Toilet waste pipe in utility room

chile_paul2

Hi All,

We’re currently looking at potentially buying a new house where there appears to be an unusual configuration with the toilet waste pipe joining with other waste water in the utility room and then at that point appearing to go under the floor and potentially directly underground to join the sewer.

Other than the fact that the current owners have bodged the DIY where they have attempted to box this in, does this configuration give any cause for concern?

Is the black cylindrical section where the pipes join likely to be an access point in the event of maintenance being required, or does it have a different purpose?

Thanks in advance for any advice!

WIAWSNB

Looks like an air admittance valve? Could you take a close-up of the top, please?

And the actual sewer disappears underground under that point? Where is the nearest access cover outside?

WIAWSNB

That white waste pipe isn't feeding in directly opposite the non-'swept' soil pipe, is it?!

chile_paul2

WIAWSNB said:

That white waste pipe isn't feeding in directly opposite the non-'swept' soil pipe, is it?!

Maybe not quite directly opposite, frustratingly the pics I took don’t show it, I think the height is offset slightly with the white waste pipe joining slightly lower - waste water from the dishwasher!!

WIAWSNB said:

Looks like an air admittance valve? Could you take a close-up of the top, please?

And the actual sewer disappears underground under that point? Where is the nearest access cover outside?

Unfortunately they are the best photos I have at the minute.

nearest sewer access point is about 5 foot outside the back door, in the garden. The reason I think it goes underground in the utility room is there is no sign of waste pipes coming out from the walls of the property, so it must go underground within the property. 

grumpy_codger

WIAWSNB said:

Looks like an air admittance valve? Could you take a close-up of the top, please?

If it's really an air admittance valve, it must be in much higher position.

WIAWSNB

chile_paul2 said:

WIAWSNB said:

That white waste pipe isn't feeding in directly opposite the non-'swept' soil pipe, is it?!

Maybe not quite directly opposite, frustratingly the pics I took don’t show it, I think the height is offset slightly with the white waste pipe joining slightly lower - waste water from the dishwasher!!

WIAWSNB said:

Looks like an air admittance valve? Could you take a close-up of the top, please?

And the actual sewer disappears underground under that point? Where is the nearest access cover outside?

Unfortunately they are the best photos I have at the minute.

nearest sewer access point is about 5 foot outside the back door, in the garden. The reason I think it goes underground in the utility room is there is no sign of waste pipes coming out from the walls of the property, so it must go underground within the property. 

Whether it 'conforms' is one matter - I don't know, but suspect not. A more practical point is whether it's a tricky or costly issue to fix.

I suspect that accessing the hidden - buried - sewer pipe will not be an issue, as you can remove that AAV and prod from down there in the unlikely event of a blockage, and if the nearest external access is only 5' away from this, then ditto from that end. Ie, I personally wouldn't be too concerned about blockages and stuff, provided the actual pipe used is correct and properly installed. A quick CCTV camera check would show this; if you intend to proceed with the purchase, I think that should be on your list of survey inspections, along with a quote to make good. And, they should keep an eye out for other non-conformings too...

It does look poorly designed by someone who didn't know what they were doing. As you've surmised, a big fat poo shooting down from the pan ain't going to directly plop down that vertical sewer, when there's a nice welcoming 1.5" waste pipe directly opposite.

I suspect it'll need revamping, with, say, a swept Tee to fire the pan's contents straight down, and a raised level for both the AAV and the white waste pipe to be added. That will mean a much higher boxing-in, but that can be easily disguised as a unit with doors - room for bog rolls inside - with, say, open shelving for towels and nice things above. Ie, not a visual issue. 

WIAWSNB

I presume that's a bathroom? In which case there will be a basin and other stuff too? Where do they join?

Lorian

Any AAV in presumably the bathroom above, or external vent up on the roof for the soil stack?

Boohoo

OP did the home owner let you take off the covering and did they tell you about it so you could have a look?

I would look for another property as this one may have many hidden expensive surprises for the new owner.