbing so homeowners can understand how their system works!
It's a basement where they threw a bed. He said there was an access door there where it's opened up, so whomever finished this basement, created that access point for future repairs. This is what could happen to all those homes where people finished the basements in areas where all their drains & plumbing come into & out of the house. Know that this could happen in the future when creating that extra space in your homes.
Me too. Insurance will not likely cover this either...likely a 25-30K job. Lots of houses in the current "hot market" have these issues. Waiving inspections isn't helping.
Most excellent teaching...Nothing better than learning from Pros...I'm a 30yrs. HVAC man, still learning that too...I feel good having watched this...I have learned, again, and still...Thank you, sincerely.
I’m thankful for the technology advancement in plumbing. My 1962 split level was originally septic. Converted to city sewer in 74. 100 ft of 4” ABS out to the street. Backed up in 17 on me but I caught it before work and tried power snaking myself from inside the basement toilet location. Didn’t get it. Hired camera crew plumbing company and it is $250 hour billed in 15 min increments...they snaked drain out to street and i saw the video was clean as whistle....for $800 (camera was only to 90’) *crap* lol...2 years later in dec 19 it backed up but i wasn’t home and wife didn’t know. So probably an inch of dishwashing water and mixture of toilet paper slurry in toilet...was so mad...dug up clean out in yard that I found on drawings i got from city after the ‘17 backup and hired a new crew that had a 120’ camera...as I needed to see the city connection. Paid them to jet clean my line $2200. Called city and they had to clean the stub from the main line...we are only 4 house on an 8” stub so city camera showed soft plug in main line...we bought home in 07 so 10 years before anything happened. The cameras show me everything and i know my whole sewer line and the city line too. Information is important when you spend a lifetime buying these things.
SMARTEST PLUMBER - thank you for this lesson. [I am trying to avoid crawling under my house to the kitchen drain clean out, so searching for clogged drain videos and just watched another one of yours - I think my pipes are galvanized, so avoiding harsh treatment - using B.Soda + Vinegar and blowing a 1/4 x 4 ft hose to stir up the 'mass' and rotate the soda, vinegar and now salt + I purchased an Enzyme/Bacteria dissolver. Day 4 still clogged, but breaking up material.
Shows like this is much more important than another EZmatic House Flipping show. Dealing with real problems with people who actually have a home and not some get rich quick project. This is why there is a PBS.
That was wonderfully explained. My husband is away for 21 days on a Supply Vessel in the Gulf and of course, things usually happen when he is away. As a woman, I have replaced the seal on the toilet and "snaked the clean out", but I will leave climbing on the rooftop to him when he gets home. Thank you for your help.
Learned something on this. Thanks. Surprised a rat trap works. After 22', solids are low velocity. I would expect it to quickly fill and clog the trap. Pipe looks intact. Before ripping it all out, I'd maybe do a surgical excavation. Cut the slab at the low point of the dip. Put rope under the pipe. Use a 2x4 to lever the pipe back up into position. Check with a torpedo level. 1/4" to 1/8" pitch per foot ( half a bubble on the level) Backfill with self leveling (soupy) concrete. Now swap the house trap if your budget and ambition supports it
Well hmm I have a floor drain in a laundry room that has nasty water that hasn’t budged, washer is not working/ old speedqueen , had water in tub as it would not spin,, just tried again and water backed up into the sink next to washer.. dark stinky .. I have tried power mainline down floor drain Still have standing water! Help Richard !! Can you send me a plumber like You!!
USA plumbing isn't modern they still glue pipes when pipes with rubber seal has been available almost century. And making trap on actual pipe lines is bad because you need snake to clean them when needed more modern is trap in fixture which can be opened when cleaning is needed an all pipe lines are more straight flowing.
@@mr.wizeguy8995 what's wrong with pcv cement? My house has ABS bonded "glued" with acetone, and I'd trust both abs and pvc to last longer than any rubber seal on a sewer pipe.
Thank you for making great videos. I liked this video because it gives credit to the trade of plumber experience and skill led to a proper diagnosis. And the explanation to the homeowner makes a hard situation much more bearable.
Execellent video that explains a dwv system in simple terms. I love it. Odors are usually the hardest issue to correct. . It’ll be a step by step process until it’s fixed. Either With using a cam, smoke etc. odors are subjective to each individual. Can test entire system with water or smoke and find no leaks but homeowner will still believe they smell something because they can’t understand how everything works. Those are the toughest jobs.
anth0r, I have had luck by using peppermint oil and putting it in the vent on the roof with the leaf blower behind it for a couple minutes. Don't let the same person who administered the peppermint back in the house cause they will give you a false diagnosis of where the issue is.
What an absolute mess this home owner has in hus hands. I'm very glad TOH Was called to look into this problem, especially after the plumber who showed up before was unable to diagnose the problem. Nice going Richard great job helping the home owner Fully understand the problem.
