[wab]

The upstairs toilet began to leak and I decided to fix it. In my investigation I found a number of problems. Here is what concerns me. The toilet drain Y's off to the vent. The vent appears to be a 3". After removing a section of the floor I found the drain for the 2 sinks share the same line (3") but in the center it Y's off to the main line that is smaller (2"). The Y is pointed to the sinks. This means the sewer water from the toilet must go down the 3 inch pipe and then make a 235 degree turn to get down the smaller drain. Is this right? Do I need to replace the smaller line or can I T into the larger line or reverse the Y?

 

[Alan]

A picture or drawing would be helpful on this one. :huh:

 

[wab]

Drawing - perspective

Attached is the quick drawing.

 

[DangerMouse]

I do not think the 'main drain' is a 2". Are you absolutely certain? Can you post photos?
Everything else looks pretty much normal though.

DM

 

[wab]

Main Drain

I am guessing at the size of the main drain. It could be 2.5" but it is clearly smaller than the drain going from the toilet. Should the Y really point to the sinks? Here is a picture.

 

[DangerMouse]

I see a 2" to a 3" wye and the rest is 3" standard drain. Looks perfectly normal to me.
Where does it reduce from 3" to 2"?

DM

 

[wab]

The 2 inch is the main

The 3" pipes from the toilet and sinks drain into the 2" pipe which then drains to the sewer.

 

[DangerMouse]

Do you have a picture of where this junction goes from 3" to 2"? It seems very unusual to me.

DM

 

[Alan]

I'm confused how you determined which direction the piping is going if that's all you can see. :huh::huh::huh::huh::huh:

 

[TheEplumber]

That branch on the 3x2 y is probably the toilet vent. Not a drain. You do not reduce pipe sizes downstream on drain lines.

 

[mikeylikesit580]

That branch on the 3x2 y is probably the toilet vent. Not a drain. You do not reduce pipe sizes downstream on drain lines.

Thats my guess too

 

[wab]

You are correct. But another question.

After digging further it now appears that the drain for the sinks IS the main drain. Sorry but with everything I have had to do in this house (nothing is the way it's suppose to be) I panic when something doesn't look right. It turns out the 2" is the drain from the bath.
Other question.
A long time ago I was told by a plumber not to sweat copper after it had been in use for a long time. The reason was the hard water caused calcium to build up in the line and if you heated it up it could cause the copper to develop pin holes. Is this true?

 

[Alan]

After digging further it now appears that the drain for the sinks IS the main drain. Sorry but with everything I have had to do in this house (nothing is the way it's suppose to be) I panic when something doesn't look right. It turns out the 2" is the drain from the bath.
Other question.
A long time ago I was told by a plumber not to sweat copper after it had been in use for a long time. The reason was the hard water caused calcium to build up in the line and if you heated it up it could cause the copper to develop pin holes. Is this true?

Pictures are worth 1000 words each. Please post more.

 

[TheEplumber]

After digging further it now appears that the drain for the sinks IS the main drain. Sorry but with everything I have had to do in this house (nothing is the way it's suppose to be) I panic when something doesn't look right. It turns out the 2" is the drain from the bath.
Other question.
A long time ago I was told by a plumber not to sweat copper after it had been in use for a long time. The reason was the hard water caused calcium to build up in the line and if you heated it up it could cause the copper to develop pin holes. Is this true?

Never heard that before. Sounds like he wanted to sell you some new pipe.:whistling2: