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P trap losing water - Overland1 - 09-20-2017
A few months back I bought a house to remodel. It was built on a slab in 1982 and was built to HUD specs. The bathtub was no good so I removed it and the P trap (which is cast iron) had been connected using a rubber sleeve. With the tub out of the way I thought I would pour some water down the trap to make sure it drained OK. No problem with it draining, however water only stays in the trap for a day or two. Water has been shut off at the meter for months so there is no siphoning effect taking place. Where is the water going?
RE: P trap losing water - SawDat - 09-20-2017
(09-20-2017, 07:17 AM)Overland1 Wrote: A few months back I bought a house to remodel. It was built on a slab in 1982 and was built to HUD specs. The bathtub was no good so I removed it and the P trap (which is cast iron) had been connected using a rubber sleeve. With the tub out of the way I thought I would pour some water down the trap to make sure it drained OK. No problem with it draining, however water only stays in the trap for a day or two. Water has been shut off at the meter for months so there is no siphoning effect taking place. Where is the water going?
Has it been very windy out your way? I often see during windy periods that a good steady blast of wind over the vent stack will create a low pressure situation and suck up some of the water from our second floor toilets. Won't empty the trap, but enough water loss to notice. Perhaps the vent stack may need to be shortened or lengthened to move it out of a low pressure area on the roof.
RE: P trap losing water - Mr_Mike - 09-20-2017
Evaporation. Put half an ounce of mineral oil on top of the water and give it another go. Where is this house? Where I live, I can get 1" of water loss a day in an open container. Not real humid here.
Also, since the trap is accessible, why not remove it and inspect the trap and rubber connection for obvious signs. Is this slab-on-grade? If not, a leak would be obvious. If so, look for moisture in the soil.
RE: P trap losing water - Goatman - 09-20-2017
No way a pint of water will evaporate in two days.
RE: P trap losing water - JGrout - 09-20-2017
(09-20-2017, 11:17 AM)Goatman Wrote: No way a pint of water will evaporate in two days.
I wonder if the CI trap is cracked. That would sure let it empty in two days.
RE: P trap losing water - dazdougan - 09-20-2017
(09-20-2017, 07:17 AM)Overland1 Wrote: A few months back I bought a house to remodel. It was built on a slab in 1982 and was built to HUD specs. The bathtub was no good so I removed it and the P trap (which is cast iron) had been connected using a rubber sleeve. With the tub out of the way I thought I would pour some water down the trap to make sure it drained OK. No problem with it draining, however water only stays in the trap for a day or two. Water has been shut off at the meter for months so there is no siphoning effect taking place. Where is the water going?
Check to see if your bathroom vent is plugged or non existing. Your plumping system may be using your bathtub drain to vent.
RE: P trap losing water - daddo - 09-20-2017
Siphoning would still leave a small amount of water at the bottom of the trap. If there is no water, you have a leak on the bottom of the trap.
Take into consideration you could have siphoning AND evaporation going on though.
Or you have some very thirsty drain critters in there.
RE: P trap losing water - Bob10 - 09-20-2017
(09-20-2017, 07:17 AM)Overland1 Wrote: A few months back I bought a house to remodel. It was built on a slab in 1982 and was built to HUD specs. The bathtub was no good so I removed it and the P trap (which is cast iron) had been connected using a rubber sleeve. With the tub out of the way I thought I would pour some water down the trap to make sure it drained OK. No problem with it draining, however water only stays in the trap for a day or two. Water has been shut off at the meter for months so there is no siphoning effect taking place. Where is the water going?
If you have a bit of access under the trap put a piece of white paper under it any leakage should be easy to determinde
RE: P trap losing water - Snipe Hunter - 09-21-2017
(09-20-2017, 01:13 PM)dazdougan Wrote: Check to see if your bathroom vent is plugged or non existing. Your plumping system may be using your bathtub drain to vent.
RE: P trap losing water - Roly - 09-21-2017
(09-21-2017, 05:48 AM)Snipe Hunter Wrote:
How does that work when the water has been shut off for months ? Roly
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