Rich, you did some great sleuth work. Nice explanation for the lay people and I agree with your conclusion. I've seen many a lead hub pipe sag after many years of service. Salute.
It may not be ideal, but I'd run a secondary vent to the bathroom, back to the main house vent. It wouldn't be a long term solution, but it would be trivial looking at the location and access to the bathroom, compared to a complete basement "remodel".
Richard, thanks so much for that bit of information. I have run into similar situations in the past and this video confirmed my suspicions. I have found one c.i. house trap and at least one sagged main, pvc no less.
Abandon the old pipe. Don't fix it. Run a whole new pipe system out in the yard next to the house so you don't have to dig up everything. I did that and it worked great.
Max R it looks like the bathroom is still in the mix for at least a partial demo even with the reroute to the yard. And that’s a concrete wall with the waste system in it so it would need work too. Maybe less work and cost than tearing up the floor in the bedroom but still an expensive project.
dsewkjw That was my thought as well. I have done loads of jobs like that where we just abandon the old stuff and break out into the outdoors rather than digging up the house floor.
@@jessedover6175 Having empathy for another person's problems isn't a bad thing you a**hat. How about you don't make everything some political battle for your own sad little existence since all you do is identify your entire personality by being a right-wing Trumper?
the problem of stagnant water and why the pipe has been curved, losing the slope for the water to flow. It is for the foundation of the house. It is more than clear that the house was unleveled. Cracks in the windows or doors give indications of the Foundation's problem. By raising the house to its correct level, the pressure that curves the water fall is released and the house is given adequate maintenance, when leveling the house, the plumbing is free of pressure due to the fall of the house. Now that has been the cause. The solution or lift the house or replace the pipe and give it your drain drop. Anything that is done will result in a great job.
Had to fix something like this 6 months ago. Replaced about 40' of 4" abs under brand new carpet and tile floors. Ended up around $70,000. Don't by a house without a thorough camera inspection and pay a general contractor to look at house also. You really can't expect much with your typical home inspector!
That/This is/was AWESOME !!!! THANKS FOR THE LESSON !! I'M A PLUMMER IN THE AIR FORCE !!!! AND I WAS WATCHING AND TAKING NOTES!! AND I WAS GUESSING IT MIGHT BE TAPPED SEWER GASES!!!??
as a plumber myself im not convinced that was the full cause of the smell.. i didn't see any air bubbles come through the toilet. i agree its something that needs changed but often times there is a leak in old venting or cast piping causing the smell sooner then coming through the floor.. but if the bathroom floor isn't cemented in its very possible as cast piping isn't sealed very well
That's a perfect explanation for positive and negative pressure in a plumbing system . That's WY studior vent must only be used in special circumstances. It only allows for negative pressure usage an not positive .
Plumber/DrainTips before auguring a house or residents drain line use hot dishwashing detergent like Cascade mixed in a milk gallon jug and let drain into pipes and sit for 20-35 minutes. Makes pipes slippery to run auger thru. Make sure if your jetting a line with water jet have a wet/dry vacuum that can hold 5 to 10 gallons of water for a quick clean up so to prevent a real mess. Create an adapter to the toilet tank filler line if you need to run water to a drain jetting system that way you do not have to run a hose outside the house to get water for the drain jetting system.
Is there any plumber or homeowner have seen the “belly” cast iron drain pipe under basement foundation? Could you please let me know which video is this problem? Thank you very much! I was told that my drain pipe has this problem, but the plumber can’t show me a picture with this same issue. Cast iron, no broken, belly, under foundation! Thank you!
I built one of those traps with two cleanouts with 3 inch PVC and I just installed it not that long ago for a purpose that stopped sewer gas from coming from a hacked together sewage pumping system in a commercial space. All of our drains go downhill slope till it comes to a wall then goes through the wall but no one told me that the hack that put the system together went 3 feet uphill on the other side of the wall so my 3 inch drain is actually filled with water all the time so it acts as a 3 foot deep trap!!! So basically after realizing my drain fills with water The trap that I built doesn’t actually do anything other than make a big huge U shape in the drain but it does allow me to clean out the drain very easily once every month with a garden hose bladder attachment luckily I don’t have any bathrooms on this drain at all or this would be a nightmare most of it is Clearwater from the floor drains and one stainless steel washing sink.
"Don't shoot the messenger I'm sorry." then smiles and nods his head. LOL! Another way of telling the customer "Listen buddy, you're going to be paying me a lot of money."
I had nearly the same problem. My main sewer line collapsed around 2 feet plus I had roots in the pipe as well. Replaced 9 feet of pipe, now everything is good.
DID THE CITY REPLACE THE SECTION WITH TREE ROOTS OR WERE YOU RESPONSIBLE FINANCIALLY. IF A CITY TREE SHOULD HOLD TOWN LIABLE FOR REPAIR WORK. AFTER A CERTAIN POINT, IT BECOMES THE SEWAGE COMPANIES RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE LINES.
