I'm having an issue with toilets bubbling/gurgling when large amounts of water have drained or are draining. My home was built in 1960, 1 story, and has 2 full baths. Yesterday, I noticed the problem and have tested it a variety of ways. It does NOT happen when showering for 5 min or flushing a toilet, or running a sink while washing dishes. It does happen when showering for more than 10 minutes, or when showering while the washing machine is also draining, and with washing machine draining by itself. The shower backs up a bit with a long shower exceeding 10 minutes. Each drain (washing machine, kitchen sink, baths) all have their separate vent stacks. The kitchen and washing machine are about 20 feet away from the baths with the toilets exhibiting the problem.

I'm thinking this could be either a vent stack issue or blockage. I'm leaning towards blockage somewhere between house and street sewer line (approx 30 feet away) bacause of the separate vent stacks and how far the drains are located from each other. I'm about to call a plumber, but wanted advice first. If the plumber only wants to snake out the line from house to street, should I insist that he put a scope in to see for damage to the main line due to tree roots and such? If they insist it's a vent stack issue, should I let them do their work or tell them to start somewhere else looking for the problem?

Thanks.

I don't know how to ask a direct question, but I'm particularly insterested in Speedball1's insight. Of course I welcome all suggestions and help from everyone. Thanks.



. Thought I read a similar problem to ours, which you answered, but not sure if ours is the same problem. We live in an older two story home (built in the 20s). Recently, we've been getting gurgling noice in upstairs shower drain when downstairs toilet flushed. When flushed, water in toilet bowl rises with lots of tiny air bubbles, but does flush, only slowly. Have checked catch basin when toilet flushed and no backup into it occurs. Also, level of water in upstairs toilet bowl lowers when downstairs toilet flushed. Noticed too, that if I cover upstairs shower drain when showering and let water collect, when I uncover drain, water drains OK but water in upstairs toilet bowl emties completely with a loud gurgle (toilet in same bathroom). Reputable plumber has been out twice. First rodded line from catch basin to street, and second visit, pulled upstairs toilet and rodded from there about 30 feet and also rodded through cleanout trap in main stack in basement (about 30 feet). Thinking now it almost has to be a vent stack problem. When I looked in the attic, could only see one stack coming into attic, which makes a 90 degree turn towards outer edge of roof and then 90 degrees turn upward through roof. Could only see the one stack. Please offer your suggestions before I call plumber again, who by the way, did not charge me for second visit.

Sorry, not sure how to edit my question, but the bottom part should have been removed... I copy and pasted and hit post too quickly.

I'm having an issue with toilets bubbling/gurgling
Got to be one or the other. Bubbles indicate a blockage while gurgles indicate a vent issue.
From your post I fell that you have a blockage and it sounds like it's way out next to the city raiser. Some times the joint between the house sewer and the city raiser is faulty. That's when roots can get in. This isn't a big deal. Simply dig up the raiser, open up the joint band clean out any root growth and seal it back up again. You can "cam" the line if you wish but a much cheaper way would have the plumber put on a auger tip and see if it pulls back roots. Good luck, Tom