Water Softener/Condenstate Drain Backup Issue

[f1nALMSfan]

Hello everyone,
I have an issue with my collection pipe from my water softener and furnace condensate lines not draining, and backing up. Now a little bit of background, my moved into the house in July, and have not had any issues with this since. Outside of that, I can not confirm this hasn't happened in the past with the prior owners, although there is no evidence that it did.

So the other night, I came downstairs to find my carpet completely soaked. I opened the closet where the sump, softener and drain are, to find more water in there, and the vertical collection pipe for the softener and condensate lines full to the top with water. After trying various things, I was able to get the water to finally drain by unscrewing the clean-out piece on the top. When I did this, a loud whoosh of air was heard and just like that the water had drained.

My questions are as follows. First, what could be causing this problem all of a sudden? My softener recycles every two days, and this has not occurred before. Secondly, what options are there to remedy this? As long as I have air exchange at the clean out cap, the water drains fine. Is there any risk with allowing air to exchange at this point?

Thanks so much for taking a look at this, I am very new to the DIY house fixes, as this is my first place.

Best regards,

Kevin

 

[masterplumbercliff]

Every drain needs a vent- same principle used as with a straw if you put your finger over the end you can stop the liquid flow as soon as u release ur finger and allow the straw to vent the liquid will drain. The only problem u may have in your situation if u leave the plug out is water from when your sump pumps- if that happens just extend that vent up higher- it looks as though it would work without extending though


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[IFIXH20]

The 3'' pipe coming through the wall, is it a storm drain or sanitary sewer ? If it's sewer where do the rest of the home drains tied into it ?

 

[phishfood]

I think that IFIX is onto something.

If that is a storm system, the drainage bed for that might be full from all of the rain/snowmelt that much of the country has seen lately. That, combined with the sump pump, might be causing your issue.