Hello all...

Moved into a house 6 months ago, house vacant almost a year before that and since day one, both toilets in the house burp when flushed.
When you first pull the trigger to flush, the first thing that happens is a large bubble comes up, then everything works normally and fills back up again. If you flush twice in a row, the second flush causes an even bigger bubble before flushing properly.

Any thoughts??? I've already been told that it may be the vent stack to the roof. I'm planning to run an auger down it this weekend...anything special I need to know before I climb up there?

Also...one toilet vibrates with refilling. It appears to be the "fill stem" (I think that's it's name) that vibrates the most. Opened it up and appears to be in good shape. Probably replace it and see if it solves the problem???

Thank you,
Jasonnc

 

I think your on the right track. The "burping" you describe sounds like a venting problem. As for the fill valve replace it with a FluidMaster 400A. They are inexpensive and the best fill valve replacement around.

Post back your success or lack thereof.

 

Thank you. I will.

Let me ask...is it as simple as plunging that auger coil down the vent stack feeling for a blockage? It would be pretty hard to do any damage to anything, right?
I think 25 feet of auger line should be enough to do a one story home...?

Thanks again.

 

What you are probably dealing with is dried up toilet paper and feces that has sat in the pipes and hardened. This happened after the lack of use of toilets once the house was sold.


It is impossible to flush a toilet and send the waste matter completely to the sewer on one flush, this process usually takes numerous flushes, and slowly breaks down the fecal matter and toilet paper with every flush.



So in your case, the waste matter has probably dried up, along with everything you have sent down the line already, causing a slow restriction in the line.

The initial flush of toilet causes a displacement of air when fluids are sent in the direction of the blockage.


The trapway where water lies is the path of least resistance for the air to go.



Running a cable down a vent pipe can be very dangerous, you can end up coiling a cable into a fixture branch and/or a toilet and cause damage.

Pulling the toilet is the best line of defense, this is the fixture that is malfunctioning, and you will be able to address the clog from there.


You could remove the clog from the toilet from the vent, but be careful, gravity sometimes works in the wrong way on large vertical drops.

 

Well that is just gross isn't it.

I've got one toilet pulled already as we redo the bathroom, so it will be easy to run the line checking for a clog. I want to say that it wont be a sewer line clog because nothing else is affected as far a draining goes.
Also far easier to run the toilet drain before getting up on the roof.

Thanks for the info and the warnings.
I'll update after I get a little dirty.

 

To prove the theory that it isn't a sewer line clog,


Flush all toilets repetitively

Run all sink faucets

Run washing machine on the discharge cycle.

This creates hydropressure in your system, which was designed to take this large amount of flow.

This will dump a large amount of flow through your system, and the first place where the water backs up is either the floor drains, or the basement toilet sounds like it is gonna blow up from gurgling.


1.6 toilets can be a leading cause of clogs, especially if numerous people are to take #2's in a row, with such a small amount of water to take all of it out.


Perfect example? Family get togethers, Good food, Good bowel movements. Everyone needs to do the same after a good meal, then things go wrong.

When there is a vent problem, toilets drain down in a slow, gradual motion. Take a 5 gallon bucket and dump into toilet and see if it takes the water with no slowing down.


But trust me, I find the positive in those experiences. $$$

 

Okay...

I tried the hydropressure trick...flushed remaining toilet, ran washing machine on drain and tub, bath and kitchen faucets with no overflow. Should have come up in spare bath where commode was removed for remodel, but no luck.

So I ran the auger down that drain and hit a slight restriction at 15 feet and continued all the way to 25 feet (the end of the line). I worked the auger over the area and retrieved it...no major signs of a blockage. Only found small bits of soap or paper.

I'm getting on the roof next to rule out the vent stacks as the cause.

Any other tips???