Here's my take on this...it's not gospel....but it's a rational possibility; Whole house trap? Get rid of that for sure...you have it mostly dug up anyway. If turds and paper are making it through the whole house trap...they'll make it with out it. That model he made (towards the end of the video) of what the plumbing looks like underneath the slab is pure conjecture (not sure why there are 2 other traps...there's only a toilet (toilets have a built-in trap) and a sink down stairs....but it looks cool I guess). What you CAN see from the basement is the upstairs bathroom draining into the same vertical pipe as the downstairs is draining into.(someone probably added that bathroom upstairs later) When you flush the toilet upstairs, that water is falling very quickly past the branch lines serving the bathroom downstairs...that's going to cause air to move no matter what....and that's why its against code. Upstairs needs a dedicated 3" waste line going up.(much less $$$ and work than the other plan) So this homeowner may spend all that money and still have the same problem. The bathroom probably smells occasionally because the wax seal under the toilet is leaking....few people know how to properly set a toilet...the tile in that bathroom looks relatively new...tile guys are not plumbers....it's not as easy as you might think. I've been a professional union plumber since Jr. High....I'm 59 now. (end) Out of curiosity I'd pull that downstairs toilet (check the wax seal) and watch what happens when the upstairs toilet is flushed. Heck, I live in a new house and when it's really windy outside, toilet bowl water will move that much....and I never saw any bubbles come up in this video.
I was looking for a plumber who knew his $hit - and not an info rubric regurgitation machine - and this guy is it! Amazing. Now I can imagine why my kitchen drain is leaking sewer gas.
@Michael Ross You minimize the problem. It will worsen to where solids will collect at the low point and the pipe will become occluded. Then it will need to be snaked each time otherwise the basement toilet will overflow each time the upstairs toilet is flushed or the bathtub water is released . The condition that caused the pipe to sag will eventually cause it to separate and sewage will be running out.
Wish I had Richard - I went thru six plumbers to find a leak to no avail so I understand the frustration.
Turned out the county sewer department knew exactly where the problem was and saved me a fortune!
Always check with them first to make sure the line is clear from the street to the house.
He did an excellent job of explaining how drains and vents work. I learned a lot and I've been doing plumbing for years. Love this show.
Jeff: He was classic: But scary is that high-tenured plumbing pros admitting to their lack of roundedness. You indicate this gracefully, but; still, stark of ignorance.
@@eddyvideostar lol “high tenured plumbing pro”? Years could be 3-4 as handiwork in his own house. Everyone has room for growth.
@@stillmatic03: You may be right. When people indicate goodness about themselves, it leaves one high and dry regarding soaking up their credibility.
What’s it like being a plumber? Is it fun?
@@NP-dt9db It's like the elevator business, it has it's ups and it's downs.
I love how the home owner knows how to duck just enough to walk through the basement. Something you only learning after many headaches!
9:42 That plumbing model at the end helped me understand things way way better
Love the PVC mock-ups. Really helps me understand. You are also a very clear and articulate explainer.
MR. RICHARD TRETHEWY knows plumbing. My Grandpa was a plumber. I'm FACINATED at modern plumbing.
After watching this video, I put drain snake into vent pipes and unclogged my drain pipe. Saved me hundreds or thousands of dollars. Thank you guys. You’re the best.
I am thankful my Dad taught me a lot about home repair and building. He was proud of my work on many occasions 😊
You can tell Richard has a ton of plumbing experience. Good guy.
Wow! I have a feeling a lot of plumbers would have just thrown their hands up. This guy knows his stuff! Just goes to show the importance of proper venting in a plumbing system.
Brian P: You wrote: _" I have a feeling a lot of plumbers would have just thrown their hands up."_
It is a disconcerting shock to the system that workers, whom we trust, procure nebulousness regarding their skills and ability.
Hi Sir! I want to extend my gratitude for uploading such informative videos here on RUclips. I am from the Philippines and is currently reviewing for the Architecture Licensure Examination this June 2019. Your videos help me to have a visualization for the actual plumbing system and give me a vivid comprehension of plumbing concepts from the books, translated from actual plumbing problem stories. More powers to your team and God bless!
Would be nice to have all that expensive equipment! So we hire a plumber who lets us pay for his expense equipment. You can’t win!
This is why i am so thankful i have a crawlspace. Never understood why pour concrete over pipes.
Its a basement
Ask this Old House is a godsend thank you for this episode 😄😄😄
I'm studying to become a home inspector, and looking at the walls I could tell there were settlement issues with the home, which would make sense to have the pipes sag. Awesome work!
I don’t know how I got to watch this, but darn this fella knows plumbing, and I’m hooked. Thank you for all the info!
