Poly purge pipe to PVC drain - Bad Installation?

[mrbob]

I'm a home owner, not a professional plumber.

20+ years ago, a water treatment company installed a calcite water treatment system in my basement with a Fleck timer and tank. They ran the purge line from the Fleck through flexible poly tubing 0.494" OD (what size is this?). They cut my kitchen sink drain line (2" Sch40 PVC) and added a tee, trap, and 10" open vertical pipe. They put the poly tubing into the top of the vertical pipe, making some kind of air gap, probably to prevent drawing waste water back to the calcite system.

For the past 20+ years, I've suffered with this system splashing large amounts of water out this air gap. When the calcite system purges, I get approx. 1 gallon of water on the basement floor, because the vertical pipe fills faster than it drains. When someone pours large amounts of water into the kitchen sink, I also get overflow.

A few years ago, a plumber increased the water pressure in my house by adjusting my well pump. That seems to have made things worse, probably because there is even more water coming out of the calcite system on its periodic back-flush.

I tried cleaning the 2" PVC drain pipe with a 25' long metal drain auger, in from the kitchen cleanout. That had no effect. So I don't think that the main PVC drain is badly clogged, although there could be some small buildup there. I've also emptied the trap from the bottom port, and it contained no blockage or solids.

My first thought is that the poly pipe should have had a closed system with a check valve rather than air gap and trap. But before I modify it, I'd really like some good advice.

I really welcome your suggestions. Thank you.

Bob

 

[frodo]

dig a hole, 3'x3'x3' fill with 1 1/2" rocks. put a 30 gallon plastic barrel in the hole with hundreds of holes in the barrel
run your drain into that bucket, place this hole a MINIMUM 5' from edge of hole to your house foundation


yep, use the barrel for target practice LOL. or drill it

 

[phishfood]

I would do as Frodo suggests, and try to remove that from drainage load from your septic/sewer. If you absolutely can't pipe it to the outside, at least get the standpipe on the trap as long as possible.

 

[SHR]

You have suffered a long time because you did not have your clogged drain line cleared. Yes, that's right your problem is your drain line is clogged and you have not properly cleared it. Have it taken care of by a licensed professional drain cleaner/plumber and you should not have this problem for a long time.

 

[frodo]

You have suffered a long time because you did not have your clogged drain line cleared. Yes, that's right your problem is your drain line is clogged and you have not properly cleared it. Have it taken care of by a licensed professional drain cleaner/plumber and you should not have this problem for a long time.

dang, he did say his sink was slow.

i hate it when your right!!!! stop that!!!!

but, an indirect splashing azz
under the sink. get rid of it

 

[mrbob]

Thank you for the suggestions.

1) Drain to a drywell. Good idea, but I'll have to wait for spring when the ground thaws.
2) Call a drain cleaning professional. Good idea, too. But I'm not convinced that it's the drain. The drain is not running slowly and I really worked on it for a long time with a snake, just to try to alleviate this issue. But it sure could be a clogged drain. That would do it.

Is it possible that there is something wrong with my vent, such as a squirrel nest? I tried to find where it joins the drain line. I didn't see the exact point from below but it seems to join somewhere near the kitchen sink and this trap problem is right near the kitchen sink, too.

What else could it be?

Thank you again.

Bob

 

[SHR]

You do not seem to understand, your drain is clogged. A 1/4" hand snake is a good first step in clearing a drain but kitchen drain clogs often require more serious tools to clear. I do not know why you want to keep writing about your problem and not fixing your problem. You know the solution.

 

[mrbob]

OK. As you recommended, I called a plumber. He looked at the house today and told me that he thinks that the installation is wrong. Here's what concerned him:

The tee coupling the purge line into the 2" drain pipe is the wrong type of fitting and installed horizontally, rather than vertically.
The 2" drain pipe itself is sagging because it isn't well supported, so it isn't flowing well.
The trap and vertical pipe is too small (1 1/2").

He plans to replace the tee, trap and purge air gap with a larger tee, trap, and air gap further down the line, replace the sagging 2" drain pipe, and add more support so it doesn't sag in the future.

I hope he's right.

Bob

 

[frodo]

glad you are get it take'n care of. wish we could have been more help..