Hi,

I'm following up on "Gurgling Toilet" post a month ago.

The problem seems to be tied to the septic tank. The tank is in very wet ground. When the ground is saturated, the toilet gurgles. When the ground is dry, the toilet doesn't gurgle.

But my question is this: Is a stack vent required if a studor vent is used. The new installation has only a studor valve, no stack through the roof. I thought I saw somewhere that a studor valved can be used, but cannot be the only method to vent: an open stack is required.

Does code or best practices require a stack?

Thanks,

Glenn

The problem seems to be tied to the septic tank. The tank is in very wet ground. When the ground is saturated, the toilet gurgles. When the ground is dry, the toilet doesn't gurgle.

I don't think a septic tank was mention in your original post.

You don't have a venting problem, you have a septic system problem.

What that problem is depends on what you mean by "saturated ground".

If you have had so much rain that the ground cannot absorb any more water that may be your problem. That would be unusual because septic systems are designed (or should be designed) to tolerate a excessive amount of rain.

Just how much rain have you had lately?

More likely, the problem is caused by lack of proper maintenance.

A septic tank is simply a holding tank. Water (sewage) flows into the tank at a certain level near the top. As the sewage sits in tank the solids and tissue dissolve and liquefy.

The output or distribution line are slightly below the sewage input lines. When the level of sewage reaches the distribution lines, the water (often referred to as grey water) flows out the distribution lines, which are perforated pipe. The distribution lines are laid in gravel or sand to distribute the water out into the soil to be absorbed by the sun.

Now certain things may not be dissolved and liquefied. These undissolved particles settle to the bottom of the tank but as they build up they can move up and out the distribution lines. There they clog the the pipe perforations and the surrounding soil.

It is a good practice to periodically pump the septic tank. Not to empty the tank itself, but to remove the undissolved particles in at bottom. Septic tank should be pumped at about 5 year intervals.

If you distributions line are clogged and no water, or very little water, can be discharged, then when you add more water by flushing the air between the water level and the top of the tank will be pushed back up the sewage line. It has to go some where and it can't go out the distribution lines.

So it sounds like you don't have a blocked sewage line or a venting problem, you have a septic system problem.

The only remedy for clogged distribution lines is to replace or install additional ones.