Is my soil pipe too high where it connects to the toilet?

[Tom Pickles]

Hi,

As part of my bathroom refit, I've swapped the setup from=20

wall > bath > toilet > basin > wall

to

wall > bath > basin > toilet > wall

Due to the way the soil pipe connects to the stack, I've had to use a flexi-toilet connector. The total horizontal run of soil pipe is 1.5m from stack= to toilet.

I'm somewhat anxious about the height of the toilet outlet being ever-so slightly lower than the soil pipe where it joins. It's really just on the nose by the look of it, but there is a slight water drip from the toilet connector and I'm concerned that this setup may cause issues in the future with flushing/blockages/leaks.

Is this going to be OK, or is there anything I can do to fix it? Lowering the stack is not an option as it's all boxed in and I've fixed, tiled siliconed the bath in place.

Photo's below:

Thanks!

[Phil L]

According to that level, the soil pipe is running down a mile - away from the bog - 1 in 40 is the norm, IE it runs down 1 inch in height for 40 inches of length - it could be flat and you'd have no problems, yours appears to run down an inch in the length of the level

You can stop the drip from the pan connector with a bead of silicone, but I fear more information is required here - that pipe looks awfully high to already be connected to the bog?

[Roger Mills]

flexi-toilet connector. The total horizontal run of soil pipe is 1.5m from stack to toilet.

slightly lower than the soil pipe where it joins. It's really just on the nose by the look of it, but there is a slight water drip from the toilet connector and I'm concerned that this setup may cause issues in the future with flushing/blockages/leaks.

stack is not an option as it's all boxed in and I've fixed, tiled siliconed the bath in place.

If I interpret your photos correctly, there is a bit of fall on the 'horizontal' pipe, but the flexible connecting the toilet to this is slightly "uphill".

If that's the case, the flexible will always retain some liquid (or solid!) which may then escape unless the joint is perfect. You really need a bit of fall all the way to the stack, with no low points.

You *may* be able to lower the toilet end of the horizontal pipe a tad - but you haven't got much to play with (only about half a bubble). Alternatively, you could make a little plinth for the toilet to sit on. It would probably only need to be an inch or so high.

[Tom Pickles]

Thanks for your reply's.

There's between a half an inch and an inch of height difference between the= toilet outlet and the height of the soil pipe, with the toilet being lower= .

I've just found this on Wickes' site:=20

looks like it should sort out the drip issue as the jubilee clip will cr= eate a good seal on the bog. The flush is quite efficient, giving quite a b= last of water to clear the pan. So I'm hoping it will blast all the content= s of the pan up the slight incline after use.

The toilet is connected to the stack already, but nobody's used it in anger= yet.

I'd rather not use a plinth as it may look a bit naff (I'm not the best car= penter), but if I have to, then I will. What would I do, just find an inch = thick piece of pine and cut it to fit?

Thanks.

[Tim Watts]

On Friday 04 January 2013 16:58 Tom Pickles wrote in uk.d-i-y:

The main pipe has more than enough fall on it, away from the loo, if I can see the spirit bubble right.

I would try *really hard* to lose the flexi connector - or at least that one

- it's forming a loop that will only cause grief.

Can you not get a smooth bend connector on?

Re the drip - it is often a good idea to apply liberal amounts of plumbers grease (a very heavy silicone grease I think) to pan joints to get a good seal if the porelain is not perfectly smooth - or a smear of silicone rubber which will be a lubricant until it sets.

[Tom Pickles]

I had to use the flexi connector unfortunately as the soil pipe leans in towards the wall as it get's nearer to the toilet due to the stack's position:

I've just seen this and I like the look of it:

Looks more sturdy than the one I currently have and hopefully won't 'pull' away from the pan connector due to it's inertia.

[The Natural Philosopher]

toilet outlet and the height of the soil pipe, with the toilet being lower.

create a good seal on the bog. The flush is quite efficient, giving quite a blast of water to clear the pan. So I'm hoping it will blast all the contents of the pan up the slight incline after use.

carpenter), but if I have to, then I will. What would I do, just find an inch thick piece of pine and cut it to fit?

i'd cast one in concrete or car body filler

Inside a plasticene mould

Make it a bit undersized and fill the gap with silicone maybe. Or white sand and cement.

[The Natural Philosopher]

IN my case I peeled the joint back a little and injected masses of silicone into it

Took two goes, but its been solid for 10 years.

[Brian Gaff]

Yes, from what i read here it sounds like the arrangement at a place I stayed at once. the problem after a while is that the toilet starts to smell badly presumably due to the poor fall and the slight uphil bit. In the case I encountered it also turned at a right nagle which made it worse.

