Hi,

I am in a modern condomiunim. My unit is next to the laundry room (wondering if that's relevant due to the washers). Occasionally, the toilet gets air bubbles for about a minute. If I try to flush during this period, the toilet just overflows and the water doesn't empty. I tried using a plunger to force the water down, but no luck during one of these episodes.

Occasionally, at other times, if the toilet is just sitting there, air bubbles will start bubbling up (LARGE ones too). Also, the toilet sometimes just empties by itself and then refills (presumably from the stuff that "emptied" and I get a really FOUL smell in the room afterwards a couple of hours later. Please help!

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Originally Posted by pupster

Hi,

I am in a modern condomiunim. My unit is next to the laundry room (wondering if that's relevant due to the washers). Occasionally, the toilet gets air bubbles for about a minute. If I try to flush during this period, the toilet just overflows and the water doesn't empty. I tried using a plunger to force the water down, but no luck during one of these episodes.

Occasionally, at other times, if the toilet is just sitting there, air bubbles will start bubbling up (LARGE ones too). Also, the toilet sometimes just empties by itself and then refills (presumably from the stuff that "emptied" and I get a really FOUL smell in the room afterwards a couple of hours later. Please help!

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I hope your condo has a maintenance department because you have a partial blockage and it sounds like it's in a common drain, (one shared by the rest of the units). That explains the bubbling and back ups but you may also have a blocked vent. A partial clog creates back pressure ,(bubbles) and a blocked vent will create a vacume, (sucking water out of traps and toilet bowls). The "foul smell" is sewer gas that's released from a trap that's lost its seal, (water). Sewer gas is hazardous to your health and the methane content's explosive. Have this checked at once. Good luck, Tom

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Originally Posted by speedball1

I hope your condo has a maintenance department because you have a partial blockage and it sounds like it's in a common drain, (one shared by the rest of the units). That explains the bubbling and back ups but you may also have a blocked vent. A partial clog creates back pressure ,(bubbles) and a blocked vent will create a vacume, (sucking water out of traps and toilet bowls). The "foul smell" is sewer gas that's released from a trap that's lost its seal, (water). Sewer gas is hazardous to your health and the methane content's explosive. Have this checked at once. good luck, Tom

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Mmmmhmm... thanks for the quick reply! So, this is probably NOT something that I'm liable for? If it's the common drain, then it's a issue dealing w/ all the units in the condo complex? Yeah, we have a maintenance department, and I just wrote them a message.

Is the partial clog a separate thing from the trap that lost its seal and is causing the "backflow" or foul stenches (sewer gas)? I.e... am I dealing w/ TWO separate issues? Thanks.

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Originally Posted by pupster

Mmmmhmm...thanks for the quick reply! So, this is probably NOT something that I'm liable for? If it's the common drain, then it's a issue dealing w/ all the units in the condo complex? Yeah, we have a maintenance department, and I just wrote them a message.

Is the partial clog a separate thing from the trap that lost its seal and is causing the "backflow" or foul stenches (sewer gas)? I.e...am I dealing w/ TWO separate issues? Thanks.

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"Is the partial clog a separate thing from the trap that lost its seal and is causing the "backflow" or foul stenches (sewer gas)? I.e...am I dealing w/ TWO separate issues?"

In my opinion, yes. Let me explain. When you flush, drain or discharge a washer the water hits a partial and bounces back sending a bubble of air back up the line. Then it begains to drain past the obstruction.
A blocked vent, on the other hand, sets up a vacume that your fixtures attempt to relieve by "gurgling" in a trap or the trap seal or bowl level being sucked down or out. The fact that your fixtures gurgle, belch, or lose water seals when you're not using them puts the blame squarely on units other then yours which in turn puts the problem in the common system. Let me know how this turns out. Tom

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Originally Posted by speedball1

"Is the partial clog a separate thing from the trap that lost its seal and is causing the "backflow" or foul stenches (sewer gas)? I.e...am I dealing w/ TWO separate issues?"

In my opinion, yes. let me explain. When you flush, drain or discharge a washer the water hits a partial and bounces back sending a bubble of air back up the line. Then it begains to drain past the obstruction.
A blocked vent, on the other hand, sets up a vacume that your fixtures attempt to relieve by "gurgling" in a trap or the trap seal or bowl level being sucked down or out. The fact that your fixtures gurgle, belch, or lose water seals when you're not using them puts the blame squarely on units other then yours which in turn puts the problem in the common system. Let me know how this turns out. Tom

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I actually have been feeling dizzy and very drousy for the last couple of months. I wonder if it's related to the sewer gas. I read that sewer gas can make you feel tired, drowsy. Has this happened to people you know? Huum.

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Originally Posted by pupster

I actually have been feeling dizzy and very drousy for the last couple of months. I wonder if it's related to the sewer gas. I read that sewer gas can make you feel tired, drowsy. Has this happened to people you know? Huum.

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Sewer workers have died from inhaling sewer gas. Let me post some information that may help.


Sewer gas is a complex mixture of toxic and non-toxic gases that can be present at varying levels depending upon the source. It is formed during the decay of household and industrial waste. Highly toxic components of sewer gas include hydrogen sulfide and ammonia.