He might be right but the proof is in the pudding. It ain`t over till it`s over. The weather man gives all kinds of theories too and how often is he right? Just sayin`.
@@REDMAN298 exactly....here's my reply made yesterday...it's not gospel....but it's a rational possibility;
Whole house trap? Get rid of that.....you have it mostly dug up anyway. If turds and paper are making it through the "bellied" pipe and that whole house trap...they'll make it with out it. That model he made (towards the end of the video) of what the plumbing looks like underneath the slab is pure conjecture (not sure why there are 2 other traps...there's only a toilet (toilets have a built-in trap) and a sink down stairs....but it looks cool I guess). What you CAN see from the basement is the upstairs bathroom draining into the same vertical pipe as the downstairs is draining into.(someone probably added that bathroom upstairs later) When you flush the toilet upstairs, that water is falling very quickly past the branch lines serving the bathroom downstairs...that's going to cause air to move no matter what....and that's why its against code. Upstairs needs a dedicated 3" waste line going up.(much less $$$ and work than the other plan) So this homeowner may spend all that money and still have the same problem. The bathroom probably smells occasionally because the wax seal under the toilet is leaking....few people know how to properly set a toilet...the tile in that bathroom looks relatively new...tile guys are not plumbers....it's not as easy as you might think. I've been a professional union plumber since Jr. High....I'm 59 now. (end)
Out of curiosity I'd pull that downstairs toilet (check the wax seal) and watch what happens when the upstairs toilet is flushed. Heck, I live in a new house and when it's really windy outside, toilet bowl water will move that much....and I never saw any bubbles come up in this video.
@@readmore3634 how have you been in the union since jr high school? Lol but I know what you mean. Did you work in a union shop as a tradesman until you got in? When I joined , we needed a valid drivers license and a high school diploma. ..Anyway, about that bathroom, I think the one downstairs was the add on due to its location (in the basement) and the wall was only rocked on one side. The smell probably comes from the traps because all the water evaporated due to lack of use. Those family photos are a dead give away that it's a guest room bathroom. . its location keeps it from getting much use otherwise.
@@jdog4534 _______Well, I guess I miss-typed.
From about 1960 to 1990 my dad ran the only union plumbing shop in southern Calif that primarily did housing. We had about 20-30 guys at one time and plumbed 1,000's of tract homes. They couldn't build houses fast enough(if you are old enough to remember). When I was in Jr. High, (1972) my dad would bring home CASES of tub/shower valves for me to pre-fab. Finally a reason to play with fire (torch)! I worked every summer vacation afterwords. Tried college, ran out of money, got sworn-in in 1979, 4 years apprenticeship school.....went into business for myself in 2008.
As for that bathroom above ^, one of them seems added to the same vertical pipe. Dried out traps for sure will stink too.
I don't know much...but I know plumbing...hand me a set of plans and I'll plumb that whole multi-million dollar house myself. Thanks for the reply.
@@readmore3634 right on brother. Im in nor cal. Ive only been on one residential job tho. Im in a combination local (plumbers, fitters and pipe welders. We do commercial plumbing. I dont know how the shop I was working for at the time landed a housing tract. Other than that, the closest thing to residential plumbing ive done have been hotels and patient rooms in hospitals but the hospitals still get closets hung on carriers with flushometers and all pipe is cast iron for waste n vent and copper for water. They also usually some med gas piping, at least medical air, oxygen and evac.
Yea, I figured it was some kind of shop experience you were getting at such a young age. I've had a couple superintendents who had the same experience. Both of them in the same shop, at the same time. Now they're both probably about your age, living large and in charge, at the same shop.
I took a different route. I joined the army first, then went to college, less than a week after I graduated, I took the test to get in the union (one of my army buddies had joined a couple years earlier and was loving it. I wanted to join sooner but they were only testing every other year. That was '95. You know it's a 5 year apprenticeship now, huh. ..and there's talk about adding a 6th). Anyway, I always figured the building trades ran a very fast pace down there in so cal. Is your shop still a union shop? Ive been thinking about opening up my own union shop and taking advantage of my veteran status. Supposedly, on federal jobs, veteran contractors get some kind of preferential treatment during the bidding process.
I'll have to watch the video again to check out the piping a little better. Its been maybe a month or more since I saw it. I just remember thinking that the lower bathroom was added on due to its location and all the exposed plumbing on that wall with rock on only one side. You know, if that's a handyman special pipe job, it could be that it's not vented .. Lol
Hey, thanks for your reply..
Richard, you are the man!! I’ve watched your videos so many times on job sites with great success. Love this old house!!
Easily the best TOH video I've ever seen, and it's not even close. Full diagnosis and explanation. Incredible work. Too bad the first plumber he called wasn't as thorough, although I'm glad we were able to get this video as a result.
