Need Advise, Floor drain overflows

[Avellino]

1964 building, 3 floors, appartment on each floor.
Drain's are steel leading into cast iron.
Each appartment has a washer and dryer.
Every time someone uses the washer (clothes) in any of the appartments, the floor drain in the basement overflows with extremely soapy water.

I fished the lines with a half inch by 50 foot snake once before, and willing to do it again but is it time to get a camera in the line?

If not, any suggestions?

Please Advise
Thanks
Avellino

[neels]

Hi Avellino,
To reduce the foaming you need to increase the bore (diameter) of the pipe to what it was when new.
Also check on the users if they do use low foam soap (detergent).
I had this same problem back in 1975 at a block of flats and the above has solved my problem.
Regards
Neels

[ToUtahNow]

1964 building, 3 floors, appartment on each floor.
Drain's are steel leading into cast iron.
Each appartment has a washer and dryer.
Every time someone uses the washer (clothes) in any of the appartments, the floor drain in the basement overflows with extremely soapy water.

I fished the lines with a half inch by 50 foot snake once before, and willing to do it again but is it time to get a camera in the line?

If not, any suggestions?

Please Advise
Thanks
Avellino

The problem you described is known as sudsing and is not always caused by a clogged drain. If is not a clogged drain the only way to control it is to have the tenants use a low suds soap. The only way to fix it is to tie your vertical stack further down the horizontal line.

Mark