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Dexember · Nov 2, 2009, 10:41 PM

I've read a couple of different posts that have similar problems but none that combine all of them. We live in a one-story rented house.

It started with bubbles coming up from both toilets when we used the shower two days ago. I tried to flush one toilet after a shower yesterday and it overflowed even though there was nothing being flushed. But! If it has been awhile since anyone took a shower or bath then the toilet flushes just fine.

Today, I noticed that my shower didn't drain quickly enough (still having bubbles during the shower). After my wife took a bath tonight, (it's been an hour and is still draining) the second bathroom's tub started to fill up with nasty, brown water.

I've got two theories based off my online reading: It's the vent (we've got plenty of animals and falling leaves around the house) or it's a clog between the toilet and the main line.

Please help!

ballengerb1 · Nov 3, 2009, 08:38 AM

You drain line is clogged downstream of the shower and the toilet. It could be debris coming down the vent stack or just a everyday clog. You can rod the vent stack from the roof with a sewer rodder long enough to reach roof top to basement plus 20'. Where is the landlord in this problem?

Dexember · Nov 3, 2009, 02:37 PM

The Landlord's first response was to buy and put Drain-O down the line and see if that fixed it.

We live in Texas and don't have a basement, so going down the vent shouldn't be too hard right?

One more thing, if we use the Drain-O, should I pour it down the shower drain or the toilet?

ballengerb1 · Nov 3, 2009, 02:41 PM

If you have not used the Draino yet then don't. This will just make rodding more difficult and even dangerous. Draino may work Ok in a kitchen sink trap but not in a 3" or 4" toilet drain. Rod from the roof with a sewer rodder. The LL should be doing all this and paying for it. Show him this site and tell him what was said about the dangers of Draino.

speedball1 · Nov 4, 2009, 08:57 AM

The Landlord's first response was to buy and put Drain-O down the line and see if that fixed it. One more thing, if we use the Drain-O, should I pour it down the shower drain or the toilet?

As a repair plumber I have never recommended using harsh chemicals. In your drainage system. Besides, they only seem to work in TV commercials and when you try to remove the water you could burn your hands or damage your eyes.
You have two options.
1) You can snake from the lavatory roof vent **OR**
2) pull the toilet and snake from there.
Good luck, Tom