Hi, I'm hoping someone can help? Our toilet bubbles with air and we get a terrible sewer smell when we use the shower or bathtub. We are on a septic system with a well in the country/ farmland. The toilet did not bubble when we first moved in 1 year ago but we have always gotten the sewer smell from time to time, sometimes very strong.
The system and drains were all checked before we bought the home. The septic tank was pumped out, inspected and deemed clear of any cracks or leaks.
We are very good about not putting anything down the toilet other than waste and paper. We routinely use a digester such as rid-x to keep the septic healthy.
I'm not sure what the problem could be?? Any help would be great!!

Could be you need something organic down there. We used to use a piece of liver down the toilet to keep everything perking.

I am not a plumber, but have been told by plumbers that this type problem may be due to nonfunctioning "gas vent piping" system. House drain pipes (all toilets, showers, bathtubs, sinks) must have vent piping leading upward to open outside. These vent pipes are primarily to prevent odor problem like you seem to have. These have been standard plumbing requirements for many years (decades), but inspection of "formerly owned" houses would not normally test them for possible clogging. ALSO could be you have some sewer drain obstruction/clog/slow-drain below and near the bath/shower/toilet with the problem. Are you having any other bubbling or odor problem in other locations? In general just having a septic system is does not cause of air bubbling. Clogged sewer drain or air vent pipe is likely the cause. First assure the water drains freely from bath/shower and toilet having the problem (use drain cleaner as needed). If they all drain well, next go onto roof and check that vent pipe exits are not clogged (bird nest or dead animal?). If not find cure call plumber. And also FYI, the septic tank gets plenty of organic "food" from your kitchen and toilet(s), so flushing additional "food" down toilet makes not difference - it all goes to the same septic tank where microbes and organisims consume it. Hope this information helped you.

Edd is on the right track, your vent is clogged. The best approach is to rent a sewer rodder and rod down from the roof stack all the way to the basement plus 20' more.

Agree. Sounds like a clogged vent. However if clearing your vent doesn't prove to fix your problem, you may have a partial clog in you house sewer, or a faulty drain field on your septic system. If you have a drain problem you will soon have waste backing up into the lowest fixture in the house.

I have a different take on this. The complaint was;

Quote:

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Our toilet bubbles with air and we get a terrible sewer smell when we use the shower or bathtub

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Now if this were a vent problem air would be pulled in making a gurgle. Instead we have a bubble. I think they have a partial blockage downstream from toilet. When they drain a fixture the discharge hits the clog and bounces back sending a bubble of sewer gas ahead of it that comes out of the toilet. I would snake the lavatory roof vent. Put out enough cable to reach the base and 20 feet more to get oput in the main. This will clear both the vent and the drain line. Good luck, tom