Maybe the guy did but the homeowner wanted a second opinion because the solution was so expensive. This owner is in a pickle either way. Some major remodeling. Hope he solved it in the end.
@@cosmicallyderived Just put a scissor jack under the sagging pipe. In ten more years when it sags again, crank it a couple more turns. :-)
This is a wonderfully made video! I teach a class called Be Your Own Handyman in Vermont and often reference TOH videos. This is a perfect video to share with my class on plumbing so homeowners can understand how their system works!
Richard and his team are absolutely amazing at explaining the fine art of plumbing!
I never thought of it as a fine art before. :)
2:17 Man I was NOT expecting a video on how to diagnose plumbing drain problems to involve digging up your bedroom floor
saaaaame.
It's a basement where they threw a bed. He said there was an access door there where it's opened up, so whomever finished this basement, created that access point for future repairs. This is what could happen to all those homes where people finished the basements in areas where all their drains & plumbing come into & out of the house. Know that this could happen in the future when creating that extra space in your homes.
@@shilohgames3155 I like customers like that. I usually say "well if you want it done for free, why did you call me" then leave.
Me neither! Would have never thought of digging up the bedroom floor.
I wonder if the homeowner ever made the repairs... that would be an interesting follow-up video to this exceptionally informative episode.
Was gonna say the same thing, that must have been a nightmare job, digging up the whole floor.
Me too. Insurance will not likely cover this either...likely a 25-30K job. Lots of houses in the current "hot market" have these issues. Waiving inspections isn't helping.
Most excellent teaching...Nothing better than learning from Pros...I'm a 30yrs. HVAC man, still learning that too...I feel good having watched this...I have learned, again, and still...Thank you, sincerely.
I loved the camera tool and the camera locator.
You might think I'm nuts, but I was fascinated with the plumbing video.
I’m thankful for the technology advancement in plumbing. My 1962 split level was originally septic. Converted to city sewer in 74. 100 ft of 4” ABS out to the street. Backed up in 17 on me but I caught it before work and tried power snaking myself from inside the basement toilet location. Didn’t get it. Hired camera crew plumbing company and it is $250 hour billed in 15 min increments...they snaked drain out to street and i saw the video was clean as whistle....for $800 (camera was only to 90’) *crap* lol...2 years later in dec 19 it backed up but i wasn’t home and wife didn’t know. So probably an inch of dishwashing water and mixture of toilet paper slurry in toilet...was so mad...dug up clean out in yard that I found on drawings i got from city after the ‘17 backup and hired a new crew that had a 120’ camera...as I needed to see the city connection. Paid them to jet clean my line $2200. Called city and they had to clean the stub from the main line...we are only 4 house on an 8” stub so city camera showed soft plug in main line...we bought home in 07 so 10 years before anything happened. The cameras show me everything and i know my whole sewer line and the city line too. Information is important when you spend a lifetime buying these things.
SMARTEST PLUMBER - thank you for this lesson. [I am trying to avoid crawling under my house to the kitchen drain clean out, so searching for clogged drain videos and just watched another one of yours - I think my pipes are galvanized, so avoiding harsh treatment - using B.Soda + Vinegar and blowing a 1/4 x 4 ft hose to stir up the 'mass' and rotate the soda, vinegar and now salt + I purchased an Enzyme/Bacteria dissolver. Day 4 still clogged, but breaking up material.
I love this show. These guys really care about their job.
Shows like this is much more important than another EZmatic House Flipping show. Dealing with real problems with people who actually have a home and not some get rich quick project. This is why there is a PBS.
That was wonderfully explained. My husband is away for 21 days on a Supply Vessel in the Gulf and of course, things usually happen when he is away. As a woman, I have replaced the seal on the toilet and "snaked the clean out", but I will leave climbing on the rooftop to him when he gets home. Thank you for your help.
Tommy Silva has always been my favorite, but Richard is right up there.
Learned something on this. Thanks. Surprised a rat trap works. After 22', solids are low velocity. I would expect it to quickly fill and clog the trap. Pipe looks intact. Before ripping it all out, I'd maybe do a surgical excavation. Cut the slab at the low point of the dip. Put rope under the pipe. Use a 2x4 to lever the pipe back up into position. Check with a torpedo level. 1/4" to 1/8" pitch per foot ( half a bubble on the level) Backfill with self leveling (soupy) concrete. Now swap the house trap if your budget and ambition supports it
I was thinking about this!
Well hmm I have a floor drain in a laundry room that has nasty water that hasn’t budged, washer is not working/ old speedqueen , had water in tub as it would not spin,, just tried again and water backed up into the sink next to washer.. dark stinky .. I have tried power mainline down floor drain
Still have standing water!
Help Richard !! Can you send me a plumber like You!!
He did all the work for me. Thank you for sharing the knowledge. Now just need to rent a camera to confirm. Thank you so much.
