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My middle bathroom toilet was burping when we used the shower in there and water would come up out of the tub in our master bath. The shower was draining slowly. We read that it might be the vents on the roof so we attempted to flush those out with a yard hose (water just came up in the showers). We rented a 75' auger and fed it thru "clean out" in the back yard, the toilets in both bathrooms (now the toilet in the main bath is leaking... back to Lowe's for yet another wax ring hoping that will fix that issue) and the shower in both bathrooms. Returned the rented auger this morning even though we are still having the same problem. We are on a septic tank but it was just emptied about a year ago and we have only lived here about 9 months so we hope it is not that. The kitchen drain does not seem to be affected. Anyone have any ideas?? PLEASE. I am pretty handy in the electrical field but am lacking with plumbing.
Sounds like you are going to be lifting the main floor toilet...here is what I would do:
I would lift that toilet and then I would try to flood the pipes (from shower/sink. other toilets higher up...be careful not to OVER flood!!) to where I heard gurgling, bubbling...then slow water flow to the point where you can see water in the toilet pipe...
That water will confirm pipe is blocked..it will also confirm when you have hit the blockage (usually by releasing of bloakage followed by big *WHOOSH* sounds) using that RENTED 75' FOOT AUGER AGAIN!!..;(
I know you don't want to do that...but I don't see an alternative really.
By your description, it sounds like you have cleared from the main drain cleanout to the septic tank. I would now try to clear from the main bathroom toilet (or cleanout under toilet if pipes are accessible in basement) to the main cleanout in backyard (should hear it whipping around at cleanout when get to it (remove cover)).
When snaking, keep water running so can see it in pipe while snaking, and so will know when hit something (releases the water).
Need to work snake in/out a few times....and if that doesn't do it...then I think may be time to look at septic tank and see if something is happening in tank (not that it is full...but something else).
Hey, tha's what I have for now...let us jknow what you think...
If this answer helped please RATE THIS ANSWER. Thank you...Mark
Normally that means that your fresh air stack is plugged. Go on the roof of your house and there will be one or more pipes usually about 2" in diameter sticking up through your roof, these are your fresh air stacks. Occasionally birds will build nests on top of or inside them. This will not let air in and the bubbles are resulting from the water filling the air pockets and forcing the displaced air up through the toilet and sinks.
If they are not plugged at the roof line, run the snake from the roof down to unplug them.
You have to have air for the plumbing drainage system to work. A good example of this is to take a straw, put it in liquid and plug the end of the straw and pull it out of the liquid. The liquid will remain in the straw, remove your finger allowing air and the liquid comes out.
Sounds to me that you already cleared your vent stack on the roof but you should still check your septic tank again. Granted there may be clogs in your drains but you can't assume your tank is fine just because it was pumped a year ago. Most things are working perfectly just the moment before they break. If there is a clean out in the house right where the sewer lines leaves for the tank check to see if there is standing water in the pipe, there should not be any water. No water, follow Marks advice, standing water = call the septic tank guy and grab your checkbook.
Sounds to me that you already cleared your vent stack on the roof but you should still check your septic tank again. Granted there may be clogs in your drains but you can't assume your tank is fine just because it was pumped a year ago. Most things are working perfectly just the moment before they break. If there is a clean out in the house right where the sewer lines leaves for the tank check to see if there is standing water in the pipe, there should not be any water. No water, follow Marks advice, standing water = call the septic tank guy and grab your checkbook.
As I stated, we have lived here less than a year.. I have never had a septic system prior to this so I don't know about them. How can I tell if it needs to be emptied? I don't even know where in our back yard it is located. There is a peice of black plastic conduit (abs I think it is called) sticking out of the ground with a cap on it. When I open the cap I can see a little standing water about 2' below ground level. The owner of the house (my in-laws) are going to come over and see what they can figure out. Unfortunately their knowledge is about as good as mine.
Normally that means that your fresh air stack is plugged. Go on the roof of your house and there will be one or more pipes usually about 2" in diameter sticking up through your roof, these are your fresh air stacks. Occasionally birds will build nests on top of or inside them. This will not let air in and the bubbles are resulting from the water filling the air pockets and forcing the displaced air up through the toilet and sinks.
If they are not plugged at the roof line, run the snake from the roof down to unplug them.
You have to have air for the plumbing drainage system to work. A good example of this is to take a straw, put it in liquid and plug the end of the straw and pull it out of the liquid. The liquid will remain in the straw, remove your finger allowing air and the liquid comes out.
IF THIS ANSWER HELPED YOU PLEASE RATE IT.
I guess I forgot to mention that I am just a little lady, I thought about snaking the vent pipes but I know me and I realized I could not lift the auger onto the roof. We did try to blast anything blocking the vents by shoving our yard hose down them. When we did the one that leads to the kitchen (where we have not had issues) some water came out of the clean out in the back yard. When we shot water down the 2 vents for the bathrooms no water came out of the clean out, it all seemed come out of the bathroom fixtures (then flooded my bedroom). Does this make sense to anyone on where the clog might be?
Sounds like you are going to be lifting the main floor toilet...here is what I would do:
I would lift that toilet and then I would try to flood the pipes (from shower/sink. other toilets higher up...be careful not to OVER flood!!) to where I heard gurgling, bubbling...then slow water flow to the point where you can see water in the toilet pipe...
That water will confirm pipe is blocked..it will also confirm when you have hit the blockage (usually by releasing of bloakage followed by big *WHOOSH* sounds) using that RENTED 75' FOOT AUGER AGAIN!!..;(
I know you don't want to do that...but I don't see an alternative really.
By your description, it sounds like you have cleared from the main drain cleanout to the septic tank. I would now try to clear from the main bathroom toilet (or cleanout under toilet if pipes are accessible in basement) to the main cleanout in backyard (should hear it whipping around at cleanout when get to it (remove cover)).
When snaking, keep water running so can see it in pipe while snaking, and so will know when hit something (releases the water).
Need to work snake in/out a few times....and if that doesn't do it...then I think may be time to look at septic tank and see if something is happening in tank (not that it is full...but something else).
Hey, tha's what I have for now...let us jknow what you think...
If this answer helped please RATE THIS ANSWER. Thank you...Mark
.
There was still standing water in the fixtures when we snaked. We did not hear a woosh sound. Should the 75' snake have made it all the way to the septic tank? Our house is not that large and the bathrooms are close to the back of it... We do not have a basement (I wish we did) or any crawl space under the house, we are on a cement foundation so I dont know where the toilet clean out would be. We took the whole tiolet off and snaked thru the floor (that is why I needed a new wax ring ).
I do soooo appreciate all the help everyone has been!
I just want to be able to take a shower!!! ( using auger in toilet = smelly me )
). 
using auger in toilet = smelly me
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