Plumber recommendation...

DaveO · 01-09-2008, 07:49 PM

or help. I have some plumbing issues (in my house

) that are beyond my realm of knowledge and skill (very limited). Anyone in the Clayton/Raleigh area know of a good and inexpensive plumber they could recommend? I would love to find someone who could give me an idea of what is going on, and head me in the right direction to fix it. I think with diagnosis/direction I could handle the actual work myself.
Thanks for any advice to you might offer

Dave

jtodd71 · 01-09-2008, 07:58 PM

whats the problem?

NZAPP1 · 01-09-2008, 08:24 PM

Originally Posted by jtodd71

whats the problem?

Yea Dave

dick541 · 01-09-2008, 08:41 PM

Can't help if we don't know for what, To ashamed to say you are water logged?
dick

DaveO · 01-09-2008, 08:46 PM

I am not sure, thus the need for diagnosis. But I am having a large amount of gurgling (air bubbling) when you flush the toilets or run the clothes washer. I think that I might have a clogged vent pipe???? But to compound that I am on a septic system that hasn't had any attention paid to it in at least 5-6 years more likely longer. In fact I don't even know where the tank is

I always figured that if I had a septic issue it would let me know where it was

. Also I have a "Johnston County bump out" addition on my house with a half bath and washer/dryer connections that I am sure wasn't built/plumbed right. That is where I am getting the worst noise and poor commode flushing

Any ideas as to what might be going on and possible remedies ???

Dave

jtodd71 · 01-09-2008, 08:47 PM

Stop flushing the toilets

Alan in Little Washington · 01-09-2008, 09:10 PM

I doubt it is a clogged vent- you likely have multiple vents, and it would need something really big to clog the main drain vent which is 3" or 4" . Since the septic hasn't shown itself- no soggy smelly spot in the lawn, my guess is that it is not full but you may have a partially clogged drain. A bockage can cause the effluent to both back up in the house or partially up the vent. But since it apparently doesn't overflow it is still draining my guess is you have a root-clogged, or slightly collapsed drain line running to the septic tank.

Go to the rental center and rent a snake and check it out. A plumber will be $$$$$$ even if he doesn't do anything.

Ray Martin · 01-09-2008, 09:13 PM

Dave,

Gurgling does sound like air in the lines or a clogged vent (just guessing here). Septic issue is likely not the problem, although you should schedule a visit from the honey wagon. Since I can't stand all the wet (don't even use the pool in my yard), I'm not much of a plumber. We used Dr Drain, Inc. and had good luck. They did a leach field repair and were quite reasonable. They also do inside plumbing. We use B & D to get the septic drained out every so many years and have had good luck with them as well. Of course, there's always Ask This Old House.

Ray

scott hamm · 01-09-2008, 09:19 PM

dave ,
get the shovel out.
i mused to put in septic systems.
your tank is full of solids.
1st off go get some yeast and flush it down the toilet.
about 6 packs to start with.
next , find someone who pumps out septis tanks and call them.
if you know where it's at you can dig it out yourself and save some bucks.
note: do not open the lid!
let the driver do it.
when the tank gets full theres no plce for the air to go and it gurgles.
hopefully you won't have to put in a repair drain pit.
when it's pumped out put about 12 packs of yeast in the toilet and flush it.
this will help the system work.
scott

Ray Martin · 01-09-2008, 09:25 PM

good thought on the yeast... if the guys from the honey wagon add the "culture" to the tank, it'll cost about 15 dollars per bag. I think Fleischmanns yeast is about 50 cents per packet (yes, huge size difference) but shopping in the baking goods aisle is loads cheaper. We add a packet or two per month>

Ray

JimmyC · 01-09-2008, 10:27 PM

Dave,

I'd send my wife over, but she's busy

. Sorry I can't help, I'm from up north and always had city water/sewage. This country living is all new to me.

Jimmy

DaveO · 01-09-2008, 10:40 PM

Originally Posted by twodognc

Dave,

I'd send my wife over, but she's busy. Sorry I can't help, I'm from up north and always had city water/sewage. This country living is all new to me.

Jimmy

Dang Jimmy I was counting on your new found Hottie plumber to help me out. I am in the same boat, this is the first time I have ever lived with a septic system, and in anything but a rental house

Dave

DaveO · 01-09-2008, 10:45 PM

Originally Posted by Alan in Little Washington

I doubt it is a clogged vent- you likely have multiple vents, and it would need something really big to clog the main drain vent which is 3" or 4" . Since the septic hasn't shown itself- no soggy smelly spot in the lawn, my guess is that it is not full but you may have a partially clogged drain. A bockage can cause the effluent to both back up in the house or partially up the vent. But since it apparently doesn't overflow it is still draining my guess is you have a root-clogged, or slightly collapsed drain line running to the septic tank.

Go to the rental center and rent a snake and check it out. A plumber will be $$$$$$ even if he doesn't do anything.

Great advice Alan, is there anything you don't know about? Where do you think that the best place to start snaking the lines would be ? Should I start at the toilet in question or tap into the main septic line under the house?

Dave

DaveO · 01-09-2008, 11:00 PM

Originally Posted by scott hamm

dave ,
get the shovel out.
i mused to put in septic systems.
your tank is full of solids.
1st off go get some yeast and flush it down the toilet.
about 6 packs to start with.
next , find someone who pumps out septis tanks and call them.
if you know where it's at you can dig it out yourself and save some bucks.
note: do not open the lid!
let the driver do it.
when the tank gets full theres no plce for the air to go and it gurgles.
hopefully you won't have to put in a repair drain pit.
when it's pumped out put about 12 packs of yeast in the toilet and flush it.
this will help the system work.
scott

Scott I don't doubt your advice one bit, you obviously know more about this situation than I do, anybody would (I know nothing) All I know is that plumbing drain lines are vented, when water (or other stuff) is poured down a pipe the air in the pipe has to go somewhere. I would hope that I have vent pipes that would allow the air to ex cape before it gets to the septic tank (I live in Johnston Co, so there is no guarantee). If my septic tank was full I would expect to see something else coming back out of the drains other than bubbles

I am reaching here, because I really have no idea a bout plumbing or if what I have in my house was even done the right way

Dave

lottathought · 01-09-2008, 11:04 PM

Dave,
It may be a partial clog..
The first thing to figure out is this...
What drainage lines have the problem?
Is it all?
Some?
If some, which ones?

It could be a feeder pipe or it could be the main drain pipe.
And yes..4" can be hard to clogg but not if some tree roots already started to partially clog it off for you.

Next...is it backing up, slow draining or just gurgling?

Hey, I have a snake and although I know just enough about plumbing to be dangerous, happy to stop by after work tommorow and take a look.

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