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testing for a trap
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Posted by homebound (My Page) on Wed, Nov 4, 09 at 22:40
| I'm looking at a job to finish a basement and bathroom with an existing PVC drain rough-in, but without plans for what was intended. There are three 2" drain stubs + toilet + sewage ejector sump. Anybody have an easy way to figure out which of the 2" lines have traps below the concrete? Do you think you could tell if an auger were looping through a trap vs. just turning 90 degrees? |
Follow-Up Postings:
RE: testing for a trap
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| 2" stubs cannot serve any water closet so whatever 2" pipes or traps have already been roughed-in below the slab are not intended for any toilet. Most augers won't bend within the short radius of a 180 degree 2" diameter bend or trap. Without the original plans or digging up the slab to expose what is there, you are likley SOL and should walk away pending the owner provided all concealed rough underslab plumbing information at their expense. |
RE: testing for a trap
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| Go to a commercial plumbing supply house and they have a liquid that has a really strong mint smell that is used for testing drains. Pour about 1/2gal of water into each of the 2" lines, then pour the mint test liquid in the watercloset 3' and cover it with rags, you then go to the 2" lines and smell the pipe. If you smell the mint there is no trap. If a trap was present the trap would be full of water and the smell would not come through. |
RE: testing for a trap
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| Thanks for the help. Lazypup, how long does that mint smell linger? Since this system is dry and isolated, i.e not in use yet, would there be a problem days later with the smell? While I can recap the stubs, not so sure about sealing the lid on the sump pit. I probably would want everything to dry out anyway, until some decision is made by the owner to go forward. Come to think of it, after pouring down each stub to fill any traps, I could probably whisper down the pipe and see how clear a helper on the other end (with his head in the pit) hears the sound (it's never been used, so no big deal.) Thanks again for the advice. |
good to know
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| "2" stubs cannot serve any water closet so whatever 2" pipes or traps have already been roughed-in below the slab are not intended for any toilet." No kidding??? Hmmmmm, maybe THAT's why the toilets I install when finishing basements keep clogging with each and every use! |
RE: testing for a trap
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| The strong scent will dissipate in about an hour,,,there may be a faint lingering scent, but the good news is,,it is a peppermint scent. in fact, my ex used to steal my scent bottle off the truck and apply a few drops here and there around the house because she liked the scent. It is almost the same concentrated mint as they use for flavoring candies or cookies |
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