We have noticed water waving and moving in the toilet when it is not in use? We have a septic system. We recently pumped the septic in the last two yrs. There is only two of us that use the system. It has been way below zero every night for the past few days. We did notice it does flush a little slower. Any ideas why this is happening?? Thanks

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Originally Posted by pjsangel

We have noticed water waving and moving in the toilet when it is not in use?? We have a septic system. We recently pumped the septic in the last two yrs. There is only two of us that use the system. It has been way below zero every night for the past few days. We did notice it does flush a little slower. Any ideas why this is happening??? Thanks

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When you mean slow, is it more delayed and then flushes as normally would?

Water moving in the bowl when not in use is normally a sign that water is leaking into the bowl. One way to check this (now don't the professonals laugh) but take some food color and put in the tank, wait and if the food color starts appearing in the bowl without flushing, there is a bad "flapper" seal and water is going out of the tank and into the bowl.

And of course is the septic is filling up and backing up, your drain lines are bad, since while of coruse the tank always fills to a level to the drain to the drain fields itwould not be backing up if the drain fields were working properly.

And a note if the tank is losing some of the water, when you did flush, there would not always be full and not allowing a good flush.

But this is just a idea without looking at it.

Hi Fr_Chuck, I kind of thought that the ripple was called a Moses effect.;) But you have probably given the best sleuth answer to the mystery. I just hope they are not using blue toilet deoderant cleaner already. :D nm

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Originally Posted by nmwirez

When you mean slow, is it more delayed and then flushes as normally would?

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It seems to flush slower through the entire process. Not much though. The water in the standing toilet is waving back and forth when you go to use the toilet. No bubbles either.

Another explanation might be the waves in your bowl are caused by wind blowing over the roof vents setting up a vacume. Fr Chucks answer," One way to check this (now don't the professonals laugh) but take some food color and put in the tank, wait and if the food color starts appearing in the bowl without flushing, there is a bad "flapper" seal and water is going out of the tank and into the bowl." Doesn't have me laughing. Put the froode coloring in the tank at bedtime and check the bowl for color in the morning. If there's color in the bowl change the flapper. If not then wind is the problem. Good luck, Tom

We also think it may be the wind. My question to you is - Can we install an elbow on the straight pipe on the roof vent? Thanks

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Originally Posted by pjsangel

We also think it may be the wind. My question to you is - Can we install an elbow on the straight pipe on the roof vent? Thanks

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You could but a better way would be to install a vent cap,(see image) A elbo would work just dandy until the wind reversed. Then it would act as a air scoop. Regards, Tom