Richard is the man! Can't decide who I'd rather have a beer with. Tommy or Rich.
I'd imagine that if you're buying, they'd both come. Me too lol!
I'm a plumber from Nigeria, I'll like to learn this modern plumbing system cuz in my country we still the olden days methods
It would be cool if you could.
USA plumbing isn't modern they still glue pipes when pipes with rubber seal has been available almost century.
And making trap on actual pipe lines is bad because you need snake to clean them when needed more modern is trap in fixture which can be opened when cleaning is needed an all pipe lines are more straight flowing.
Outhouse and a hole still?
"olden days method" also known as crap in a bush
@@mr.wizeguy8995 what's wrong with pcv cement? My house has ABS bonded "glued" with acetone, and I'd trust both abs and pvc to last longer than any rubber seal on a sewer pipe.
The demotion aspect of the appropriate remedy made me shiver all of the way over here in my comfy, cozy place.
im impressed. this man obviously knows his trade. Ive learned so much from him.
Thank you for making great videos. I liked this video because it gives credit to the trade of plumber experience and skill led to a proper diagnosis. And the explanation to the homeowner makes a hard situation much more bearable.
Execellent video that explains a dwv system in simple terms. I love it. Odors are usually the hardest issue to correct. . It’ll be a step by step process until it’s fixed. Either With using a cam, smoke etc. odors are subjective to each individual.
Can test entire system with water or smoke and find no leaks but homeowner will still believe they smell something because they can’t understand how everything works.
Those are the toughest jobs.
anth0r, I have had luck by using peppermint oil and putting it in the vent on the roof with the leaf blower behind it for a couple minutes. Don't let the same person who administered the peppermint back in the house cause they will give you a false diagnosis of where the issue is.
This guy makes plumbing sound so interesting
Great job!
What an absolute mess this home owner has in hus hands. I'm very glad TOH Was called to look into this problem, especially after the plumber who showed up before was unable to diagnose the problem. Nice going Richard great job helping the home owner Fully understand the problem.
Rich, you did some great sleuth work. Nice explanation for the lay people and I agree with your conclusion. I've seen many a lead hub pipe sag after many years of service. Salute.
This Dude Knows Plumbing! HE'S AWESOME TO FIX PEOPLE'S BAD DAYS. 👍😸🏩🧱
It may not be ideal, but I'd run a secondary vent to the bathroom, back to the main house vent. It wouldn't be a long term solution, but it would be trivial looking at the location and access to the bathroom, compared to a complete basement "remodel".
Poor homeowner. Probably wasn’t expecting a large project but very relieved Richard troubleshooted rather than jumping into conclusion. Nice job!
I'd sell that house prompto, especially in this seller's market, sell it to some sucker to deal with.
Richard, thanks so much for that bit of information. I have run into similar situations in the past and this video confirmed my suspicions. I have found one c.i. house trap and at least one sagged main, pvc no less.
Richard! Richard! You are the best and most enthusiastic teacher. Thank you!
Pure talent. Great teaching. Great team.
You know he knows what he’s talking about when he brings up the science behind why what’s happening is happening
Great quality stuff ! People like this plumber makes the world go round !!!
Wisdom is having the right tools and knowledge reveal the mysteries.
This guy could make a hell of a bong.
rofl
🌪️🔥🍼
That’s how the Zong was invented
Good old fashioned detective work Elementary Watson. Well done Sherlock. Great Job!!
Abandon the old pipe. Don't fix it. Run a whole new pipe system out in the yard next to the house so you don't have to dig up everything. I did that and it worked great.
👍🏼
dsrekjw I don’t understand how that’s cheaper than the original solution
@@jimk5307 you ought to read his comment over again.
Max R it looks like the bathroom is still in the mix for at least a partial demo even with the reroute to the yard. And that’s a concrete wall with the waste system in it so it would need work too. Maybe less work and cost than tearing up the floor in the bedroom but still an expensive project.
dsewkjw
That was my thought as well. I have done loads of jobs like that where we just abandon the old stuff and break out into the outdoors rather than digging up the house floor.
I had my plumber over two days in a row. Two different issues. Plumbing is one of the most important features of a home.
This whole episode sucked me in from beginning to end. Really enjoyed it.
Richard is a plumbing genius! Totally enjoyed this video!
I feel bad for that person, he seemed so sad about the problem in his house. Such an expensive thing that isn’t even his fault :/
Same. I wonder if he ever got a chance to fix it or he decided to live with it.
Hey Luciano, You sound like a Biden boy.
@@GlennC789 No. I mean a wussy panzie who feels sad for a guy with a plumbing problem.
I'm surprised you didn't say ,"His plumbers are so racist !!"
Man every time I have a problem in my house I immediately think it's going to be some nightmare like this.
