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Posted by Speedy Jim on May 8, 2007, 9:55 pm
nospamgoingjag wrote:
> Please don't think me insane, but when my dishwasher empties sometimes
> (of course not all the time) it causes a leak in the floor above it!
>
> This has been working fine for 15 years and the only thing that has
> changed recently is the movement of the washing machine about 15 feet
> further away than it used to be in a new addition. Because of the
> original sill plate being there, the pitch of this waste pipe is
> probably a little less than optimal, but seems to drain fine with
> about a 1/2" pitch down to it's original connection.
>
> In the area of where the leak shows up is the vent pipe going out to
> the roof, but water going up a vent pipe? and leaking besides?
>
> There are two sink drains and a garbage disposal with the dishwasher
> connected to the garbage disposal, which is in turn plumbed into the
> same pipe as the two drains. there is no air stack connected to this
> set of drains, so where the pipe would normally continue up to an air
> stack, there is an "air gap". A small plastic valve. used for these
> kind of situations.
>
> Since I was sure this was an absurd situation I filled both sinks up,
> pulled the plug and let them rush out - no water leak. That had to be
> abot 10 times the amount of water that comes out of the dishwasher
> during a given cycle. I would have thought it would be at a similiar
> or greater preasure as well, but obviously I can't recreate a motor
> pushing water out.
>
> I changed the "air gap" just in case, and thought I had the problem
> solved, but as I was sitting doing email I heard the drip behind me -
> as the dishwasher was emptying on about it's 3rd cycle.
>
> Near the vent pipe is a toilet and near that a sink. Neither cause
> any problem when used.
>
> There is also another vent pipe on the other side of the house.
>
> The dishwasher is on the first floor, it's waste water goes into the
> basement to go out to the septic. That run for the waste water is
> actually closer to the other air stack that the one that seems to have
> the leak.
>
> Sorry about the long post, but wanted to include as many facts as
> possible.
>
> Thanks in advance for any ideas.
>
If it were a pressure/high flow problem,
the dishwasher water would erupt out of the
sinks.
The dishwasher probably incorporates a
water heater element. Is it possible that
the water is hot enough that it is creating
an abnormal amount of vapor (up the vent)
which is condensing and (somehow) leaking back?
See if there is a program option to have the
heating element switched off. Try a load
like that.
Jim
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