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  1. #1
    Blain Plantz's Avatar
    Blain Plantz Guest

    Default Doesn't drain correctly

    Recently in my little corner of paradise homes are being equipped with these Glass Vessel Sinks. Yesterday I found 3 that would not drain properly. They fill up like bowls and drain like the vent pipe was plugged. No pop up stopper is installed. If I turn off the hot water and run cold they all begin to drain normally. The other sinks, showers and tubs in the home drain normally. The installer told me the problem was the lack of an overflow drain as seen in a conventional sinks or tubs. Out of the past 20 or so of these things I have seen this is the first house that demonstrates this problem, so maybe the explanation is more self serving than accurate.

    thank in advance for your input

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  2. #2
    Join Date
    Mar 2007
    Location
    Philadelphia PA
    Posts
    3,177

    Default Re: Doesn't drain correctly

    If it's properly vented, I don't see what difference an overflow would make.

    "There is no exception to the rule that every rule has an exception." -James Thurber, writer and cartoonist (1894-1961)
    www.ArnoldHomeInspections.com

  3. #3
    Ted Menelly's Avatar
    Ted Menelly Guest

    Default Re: Doesn't drain correctly

    A lot of the new in counter sinks have no overflow drain in them. I do not see the problem. As far as the hot or cold water I don't see thaty problem either. It could be the size and type of drain under the sink or length of drain line from the sink to vent.


  4. #4
    Join Date
    Mar 2007
    Location
    Fletcher, NC
    Posts
    28,042

    Default Re: Doesn't drain correctly

    Probably have those bottle trap drains which are undersized.

    No overflow is required in a sink, however, if one is installed I can see how it could mask some draining and venting problems.

    Jerry Peck
    Construction/Litigation/Code Consultant - Retired
    www.AskCodeMan.com

  5. #5
    Blain Plantz's Avatar
    Blain Plantz Guest

    Default Re: Doesn't drain correctly

    Thanks for the input I think you are right about the bottle traps I was thinking that when I was on site but hadn't had much experience with them.

    Thanks again


  6. #6
    Join Date
    Mar 2007
    Location
    Spring Hill (Nashville), TN
    Posts
    5,851

    Default Re: Doesn't drain correctly

    Quote Originally Posted by Blain Plantz View Post
    Recently in my little corner of paradise homes are being equipped with these Glass Vessel Sinks. Yesterday I found 3 that would not drain properly. They fill up like bowls and drain like the vent pipe was plugged. No pop up stopper is installed. If I turn off the hot water and run cold they all begin to drain normally. The other sinks, showers and tubs in the home drain normally. The installer told me the problem was the lack of an overflow drain as seen in a conventional sinks or tubs. Out of the past 20 or so of these things I have seen this is the first house that demonstrates this problem, so maybe the explanation is more self serving than accurate.

    thank in advance for your input
    I have come across the same problem with the same type of sink. It was a venting problem on the sink that I was dealing with. They ended up installing an AAV and it worked fine.

    Scott Patterson, ACI
    Spring Hill, TN
    www.traceinspections.com

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Nov 2007
    Location
    Chicago
    Posts
    548

    Default Re: Doesn't drain correctly

    Them bottle traps do not meet most pluming codes. The ones I seen for sale at the big box stores are not even listed with any agency like NSF which would make them illegal in any plumbing code. Also a lot of the drains they use "push button" and or the "grid" strainer have a smaller drain openings than a standard pop up assembly.


  8. #8
    Join Date
    Nov 2007
    Location
    Chicago
    Posts
    548

    Default Re: Doesn't drain correctly

    The issue plumbing codes have with bottle traps is they rely on an internal partition to provide the trap seal. Here is the part in the Illinois Plumbing Code (bold added by me)

    k) Prohibited Traps. Use of the following traps is prohibited (see Appendix D: Illustration E):

    1) Traps which depend upon the action of movable parts for their seal.

    2) Full "S" traps. Exception: Water closet and similar fixtures which depend on self-siphonage for their proper operation.

    3) Bell traps.

    4) Crown vented traps.

    5) Unvented running traps.

    6) Fixtures with concealed interior partitioned traps. Exception: Fixtures with integral traps constructed of vitrified earthenware and penal institutional fixtures with integral traps constructed of ferrous material.



  9. #9
    Join Date
    Mar 2007
    Location
    Fletcher, NC
    Posts
    28,042

    Default Re: Doesn't drain correctly

    From the 2006 IRC. (underlining and bold are mine)
    - P3201.1 Design of traps. Traps shall be of standard design, shall have smooth uniform internal waterways, shall be self-cleaning and shall not have interior partitions except where integral with the fixture. Traps shall be constructed of lead, cast iron, cast or drawn brass or approved plastic. Tubular brass traps shall be not less than No. 20 gage (0.8 mm) thickness. Solid connections, slip joints and couplings are permitted to be used on the trap inlet, trap outlet, or within the trap seal. Slip joints shall be accessible.

    The above states that separate traps with integral partitions are not allowed, however ...

    - P3201.5 Prohibited trap designs. The following types of traps are prohibited:
    - - 1. Bell traps.
    - - 2. Separate fixture traps with interior partitions, except those lavatory traps made of plastic, stainless steel or other corrosion-resistant material.
    - - 3. ā€œSā€ traps.
    - - 4. Drum traps.
    - - 5. Trap designs with moving parts.

    ... the above seems to allow them, however ...

    - P3201.7 Size of fixture traps. Fixture trap size shall be sufficient to drain the fixture rapidly and not less than the size indicated in Table P3201.7. A trap shall not be larger than the drainage pipe into which the trap discharges.

    - Table P3201.7
    - - SIZE OF TRAPS AND TRAP ARMS FOR PLUMBING FIXTURES
    - - - Lavatory .... 1-1/4"

    ... I have not seen a bottle trap I recall being that large diameter.

    With the end result being that, as Ron pointed out, most bottle traps are not listed and are not suitable for use here in the states.



    Jerry Peck
    Construction/Litigation/Code Consultant - Retired
    www.AskCodeMan.com

  10. #10
    Join Date
    Feb 2009
    Location
    Southern Vancouver Island
    Posts
    4,607

    Default Re: Doesn't drain correctly

    I think we'll all be happy when those units go out of style.


  11. #11
    MaMa Mount's Avatar
    MaMa Mount Guest

    Default Re: Doesn't drain correctly

    Thats not going to happen. Its different and people want something new and exciting.


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