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grggy329 · Joined: 18 Sep 2003 Posts: 5 Location: na

everytime the toilet on the main level is flushed, air bubbles from the sewer line come out the toilet in the basement. what causes this and how can i fix it

AlanE · Posted: Thu Sep 18, 2003 8:44 pm Post subject:

Whats your location???? The reason for asking this is that we are based in the UK and your local systems, in this case the sewerage system, might be of a contributory nature.

Have you checked for any blockages?

Alan

thescruff · Moderator Joined: 03 May 2003 Posts: 4490 Location: Bath

He's in NA Alan.

Almost certain to be a blocked drain/vent.

scruff. Crying or Very sad

AlanE · Posted: Thu Sep 18, 2003 9:16 pm Post subject:

Is it these new glasses or just brain getting old?? Sorry missed location.

Alan

grggy329 · Joined: 18 Sep 2003 Posts: 5 Location: na

i am in pennsylvania (united states) the system is a septic tank. i have run a snake down the roof vent and it is clear. i have run a camera through the main line and it is clear. the main line is only ten to fifteen feet through the wall from the basement bathroom and there is a clean out port in the basement so i had easy access. i thought the vent was plugged at first also which brings the following questions. the upstairs toilet drains into a tee joint one side of the tee reduces back to the lava and the other side is the main line the vent pipe enters this tee from the side and directly under the toilet the line travels two feet elbows right then travels eight feet then elbows down the wall to the elbow out to the tank, the basement drain tees in to this line just before the elbow out and the toilet is about two feet from the joint. i can't find any vent pipes from the tank(and really don't want one it's in the front lawn) so the air in the main line has no where to go when forced by the water of the flush. can i install a vent pipe on the line between the basement toilet and the main line? will this work? can i loop it back into the original vent pipe in the attic or do i have to put a new opening through the roof?

AlanE · Posted: Sun Sep 21, 2003 4:08 pm Post subject:

A snake might well pass through ok but it is only about 1 inch diameter and this small passage will restrict the flow of the flush.

Try passing a plunger (same size of the pipe) along the pipe.

Another thought has it always done, this in which case there could be a design problem with drainage system, or has it just started which would indicate a full or partial blockage has built up.

Alan

grggy329 · Joined: 18 Sep 2003 Posts: 5 Location: na

this has done this as long as i have owned the house (6 years) the system is twenty six years and works fine other than the air bubbles( i never get waste back up just air) it smells but doesn't linger. the service ports at he tank are twelve inch tile with decorative cement slabs on top. when i first bought the house i smelled sewer gas in the front lawn so i sealed the tiles with plastic and roof cement. then i found the basement toilet made the bubbles i thought i caused the problem by sealing the area for the tank to vent so i removed the plasrtic and propped the slabs up an inch for a few days and the toilet continued to bubble. i have disconnected the vent pipe entrance and tried to move the pipe to the top of the main line but i didn't have enough room for an elbow between the ceiling so i restored the system to original (the vent pipe and elbow was clear when i did this) i have had a super sucker come in twice and nothing was found. i have the tank pumped every two years (the septic man says i can go to every three years each time) i do it because the previous owner did it. i dump ten gallons of water plus the 3.5gl. flush through the basement toilet every week(i have even opened the port before to watch it for any buil up) i know it sounds as if there is a blockage but i do believe that the rush of air/water falling down the wall doesn't make the turn toward the tank fast enough and part of it diverts back the basement line( i disconnected the toilet and sealed the opening once and the shower drain gurgled and then all the water from the trap was sucked out. this is why i ask if i could run a vent pipe between the basement toilet and the elbow out to the tank and if i can does ot have to be seperate from the main vent pipe or can i tie it back in up in the attic to avoid putting another hole through the roof or will this create some type of negative loop in the system i have had numerous plumbers look at it and they look for blockages also i have never ask about the vent pipe because i just thought of this idea and need some advice if this doesn't fix it i can live with it the way it is i just don't want to admit defeat yet thanks for your help

thescruff · Moderator Joined: 03 May 2003 Posts: 4490 Location: Bath

In the dark ages many years ago we used to fit a seperate vent pipe which ran alongside the soil pipe, from each appliance we would then run a vent pipe to avoid syponage, your idea is good if thats your problem.

Have you checked the existing vent is not blocked.

scruff Cool

AlanE · Posted: Tue Sep 23, 2003 8:30 am Post subject:

Can you remove any covers from the septic tank that the waste enters? If so remove this cover and flush the toilet.

If it now flushes without air bubbles then your problem is caused by an increase in pressure in the septic tank caused by the entry of the water. Then either check for existing vents to the tank or you will need to install new one.

Alan