I’m having issues with slow drains and overflowing toilets. My house it 13 yrs old. The plumber couldn’t identify any specific issues and suggested I replace the toilets; however that doesn’t help the drain situation. Is it possible to have air trapped in the line somewhere that would cause this? It seems like in the kitchen, turning on the garbage disposal will break the “air pocket” or whatever it is, plunging the toilets helps every time, but the fix is never long term. What could be the issue? Please help.

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The plumber couldn't identify any specific issues and suggested I replace the toilets;

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This tells me the plumber wasn't as sharp as he could be. Replacing the toilets was a unnecessary expense on your part and poor advice on his.
Are you on a septic tank or city sewer? Did the plumber snake the roof vents? When he had the toilets up for replacement did he snake the open lines?
Trapped air isn't your problem and if that's what your plumber told you I'd change plumbers.
Now would be a dandy time to tell me exactly what he's done so far and what he told you he t6hinks the m problem might be. Cheers, Tom

Thankfully I did not replace the toilets as I did not really believe that was the issue. At the time he was out here, the house was only ~7 yrs old. I couldn't imagine that was the issue. I mentioned my plumbing issue to a friend & she said they had similar problems with their plumbing when their house was built. Apparently the builders forgot to take a cap or something off the roof vent I think she said.
The plumber had no interest in checking that or thinking it could be the problem with mine. He only snaked the toilet if I remember correctly and got not up.
This problem is becoming very annoying as it's happening more frequently lately & is ruining the baseboard and floor in the main bathroom.
How do I check the venting?


I am on city sewer system. He did not snake the roof vents and he never took the toilets up.

I really don't recall that he even speculated what the issue could be which is why I've continued to just "deal" with this problem for so long. I can't afford to waste any more money on NOT having the problem fixed.

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I really don't recall that he even speculated what the issue could be which is why I've continued to just "deal" with this problem for so long. I can't afford to waste any more money on NOT having the problem fixed.

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Then you plumber's not doing too much to help is he? Want to try it on your own?
We can walk you through what the plumber should have done from the start. This would mean renting a sewer machine,(see image) going on the roof and snaking the vents. Are you up to that? If not hire another plumber and we'll work with him. We have some sharp plumbers here that are real problem solvers.
Your choice, what's your pleasure? Tom

I'm totally up for trying to fix things myself (eerrrr, I mean with the help of my dad.. haha) Do they rent this machine at Lowe's or Home Depot?

OK! Let's get Dad involved. My home Depot rents sewer machines, if yours doesn't then your loval Rent All surely has them. This sounds to me like blocked vents along with some drainage issues. But let's do the vents first and go from there. I'm ready when you are. Tom

Sounds great. I'm looking online now for rental places. Is the machine called an "eel"? I see several sizes of this type machine from Sunbelt Rentals.
Unfortunately my parents are out of town at the moment. Thinking that I might be able to get something done on Sunday. Is this process self-explanatory or will you be around to guide the process? Will this be a "laptop on the roof" step by step project?

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Thinking that I might be able to get something done on Sunday. Is this process self-explanatory or will you be around to guide the process? Will this be a "laptop on the roof" step by step project?

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I'll be right here to advise you.
No technical biggie here but a lot of physical labor, (I hope your place is a one storied house). Let's began by counting the pipes coming out of your roof. How many are there? Does each bathroom have its own roof vent? The operation's a simple one. Snake each vent line from the roof. Put out enough snake to reach the base and about 20 feet more to get in the main. Simple but a lot of work. Why not wait for Dad to show up? Regards, Tom

Great! I do have a 1-story. Just checked and there is only 1 vent total. Don't mean to sound like a total retard, but that machine has enough line on it that I leave it on the ground and just pull the hose up on the roof right? Don't need to haul the machine to the roof, I hope?
How will you know when the pipe is clean?

Excuse me: your plumber was definitely giving you wrong advice with the toilets. Follow Tom's advice and you should be fine.

You have a problern already. The reason I had you count the pipes coming out of your roof was to determine if your vents were revented back nin your attic to just one roof vent. You should see a vent for each bathroom ,one for the kitchen and another for your washer. At least 4 pipes coming out oif the roof. This takes it out of the homewners ability to snake the vents as they will have to be cut open individually, snaked out and reconnected in the attic. And yes! The sewer machine will have to be next to the pipe that you're snaking. Unless Dad's real handy it's time to call in outside help. Are you quite sure there's only one pipe? Regards, Tom

Hi Tom,
After many weeks of waiting, I was finally able to find the time to rent the machine. My dad is on the roof as I write this. How will we know when the "job" is done? Since the toilets aren't a constant issue it's hard to tell if any progress is being made... not like we can see a clog being busted and the water receding.
If any other plumbers are online right now who can answer this, it would be greatly appreciated.

Sorry, Tom will not be available for few days...

Take snake it with proper size snake ( 3/4" x 50' long ) and proper size knife-attachment ( 3" knife for 3" pipe / 4" knife for 4" pipe ). Go full lentgth of the snake. Repeat several times. Take garden hose, put it into point of entry and let it run full blast for 10 minutes. That should do...

The issue with your toilets could be also localized and within the bowl. In this case, you could use 5' auger to snake it through the toilet bowl.

I don't think Garbage Disposer has any effect on unblocking your drains.