@@jessedover6175 Having empathy for another person's problems isn't a bad thing you a**hat. How about you don't make everything some political battle for your own sad little existence since all you do is identify your entire personality by being a right-wing Trumper?
Amazing, TOH should be its own television station..... I'd love to be on this show.
Cary Almas it has its own tv station duuude
5:18 I was not expecting that noise.
Sounds like some sound effects dubbed in. haha
I heard that sound, and it was so out of place, I thought "Did my cat fail?" :D
Deany K
Legend has it that there was a dude behind the camera oscillating his finger on his lips while blowing air out in a high pitched hum.
My dog enjoyed it...😂
Great job assessing and understanding the inner workings of that drain.
Love videos like this
The moment I saw the family pictures in the bathroom, I had to stop the video to read the comments LOL
M Paul film of j l CSU I’m doing pres trump
just amazed at the way he identified it. cool equipment too.
great video, this guy makes plumbing interesting ,I wanted to know the answer to the problems
the problem of stagnant water and why the pipe has been curved, losing the slope for the water to flow. It is for the foundation of the house.
It is more than clear that the house was unleveled. Cracks in the windows or doors give indications of the Foundation's problem.
By raising the house to its correct level, the pressure that curves the water fall is released and the house is given adequate maintenance, when leveling the house, the plumbing is free of pressure due to the fall of the house. Now that has been the cause. The solution or lift the house or replace the pipe and give it your drain drop.
Anything that is done will result in a great job.
Man. That was instructive.
David Zomeño b
CRAPPY SHOW. THEY DID NOT DO ANY REPAIRS. THE WHOLE PURPOSE OF THE SHOW!
@@joewell3074 If you didn't get a useful lesson in troubleshooting methodology, Im sorry.
Great diagnosis! He knows his plumbing. Columbo of plumbing 👍👍
Hahah, i love how he says “now before i have you dig that”
This guy is so good at explaining the issues, I feel like i am a licensed plumber now
Had this problem with the vent, why I wonder, do they not require screen covers of some type to prevent animals from getting down them?
> This problem is NOT with the vent, it is with the Sagging Drain Pipe.
Had to fix something like this 6 months ago. Replaced about 40' of 4" abs under brand new carpet and tile floors. Ended up around $70,000. Don't by a house without a thorough camera inspection and pay a general contractor to look at house also. You really can't expect much with your typical home inspector!
wow, great investigation work. can't find plumbers like that anymore.
That/This is/was AWESOME !!!! THANKS FOR THE LESSON !! I'M A PLUMMER IN THE AIR FORCE !!!! AND I WAS WATCHING AND TAKING NOTES!! AND I WAS GUESSING IT MIGHT BE TAPPED SEWER GASES!!!??
Thank you for sharing your knowledge for us newbies. Most helpful in plain language.
Best no nonsense home show ever.
Good old Trethewey! Gotta admire his style; figures it all out but has some other poor bugger do all the dirty work. He's surely earned it by now.
Wow, this plumber really knows his stuff!
as a plumber myself im not convinced that was the full cause of the smell.. i didn't see any air bubbles come through the toilet. i agree its something that needs changed but often times there is a leak in old venting or cast piping causing the smell sooner then coming through the floor.. but if the bathroom floor isn't cemented in its very possible as cast piping isn't sealed very well
2007dalin he said that. The sag may have broken the seal
As a plumber yourself you should pay attention before shooting your mouth off and trying to sound superior.
That's a perfect explanation for positive and negative pressure in a plumbing system . That's WY studior vent must only be used in special circumstances. It only allows for negative pressure usage an not positive .
Excellent video! It's TOH stuff like this that I love.
Plumber/DrainTips before auguring a house or residents drain line use hot dishwashing detergent like Cascade mixed in a milk gallon jug and let drain into pipes and sit for 20-35 minutes. Makes pipes slippery to run auger thru. Make sure if your jetting a line with water jet have a wet/dry vacuum that can hold 5 to 10 gallons of water for a quick clean up so to prevent a real mess. Create an adapter to the toilet tank filler line if you need to run water to a drain jetting system that way you do not have to run a hose outside the house to get water for the drain jetting system.
what an expensive problem! poor fella
corey Babcock yeah the anxiety of it all would have me selling the place instantly... with knowledge passed on to the next owner of corse..
@corey Babcock U can't leave it, methane starts seeping trough the cracks.
Tbh the digging part. Would be the hardest... Abs or pvc is easy to work with
Is there any plumber or homeowner have seen the “belly” cast iron drain pipe under basement foundation? Could you please let me know which video is this problem? Thank you very much! I was told that my drain pipe has this problem, but the plumber can’t show me a picture with this same issue. Cast iron, no broken, belly, under foundation! Thank you!
