Ok here it goes. Last Wednesday we were hearing a gurgling sound in the walls between the bathrooms as they are face to face. Every thing was flushing fine nothing was backing up, later that night I went to take a shower and all these air bubbles came up out of the 1st and 2nd toilets. Then backed into the tub and shower in both bathrooms. We got out the 50 foot snake and snaked the main line as we noticed there was not enough water running through the main drain into the city sewer. We also ran a water hose into the vent shaft on top of the house after a few snake attempts we had butt wipes come out all was well and everything went back to normal. Then last night (saturday) 3 days later I go to take a shower and the toilets again start with the bubbling so I get out to find the bath tub in the other bathroom was filling with water, then both toilets in the house started to lose water. This morning we again snaked the main line to find nothing coming out and I do mean nothing at this point there isn't even water draining into the main line. Now the toilets are flushing fine no bubbles and even when we run the water in the showers there is no bubbles coming out of the toilets, but there also is no water draining out of the system. We are renting this house and don't have much money to spare our landlord who at this moment is out of state and wanting us to pay for a plumber to come out and access the situation and get it solved but again we have no money for that. We are lost on what the issue is and how to fix it please HELPPPPPP

First of all you have to get water running past the cleanout. Your 50' snake might not be enough to clear your lines. It sounds like the main's blocked plus the lowering of the bowl levels make me wonder if you haven't got a blocked vent as well. Ask the landlord if you get a plumber in if he will OK the charge. You should not have any expense on your part. Good luck, Tom

Thanks for the reply I also forgot to mention we have waterless toilets in the house. What or should I ask where is the cleanout and how do I get water to flow past it. Our landlord won't front the bill and allow us to make payments. He is wanting us to pay the plumber and see "if its the house or something that we caused" if its something we have caused then its totally on us to pay. Also, every time we put the snake in the main drain water flows out nicely but when its pulled out it slows to an almost stop. We have tried to snake the vent but it won't allow the snake past 25 feet no matter how much we turn or push but the strange thing is that when we flush the toilets air comes out of the vent. This house is about 50 years old and has almost all the original iron pipes. Not sure if that has anything to do with this situation.

"we noticed there was not enough water running through the main drain into the city sewer."
If you didn't open the cleanout how do you know if water isn't running out to the sewer. The cleanout should be located 18" out from the foundation and brought to grade. It also sounds like you need to rent a sewer machine and come dow3n a roof vent. Where are you snaking from? It sounds like your snake can't handle the job. Good luck, Tom

OK I guess that is what the clean out is. We are snaking through this 4inch pipe outside the front door that is less then 2 feet from there; towards the house we are able to get a good 40 feet of the snake in there but there is nothing on the snake when we pull it out. What I don't understand is that now when we flush the toilets or run the showers there is no water leading down the clean out but its also not backing up anywhere within the house that we can see. I am really worried that it is draining somewhere else and that this issue will continue to be every 3 days... thanks so much for your time I see that you are going through a lot at the moment I am very grateful for all your help

Snaking against the flow is a BAD idea. The reason is that you never know exactly just where the snake will go. If it comes up in a closet bend you stand a chance of breaking the closet bowl. Rent a sewer machine and come down a roof vent. That way you will be snaking with the flow and not against it. Start at the farthest vent and work towards the cleanout. Good luck, Tom

OK well I wish I would have read that hours ago! My husband and I just spend the past HOURS snaking upward again and this time a ball of butt wipes about the size of a tennis ball came out followed by a bunch of nasty black water... all seems to be running well at the moment. Hopefully that was the last of the butt wipes. We spoke to the landlord and he is wanting us to front the bill and if it's the house then they will later on pay for it as they are out of state and on vacation (isnt that really nice) thank you sooo much for all the time and effort you have given me