blucube
Member
Summary: Water leaks from where wall meets floor when washer drains. Smells of sewage, appears to be earth/clay 1.5'-2.0' down washer drain.
Trying to identify issue, may cut up concrete soon. Washer in the basement 100+ year old construction. Washer drain goes directly into the floor/concrete. When water is drained into the washer drain it begins to leak out of a couple of areas right where the wall and floor meet about a foot away from the drain and another ~10' away. It also begins to smell like sewage when it's leaking (sump pump currently smells like sewage as well - I believe the french drain is catching the leaked water and it's flowing the sump).
I'm in the process of scoping with varying success but I've found that the camera was only making it a foot or two down and it felt like earth/clay was preventing it and goes completely dark due to obstruction/murky water. I snaked the drain about 8x and each time about 1.5 to 2' down I hit what feels like earth/clay (pic attached of what I've been pulling up). It's really, really thick - thick enough to "catch" the snake from spinning and if forced began to unravel the coil/spring.
I don't have a ton of experience with what gathers in drains over time but it really feels like earth/clay and not just some "black sludge" build up. That and the fact mass amounts of water starts to leak from the foundation where it meets the wall makes me think either the pipe is damaged and filled up with dirt/clay or this is draining in a way I can't wrap my mind around.
My next two steps are likely using a skill saw to make a hole around the pipe/work my way along the drain to see if I can find it collapsed or damaged. Or, try and send the scope in through the waste stack clean out towards the drain (which I imagine I'll just see murky water and an obstruction with no light).
Sorry for the long explanation, but I do appreciate anyone's time and input on what I'm likely dealing with.
(Click spoiler to see black earth/clay like substance)
Trying to identify issue, may cut up concrete soon. Washer in the basement 100+ year old construction. Washer drain goes directly into the floor/concrete. When water is drained into the washer drain it begins to leak out of a couple of areas right where the wall and floor meet about a foot away from the drain and another ~10' away. It also begins to smell like sewage when it's leaking (sump pump currently smells like sewage as well - I believe the french drain is catching the leaked water and it's flowing the sump).
I'm in the process of scoping with varying success but I've found that the camera was only making it a foot or two down and it felt like earth/clay was preventing it and goes completely dark due to obstruction/murky water. I snaked the drain about 8x and each time about 1.5 to 2' down I hit what feels like earth/clay (pic attached of what I've been pulling up). It's really, really thick - thick enough to "catch" the snake from spinning and if forced began to unravel the coil/spring.
I don't have a ton of experience with what gathers in drains over time but it really feels like earth/clay and not just some "black sludge" build up. That and the fact mass amounts of water starts to leak from the foundation where it meets the wall makes me think either the pipe is damaged and filled up with dirt/clay or this is draining in a way I can't wrap my mind around.
My next two steps are likely using a skill saw to make a hole around the pipe/work my way along the drain to see if I can find it collapsed or damaged. Or, try and send the scope in through the waste stack clean out towards the drain (which I imagine I'll just see murky water and an obstruction with no light).
Sorry for the long explanation, but I do appreciate anyone's time and input on what I'm likely dealing with.
(Click spoiler to see black earth/clay like substance)
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