Hello,

We have been living in our brand new home for 5 weeks and we just started noticing that our toilets was making air sounds and the water would sometimes lower and then return to normal level. It would seem like there is air/pressure in the line somewhere. I don't know a lot about how the septic works but I know if this is the beginnings of a bigger problem I would like to get taken care now. Am I just being paranoid or is this the beginning of a problem with the design of our septic?

Thanks, Rsimula

Is the water level changing in the tank or the bowl?

If the tank, I'll guess that the air sound you hear is the valve; filling the tank back up because of water leaking past the flapper (rubber thing at the bottom that lifts when you flush).

Replace the flapper - they're under $5.

Rickj,

The water level is changing in the bowl. I have not even checked the tank.

Thanks, Rsimula

OK, that one's beyond me. Sorry 'bout that.

I can bet our real resident plumbing guru, speedball1, will be along shortly http://www.jackson8.com/images/amhd/thumb.gif

Hi Rsimula,

In a 5 weeks old home you shouldn't have to change a thing. Everything's new why should you? You say both toilets are affected? Do you hear any gurgling from the traps in the bathroom? Toilets lose water in the bowl for one of two reasons.
(1) There could also be a factory defect in the bowl. Sometimes in casting the bowl there is a small bubble in the china. Instead of junking the bowl the manufacture will put a porcelain patch over the hole and send it on through. On occasion the patch will fail allowing the water to seep out of the bowl. If that's the case you would have a full bowl after you flushed and the bowl filled but some hours later you would notice a drop in the bowl level. (This is way out in left field considering that both toilets are involved.)
(2) If there were a blocked vent every time something drained in the branch the toilet was on then it would create a suction on the toilets trap seal and lower the bowl level.

These sounds the toilets are making. Are they bubbles or gurgles?
"Bubbles" and "Gurgles". They are both indicters that something's going on in your drainage system.
A "bubble" indicates a clogged line while a "gurgle" indicates a blocked vent. Let me explain. When you flush the discharge drains down the pipe until it hits a partial clog. Then it rebounds back sending a "bubble" of air ahead of it. When you flush a toilet or drain a bathtub a suction is created by the water rushing down the pipe. This suction is relieved by a open pipe that runs to the outside called a vent. When a vent's stopped up the suction has to relieve itself somewhere, in this case your toilet. The noise you hear is the air being pulled through the trap by suction, (gurgle).

In any event this is covered by your new home warranty. Losing bowl level, in not one but two toilets, is a indication that something's amiss in your drainage system. This should be addressed at once. Don't let the builder or contractor try to snow you into thinking this is normal and will fix itself in time. It's not and it won't. Please keep us informed. Good luck. Tom

So you indicate drainage problem which would be our septic/site work guy or is this a plumber issue?

Thanks, rsimula

Quote:

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Originally Posted by rsimula

So you indicate drainage problem which would be our septic/site work guy or is this a plumber issue?

Thanks, rsimula

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In my book it's a contractor problem. You should contact him and inform him you have a problem. He will in turn contact the plumber whio will send someone out to trouble shoot the problem and recommend a repair. Gurgles would indicate a vent problem while bubbles would indicate a drainage constriction. Something's lowering the water level in your toilet bowls. Since both toilets are affected that makes this a "whole house " problem and not just a local branch one. Good luck, Tom

Does it happen majorily on windy days?? Mine does this when it is...

Hi Hunnybee and Welcome to The Plumbing Page. At AskMeHelpDesk.com. You're responding to a 7 year old dead thread Look in then upper left hand corner of the first post form the date before you post, Thanks,
WE need more details before we can answer. Back to you Tom

Can I fix the "bubbles" and/or "gurgles" myself?