Sewer gas also contains methane, carbon dioxide, sulfur dioxide, and nitrous oxides. In addition, chlorine bleaches, industrial solvents, and gasoline are frequently present in municipal and privately owned-sewage treatment systems.

How are people exposed to sewer gas?

Sewer gas can enter a home through a floor drain, from a leaking or blocked plumbing roof vent, or (if the gases are in soil adjacent to the house) through cracks in foundations. Sanitary and farm workers can be exposed to sewer gas during the cleaning and maintenance of municipal sewers, manure storage tanks, and home septic tanks.

What are the effects of exposure to sewer gas?

The principal risks and effects associated with exposure are:

Hydrogen sulfide poisoning. Exposure to low levels of hydrogen sulfide causes irritation of the eyes and respiratory tract. Other symptoms include nervousness, dizziness, nausea, headache, and drowsiness. This gas smells like rotten eggs, even at extremely low concentrations. Exposure to high concentrations can interfere with the sense of smell, making this warning signal unreliable. At extremely high levels, hydrogen sulfide can cause immediate loss of consciousness and death.
Asphyxiation. Methane acts like carbon monoxide, blocking oxygen in the blood, and can similarly cause suffocation and death at high levels. Exposure to lower levels can produce flu-like symptoms such as headache, nausea, and drowsiness. Breathing undiluted sewer gas, even for short periods, as in a municipal sewer line or a manure storage tank, can result in suffocation and death. Sewer gas diffuses and mixes into indoor air, and will be most concentrated where it is entering. It can accumulate in basements.

Explosion and fire. Methane and hydrogen sulfide are flammable and highly explosive.

How can I avoid being exposed to sewer gas?

Flush floor and sink drains with water to prevent the traps in pipes to the sewer from drying out.

Occasionally check the roof plumbing vent for blockage from debris such as leaves or bird nests.

Never enter a municipal sewer line, manure-storage tank or any other large storage tank without proper training and equipment.
What should I do if I suspect a problem?

First, following the odor, try to locate the point of entry, such as a basement floor drain. Check for a blocked rooftop plumbing gas vent. By adding water to the floor drain or removing debris from a roof plumbing stack vent you may be able to prevent sewer gas from entering your home. In the unlikely event that a leak in gas vent plumbing is behind walls, a plumber may be needed to find and fix it. Some local public health departments may be able to offer home inspections.

Symptoms of headache, nausea, dizziness, or drowsiness may indicate exposure to an odorless gas like methane or carbon monoxide, or to hydrogen sulfide, which smells of rotten eggs. Persons experiencing severe symptoms should seek immediate medical care.

If you suspect that high concentrations of sewer gas have accumulated in an enclosed space, you should evacuate the area and contact the fire department for assistance. Avoid creating an ignition source such a spark from an electrical appliance, match, or cigarette lighter.

[QUOTE=pupster]Hi,

I am in a townhouse. Occasionally, the downstairs toilet gets air bubbles for a few minutes. If I try to flush during this period, the toilet just overflows and the water doesn't empty. I tried using a plunger to force the water down, but no luck during one of these episodes.

Occasionally when showering upstairs or using the clothes washing machine downstairs the downstairs toilet will have air bubbles and start bubbling up (LARGE ones too) and floods my downstairs . Also, the toilet sometimes just empties by itself and then refills (presumably from the water that "emptied" from the clothes washing machine or upstairs shower. Please help!

[QUOTE=godandguitar]

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Originally Posted by pupster

Hi,

I am in a townhouse. Occasionally, the downstairs toilet gets air bubbles for a few minutes. If I try to flush during this period, the toilet just overflows and the water doesn't empty. I tried using a plunger to force the water down, but no luck during one of these episodes.

Occasionally when showering upstairs or using the clothes washing machine downstairs the downstairs toilet will have air bubbles and start bubbling up (LARGE ones too) and floods my downstairs . Also, the toilet sometimes just empties by itself and then refills (presumably from the water that "emptied" from the clothes washing machine or upstairs shower. Please help!

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You have a partial blockage downstream from the first floor toilet. Also the fact that the toilet "empties by itself" tells me that you may have a blockage in your vent. This should be looked after soonest as it will only get worse.
Good luck, Tom

I have a similar issue. I live in a full detach house.

2nd Floor Toilet and Shower cloggs the same time. When tried to plunger the toilet, the water in the Pipe backs up to the Shower. When tried to plunger the shower, bubbles comes out of the toilet.

Toilet and shower drains are joined horizontally for 2 meters, then elbowed down vertically. Kitchen sink drain in the Ground floor connects to to the vent then to the main Vertical pipe, then down to the basement.

I wonder if there was a design issue with the Drains in the 2nd floor Toilet and Shower. Should I connect a vent to it ? Or its just a blockage somewhere.

Need your advise please.

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Or its just a blockage somewhere.

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Yes.
Pull toilet and snake the drain line. Sounds like blockage is between first and second floor.

Does the vanity drain okay or does it cause bubbles in the toilet? The blockage sounds like it's downstream from the shower in the toilet drains. You have options. You can pull the toilet and snake from there or you can snake from the lavatory roof vent. Put out enough snake to reach the base and 10 feet more. Good luck, Tom