Dumb plumbing/vent question...

[JB4310]

Wife says it did NOT drain slow when we first moved in. If it helps any facts to know this, then realize when we moved in, my septic tank was empty/dry as it was all new construction. (don't know if an empty septic tank would HELP a drain issue since it's got a big air pocket in it)

I don't think the empty tank would have anything to do with it, and the tank would be filled after a week or two anyway, so if the tub drained normally for x number of years and just recently started being a problem then I don't think it is no vent, maybe blocked vent or trap.
You have to eliminate the drain and trap first as causing the problem, may be time for the drain doctor if you don't want to do it yourself.

 

[kenmac]

I'am not a plumber but, I've played the part several times. 1st. the tub shower will/ should drain without a vent. 2nd. It helps odors to escape. 3rd (and most imporantly) it's code most places & I have must do what they say If you are plumbed with P.V.C. check the drain for obstruction,,hair, soap scum etc,,,Soap scum will build up in the trap & drain inside the P.V.C. for some reason. You will also get orors from this build up

 

[ScottOkla]

I use the zipit thing on my drains and it works quickly and works well.

 

[JB4310]

I use the zipit thing on my drains and it works quickly and works well.

I made a special trip to Home Depot just to buy one today, of course I impulse bought a few other things, but the zip thing was only like 3 bucks.
I figured even if I do the screen thing I still have to clean one of them first, one of our two tubs is almost not draining at all, and I just took it apart maybe 3 months ago to remove a crud ball, 3 kids use that one.

 

[dbdartman]

I'm not a plumber, but have played one on many MANY occasions. In real life, I'm the son of a plumber.

First thing that comes to mind, especially after your saying that the tub did drain well but is now slow, is hair/soap scum build-up. Very VERY common, & can happen in a very short period of time.

A common cause of this problem is setting the plunger-type stopper in the vent too low. It will work for a while, but since the stopper is blocking some of the line into the drain it will clog with hair & soap scum faster. If your stopper is the lever type on the face of the tub front, you should consider pulling it out, inspect it for signs it's sitting too low, then test drain the tub with it out. If the tub drains well with the stopper out, adjust it higher (go about 1/4" at a time) until the tub drains well & the stopper still works. This may, & usually does, take a few times to get just right.

Cleaned a fist-sized mess of hair/soap scum from my GF's tub drain last year & she was absolutely delighted in how fast the tub now drains (almost as delighted as she is that I'd removed the leaking tub stopper at the drain so she can use a simple rubber stopper & can now take a bath).

As for the reason for a vent... A "plug" of water moving through the drain system MUST have a way to allow air behind said "plug" otherwise the system will pull air from wherever it can, usually from the nearest P-trap, which can & will drain the trap allowing sewer gas into the house through the now dry trap.

Hope this helps!

 

[CATMAN]

Here is a good video from "This Old House" website about adjusting tub plungers.Fixing a Tub Drain Stopper

 

[dbdartman]

Here is a good video from "This Old House" website about adjusting tub plungers.Fixing a Tub Drain Stopper

Thank you for finding that! Just what I was trying to describe.

 

[texbaylea]

Thank you, I'm going to do exactly that! was thinking about it, now I just need a nice little stainless steel screen.

I found a stainless steel screen basket that drops into the kitchen sink to keep all the food scraps from going into the septic system. Works great!! Really cuts down on the amount going down the drain. The ones I have are too big for a tub drain but maybe there are units to fit there.

Vernon

 

[CATMAN]

Thank you for finding that! Just what I was trying to describe.

I had just seen this on TV and I was thinking about it while reading this post.

So, if a picture is worth a thousand words, I guess a video might be worth 10,000 words.​

Maybe this will help troubleshoot the problem for him.

 

[jinman]

So somewhere in this discussion is there an answer to why our kitchen area smells bad lately (like air from spetic system) when the heat pump in that area runs?

My guess is that it is not the plumbing drain smelling. If it's a heat pump, I'd make sure you don't have "dirty sock syndrome" in your heating coils. Heat pumps are infamous for doing this. Mine does ( York) and I installed a UV light this last year. A heat pump does not have hot coils like a traditional furnace. Since the coils just get warm, they become a perfect place for bacteria and mold to grow. A UV light will kill and purify the air.

I may be wrong, but I'd blame the heat pump first.