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    rookiemistake's Avatar
    rookiemistake Posts: 3, Reputation: 1
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    #1

    Mar 19, 2010, 06:35 AM
    Chuggin and gurgaling in water lines
    I have two problems, 1) a chuggin or gurgaling sound coming from sinks and toilets in the house. 2) just recently we've had a lot of rain and now we have a strong odor from the upstairs bathroom sink and tub? Please help, thanks robert
    frazwood's Avatar
    frazwood Posts: 129, Reputation: 2
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    #2

    Mar 19, 2010, 08:07 AM

    I'm just guessing here (that is, wait for one of the experts to chime in -- they're great)... but it sounds like you are having problems with the vent in your plumbing system. If the vent is clogged (and I don't know how it would have gotten clogged), then your sinks/tubs won't drain well (they'll chug and gurgle).

    The other thing is that if your vent is clogged... sewer gasses could go into the house instead of out the vent (though I don't know how the odors would get past the various P-traps... ).
    speedball1's Avatar
    speedball1 Posts: 29,301, Reputation: 1939
    Eternal Plumber
    		  
    #3

    Mar 19, 2010, 05:42 PM

    I 1) a chuggin or gurgaling sound coming from sinks and toilets in the house
    Frazwood nailed it with the vent.
    Gurgles indicate that your system's attempting to vent through a fixture trap.
    Snake from the lavatory roof vent.
    Put out enough snake to reach the base and 18 feet more.
    just recently we've had a lot of rain and now we have a strong odor from the upstairs bathroom sink and tub
    Are you on city sewer or a septic tank? Let me know, Tom
    rookiemistake's Avatar
    rookiemistake Posts: 3, Reputation: 1
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    #4

    Mar 20, 2010, 04:47 AM

    We are on city sewer and the smell is getting worse, yet the gurgaling has been around for a long time, months... so you think just snaking it would be enough, not replacing the trap?
    speedball1's Avatar
    speedball1 Posts: 29,301, Reputation: 1939
    Eternal Plumber
    		  
    #5

    Mar 20, 2010, 06:26 AM

    It'snot the trap. What you hear is aqir being pulled through water seal in the trap because the vent's blocked. Snake the lavatory roof vent.
    the smell is getting worse,
    1. Most bad smells in tubs, lavatories and showers are caused by rotting hair matted with grease from the soap and from rotting food in kitchen disposals Try this for the smell. Tonight before bedtime Take a 1/2 gallon of bleach and pour it down the drain and let set over night. Next morning ,(and this is important) flush out the drain with two large pans of boiling water to loosen the grease and flush the mess out. The bleach will make the hair slippery and began to dissolve it and the hot water will melt the grease and flush the mess away.
    . This should make your drains smell better. With all chemicals used in drain cleaning proper ventilation should be observed. Good luck, Tom
    rookiemistake's Avatar
    rookiemistake Posts: 3, Reputation: 1
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    #6

    Mar 22, 2010, 05:10 AM
    :)
    Quote Originally Posted by speedball1 View Post
    It'snot the trap. What you hear is aqir being pulled through water seal in the trap because the vent's blocked. Snake the lavatory roof vent.

    1. Most bad smells in tubs, lavatories and showers are caused by rotting hair matted with grease from the soap and from rotting food in kitchen disposals Try this for the smell. Tonight before bedtime Take a 1/2 gallon of bleach and pour it down the drain and let set over night. Next morning ,(and this is important) flush out the drain with two large pans of boiling water to loosen the grease and flush the mess out. The bleach will make the hair slippery and began to dissolve it and the hot water will melt the grease and flush the mess away.
    . This should make your drains smell better. With all chemicals used in drain cleaning proper ventilation should be observed. Good luck, Tom
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