I was working at a clients house the other day, up on the patio cover, and happened to notice a significant pile of soap suds around one vent stack. About 3 gallons of suds. Single story house, I haven’t been inside but I assume it was the vent for the washer. What would cause this? I want to approach the client about this, but would like to have some idea of what caused it so I can offer an intelligent solution.
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Replies
It is from the dryer. Water vapor and soap condense when cooled. Our old neighborhood in baltimore was a bunch of row houses with flat roofs. When it rained, the first stuff out of the drain pipes (which all emptied into the back yards and drained by gravity to the storm sewers in the alley) was mostly soap bubbles, and gradually it got clearer as the roofs were washed clean. Not sure if there is any option other than using less soap in her wash or extending the pipe so it condenses further from the house. FWIW, we just got one of those front loading frigidaires, and it is the nutz. Uses next to no soap or water, cleans better, and the high speed spin has cut drying time by about 40%. I figure the machine will pay for itself in about 3 years at current energy rates.
I think your Frigidaire salesman was blowing bubbles up your derrier. (Assuming that's where you got the notion that dryer vents cause soap bubbles on a roof).
The way I read the post, the suds were coming out of a vent stack, not a dryer vent.
Indeed, the suds were almost certainly from the washer discharge which was probably directly tied into the stack below. Too much soap in the wash and probably an undersized drain line from the washer contribute to this occurance. Bubbles fill up the stack and overflow it. (And what size was the vent stack--3", or smaller?)
Thanks for the reply, Froggy. When I read the reply from wood, I had to go back and read what I had posted to be sure it was the same thread. The vent is maybe 3", possibly smaller. I had assumed that it was way too much soap, but was curious if this is a sign of a partially clogged drain or something. Guess not, as that would probably show up as water on the floor.
Too much fall on the drain line causes the water to leave and the soap to stay behind. Eventually, the soap suds back up and spew out the vent. Dumb plumber question no. 45 in apprentiship training school. Suprised you didnt find them in the sinks and toilets also.
LOL, I had to look twice to see if I wasn't in the Tavern!.
Excellence is its own reward!
"The first rule is to keep an untroubled spirit.
The second is to look things in the face and know them for what they are."
--Marcus Aurelius
If the soap could be "left behind", how does it climb up the vent pipe?
Same way it climbs up the drain pipe into the other sink in a two bowl kitchen sink. The turbulence in the draining soapy water creates suds and the suds float on the water.
soap floats
See the ring of soap scum in a bathtub.
The waste line is a smaller tub
Add turbulence time after time and you add to the amt of soap in action.
I think too much soap is being used in this laundry..
Excellence is its own reward!
"The first rule is to keep an untroubled spirit.
The second is to look things in the face and know them for what they are."
--Marcus Aurelius
Maybe a smaller "Cup" of soap or use "1/2 Cup" instead of a bucket. Never heard of blowing bubbles out of the roof vent before. So that's where Lawrence Welk got it from. "turn off the bubble machine" a one, ana two, ana three.
Bob
"Rather be a hammer than a nail"
Brings back bad memories from being babysat by Grandma!
Loved that woman to death....but a guy can take only so much Lawrence!
Saturdays at around 7pm , if I remember correctly.
Bless her.........that woman nearly drove me nuts!
JeffBuck Construction Pittsburgh,PA
Fine Carpentery.....While U Waite
I used to hate it when my parents put that show on.
Now mt wife is getting that old...
I still hate it..
Excellence is its own reward!
"The first rule is to keep an untroubled spirit.
The second is to look things in the face and know them for what they are."
--Marcus Aurelius
Someone is watch far too much Lawrence Welk. Perform an accordion extraction and, after the withdrawal period is over, the people should start behaving normally and the problem will disappear.