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NEED HELP Badly · Aug 3, 2008, 09:23 AM

I recently had 2 plumbers come in for an ongoing smell and gurgling/bubbling that is going on in my basement toilet. When ever I run the washing machine (in basement), shower, dishwasher or kitchen sink (all on main floor) I get a gurgling sound from the toilet in basement. I also get a strong sewer smell when the toilet is used or just flushed. I was told that it is because the seal was broke due to the trap being dry... I flushed it every day for two weeks and it seemed to help a little, but not completely. I also run the sink in the bathroom hoping that it is that trap causing the issue... One plumber told me it was the main drain clogged so I snaked it and the problem persists... the second one told me it was due to
a) The pipes being 1.5" instead of 2.
b) The kitchen (added on 15 yrs ago) was not vented properly so he charged me to put a cheater vent in.
c) The neck of the toilet is cracked and whole toilet needs to be replaced...

HELPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPP!!
I still have the problem of both the gurgling and the smell. I have not replaced the toilet yet. Are these problems related?

Thinks in advance
Chris

speedball1 · Aug 3, 2008, 04:13 PM

Hey Chris,

When ever I run the washing machine (in basement), shower, dishwasher or kitchen sink (all on main floor) I get a gurgling sound from the toilet in basement. I also get a strong sewer smell when the toilet is used or just flushed. I was told that it is because the seal was broke due to the trap being dry... Also, The neck of the toilet is cracked and whole toilet needs to be replaced

Are you sure this isn't bubbles instead of gurgles that you hear? The reason I asked is because while gurgles point to a vent problem bubbles indicate a partial blockage in the drain line. Now tell me exactly what it is on a toilet that you call "the neck"? Does the bowl hold water? What trap did the plumber say was dry that caused your smell? The toilet bowl trap?
I think both plumbers were blowing smoke up your skirt and here's why. If the toilet bowl holds water then that is the trap. To have a dry trap the toilet bowl would have to be completely empty.

a) The pipes being 1.5" instead of 2.

Older homes were built using 1 1/2" drainage. Unless you have a clog 1 1/2" will drain just dandy. Although on new construction we use 2 inch 1 1/2 will still drain.
It bothers me that the kitchen sink wasn't vented. Makes me wonder about the rest of the house. Do all your traps go into the floor or the wall?
You say "gurgling/bubbling " Got to be one or the other. Nail it down for me! Regards, tom.

NEED HELP Badly · Aug 3, 2008, 07:23 PM

Well the sound is bubbling as if there is air coming up through the water... There is remanence on the seat and floor around the toilet as if the air is causing water to splatter out of it. The plumbing runs into the floor and to the only vent in the house. The original vent is within 5 feet of all drains except the kitchen that was added on. The neck I'm referring to is the P trap I think... The bowl holds water, and it goes down into an s shaped portion of the toilet... that was what I was told is the neck.