Brian

[Jim K]

xi-toilet connector. The total horizontal run of soil pipe is 1.5m from sta= ck to toilet.

slightly lower than the soil pipe where it joins. It's really just on the n= ose by the look of it, but there is a slight water drip from the toilet con= nector and I'm concerned that this setup may cause issues in the future wit= h flushing/blockages/leaks.

the stack is not an option as it's all boxed in and I've fixed, tiled sili= coned the bath in place.

what's the height drop along the length of brown 110mm waste? and how long is the brown 110mm bit of pipe?

Jim K

[Jim K]

xi-toilet connector. The total horizontal run of soil pipe is 1.5m from sta= ck to toilet.

slightly lower than the soil pipe where it joins. It's really just on the n= ose by the look of it, but there is a slight water drip from the toilet con= nector and I'm concerned that this setup may cause issues in the future wit= h flushing/blockages/leaks.

the stack is not an option as it's all boxed in and I've fixed, tiled sili= coned the bath in place.

what's the height drop along the length of brown 110mm waste? and how long is the brown 110mm bit of pipe?

Jim K

[Dave Liquorice]

Not to mention raising the loo seat an inch. Might not sound a lot but if you have short legs... We have a variety of loos here some are higher than others, I don't like the high ones.

You do seem to have plenty of fall on the pipe as installed but that could be camera angles and that funny runing back to the wall. TBH if there is any fall if you connect the loo directly to the pipe with a smooth bend it would be better that than rough flexy and up hill. Pipes block because stuff gets snagged and builds up or stuff can settle out and cause a place for stuff to snag...

[Tom Pickles]

lexi-toilet connector. The total horizontal run of soil pipe is 1.5m from s= tack to toilet.

o slightly lower than the soil pipe where it joins. It's really just on the= nose by the look of it, but there is a slight water drip from the toilet c= onnector and I'm concerned that this setup may cause issues in the future w= ith flushing/blockages/leaks.

ng the stack is not an option as it's all boxed in and I've fixed, tiled si= liconed the bath in place.

The height drop is about 15mm along the length which is 750mm.

[Fredxx]

towards the wall as it get's nearer to the toilet due to the stack's position:

Maybe, I would have thought you have had enough give between connectors?

Also the pan looks suspiciously close to the wall!

[Jim K]

flexi-toilet connector. The total horizontal run of soil pipe is 1.5m from= stack to toilet.

-so slightly lower than the soil pipe where it joins. It's really just on t= he nose by the look of it, but there is a slight water drip from the toilet= connector and I'm concerned that this setup may cause issues in the future= with flushing/blockages/leaks.

ring the stack is not an option as it's all boxed in and I've fixed, tiled = siliconed the bath in place.

if you just changed the angle of the brown bit to 1 in 100 (which will be OK) you could 1/2 that incline and get the bog end of the pipe down by 7.5mm for starters ... any play in the grey bit? &/or the stack connection?

Jim K

[Roger Mills]

In that case, it sounds as if the bog outlet is lower than the stack entry point, so you'll *have* to raise the bog in order to get some fall. To make a job of it, you need to:

• raise the bog

• use an adjustable joint near the stack to enable you to run the brown pipe parallel to the wall *and* control its fall

• use a rigid pan elbow rather than that horrible convoluted thing

Make the plinth out of any suitable rigid material which you can stand the bog on, draw round it, and then cut it to size with a jigsaw. White plastic would be good, but if you use wood, sand the edge smooth and paint it white.

[harry]

xi-toilet connector. The total horizontal run of soil pipe is 1.5m from sta= ck to toilet.

slightly lower than the soil pipe where it joins. It's really just on the n= ose by the look of it, but there is a slight water drip from the toilet con= nector and I'm concerned that this setup may cause issues in the future wit= h flushing/blockages/leaks.

the stack is not an option as it's all boxed in and I've fixed, tiled sili= coned the bath in place.

I think you might have a problem there. You could raise the toilet by 20mm or so with a bit of plywood under it. By the time you have fitted the floor finish it will disappear.

Or even take the toilet out fit (say )floor tiles and put the toilet on top of them. Problem solved.

[Tim+]

Might look better (and be more comfortable to use) if you were to raise the whole floor area around the loo so that the floor to seat height isn't altered.

Tim

[andrew]

xi-toilet connector. The total horizontal run of soil pipe is 1.5m from sta= ck to toilet.

slightly lower than the soil pipe where it joins. It's really just on the n= ose by the look of it, but there is a slight water drip from the toilet con= nector and I'm concerned that this setup may cause issues in the future wit= h flushing/blockages/leaks.

It would be better to immediately raise the outlet of the toilet using a ri= gid connector like

twisting it round you can raise the outlet from 0 to 40mm as needed. The= re is also an adjustable length 20mm offset which would be better if the of= fset is 20mm or less.

You could then use an ordinary soil pipe bend, or if necessary a slightly a= djustable bend like

way everything would drain properly with no standing water. The water = level in the pan would be higher than normal, but it will be with the curre= nt arrangement.

A

[Grimly Curmudgeon]

the only way to avoid that is pour a gallon of Barrettine down there with a match.