I What probably just get rid of that bathroom and turn it into something else plugg it up
I built one of those traps with two cleanouts with 3 inch PVC and I just installed it not that long ago for a purpose that stopped sewer gas from coming from a hacked together sewage pumping system in a commercial space. All of our drains go downhill slope till it comes to a wall then goes through the wall but no one told me that the hack that put the system together went 3 feet uphill on the other side of the wall so my 3 inch drain is actually filled with water all the time so it acts as a 3 foot deep trap!!! So basically after realizing my drain fills with water The trap that I built doesn’t actually do anything other than make a big huge U shape in the drain but it does allow me to clean out the drain very easily once every month with a garden hose bladder attachment luckily I don’t have any bathrooms on this drain at all or this would be a nightmare most of it is Clearwater from the floor drains and one stainless steel washing sink.
Get outa my house, Richard! You are bad news!! Ha ha ... you're my rock star, Richard. Thanks for the very interesting and educational video.
THIS OLD HOUSE it would be nice to see a re visit of this houses drain after they fixed it.
Ben Boudreau hahaha pretty sure the pipe is still sagging! 🤣
"Don't shoot the messenger I'm sorry." then smiles and nods his head. LOL! Another way of telling the customer "Listen buddy, you're going to be paying me a lot of money."
Wow!!
Excellent!
Exciting!!
From "This Old House, to This high tech gadgets camera etc. house"
Learned a lot !!👍
Keep up the good work and Thank You.
Amazing diagram and exclamation thank you really helped out
This is the person I want for my neighbor. And on the other side of my house, I'd like an electrician. Wonderful neighborhood.
another excellent plumbing video very education and well done. thanks.
Richard, you deserve “Teacher of the Year”!!!
3:13 That look when you know what you're getting yourself into...
I had nearly the same problem. My main sewer line collapsed around 2 feet plus I had roots in the pipe as well. Replaced 9 feet of pipe, now everything is good.
DID THE CITY REPLACE THE SECTION WITH TREE ROOTS OR WERE YOU RESPONSIBLE FINANCIALLY. IF A CITY TREE SHOULD HOLD TOWN LIABLE FOR REPAIR WORK. AFTER A CERTAIN POINT, IT BECOMES THE SEWAGE COMPANIES RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE LINES.
@@joewell3074 No the roots might have come from my neighbor's house. She has a big tree near where the root problem was found.
Timely video, I've got a venting problem between two vanity sinks right now. Hope mine doesn't run into the expense like this homeowner had to pay.
ecleveland1 studor venting is always an easy fix for a homeowner
He's an expert, without a doubt
Here's my take on this...it's not gospel....but it's a rational possibility;
Whole house trap? Get rid of that for sure...you have it mostly dug up anyway. If turds and paper are making it through the whole house trap...they'll make it with out it. That model he made (towards the end of the video) of what the plumbing looks like underneath the slab is pure conjecture (not sure why there are 2 other traps...there's only a toilet (toilets have a built-in trap) and a sink down stairs....but it looks cool I guess). What you CAN see from the basement is the upstairs bathroom draining into the same vertical pipe as the downstairs is draining into.(someone probably added that bathroom upstairs later) When you flush the toilet upstairs, that water is falling very quickly past the branch lines serving the bathroom downstairs...that's going to cause air to move no matter what....and that's why its against code. Upstairs needs a dedicated 3" waste line going up.(much less $$$ and work than the other plan) So this homeowner may spend all that money and still have the same problem. The bathroom probably smells occasionally because the wax seal under the toilet is leaking....few people know how to properly set a toilet...the tile in that bathroom looks relatively new...tile guys are not plumbers....it's not as easy as you might think. I've been a professional union plumber since Jr. High....I'm 59 now. (end)
Out of curiosity I'd pull that downstairs toilet (check the wax seal) and watch what happens when the upstairs toilet is flushed. Heck, I live in a new house and when it's really windy outside, toilet bowl water will move that much....and I never saw any bubbles come up in this video.
Good points, good thinking, you will go places (or have been) thinking like that.
I had no idea someone could be a union plumber while still in junior high school.
Aren't old houses so quaint and charming?
Maybe home builders should think about a different position for some of that piping.
Seriously high production value, this guy should be on discovery channel
would it be cheaper to just add another vent?
I was looking for a plumber who knew his $hit - and not an info rubric regurgitation machine - and this guy is it!
Amazing. Now I can imagine why my kitchen drain is leaking sewer gas.
Legend has it, the pipe is still sagging.
No crap, I'd deal with a little smell over a complete remodel
@@morecrapforputdowns The smell will only get worse
@Michael Ross You minimize the problem. It will worsen to where solids will collect at the low point and the pipe will become occluded. Then it will need to be snaked each time otherwise the basement toilet will overflow each time the upstairs toilet is flushed or the bathtub water is released . The condition that caused the pipe to sag will eventually cause it to separate and sewage will be running out.
🤣🤣🤣🤣
Your comment is sagging.
This guy is diagnostic genius