[tcoe57]

When tub is drained one or both toliets bubble. Tub drains slow while toilet bubbles. After the toilet stops bubbling tub goes down better. Still have to wait a few minutes to flush the toilet in bathroom being used for bath. After a few minutes the toilet will flush properly.. Used expansion bulb on water hose in 4 inch main pipe to check for clog before bathing tonight. Seemed to push out a clog but same problem remains. Used water hose only without bulb in three vent pipes today which caused both toliets to bubble and water to come up in shower and tub drains. Have not flushed kithen vent pipe. Kitchen sink is draining fine however today it caused the toliets to bubble also. Any information would be appreciated.

[kryostar]

Hello tcoe57,sounds like you are covering all the bases,based on the info it sounds like its upstream from 4in. Clean out, grab your flashlight and look down clean out and run hose with just a small jet nozzle up line,I say without ex.bulb cause it will fill into house,slide hose with a back and forth motion and keep looking down clean out and take note to water flowing down and hopefully seeing solids go by. Another access point would be to pull a toilet and run your drain king,expansion bulb down from there,you should be able to run it down far enough to where you can look down clean out and see your hose. Hit that other vent stack,clear your tub overflow vent,often overlooked.Let your bulb run for awhile,the vibration effect dislodges stubborn matter.You'll get it. Keep in mind if you have root intrusion you will probably need a power auger/snake to cut out the roots. More info like type of waste line IE. ABS,cast iron,clay,or orange burg,and if you have trees nearby could be helpful. Happy Hunting!

[speedball1]

Hi tcoed Welcome to The Plumbing Page. At AskMeHelpDesk.com. I don't have much faith in using a hose to clear a blockage. The only sure way to clear a blockage is with a sewer snake. Kryostar.had the right idea about the clean out. Before you can clear a blockage you must first localize it and you've been all over the place. Open the house clean out and flush the toilet at least three times. If the water backed up the blockage is between the clean out and the street. If very little water got past the cleanout then pull a toilet and snake from there. But rent a sewer machine and do the job right. Good luck, Tom

[tcoe57]

I am on septic tank out here in the country. I am not sure what the clean out is? I had new tail lines put on the septic a few years ago. The house was built in 1961 and had terra cotta which had pretty much collasped.. This was replaced with some type of PVC which goes across the property about 200 ft. Backhoe came in and did the work and it is about 4 - 5 ft deep best I could tell. As far as I can tell I don't have a problem with drainage.
Now... with that said I will have my husband try going in through the other vent and tub overflow. There is no problem with roots etc. in the lines. We have replaced some outgoing lines under the house but the 4 inch line going to the septic is cast iron. He has some type of pipe he pushes through the 4 inch to the septic wall and that helps for a while. It is always clogged or blocked when he works on it. OK guys this wife appreciates all the help you are giving us. I look forward to the replies!

[speedball1]

I am not sure what the clean out is?

A clean out is a threaded cover that you can remove and snake the sewer line. It's located on the line to the septic tank within 18" from the foundation. You may have to dig around a bit to locate it as dirt can build up over the years. Have hubby check the clean out,( Open the house clean out and flush the toilet at least three times. If the water backed up the blockage is between the clean out and the street. If very little water got past the cleanout then pull a toilet and snake from there. ) before you send him up on the roof. Let me know what he finds. Tom

[tcoe57]

Tom, There is not a clean out on this septic tank. This is a homemade septic tank which was installed when the house was built in 1961. I have personally looked at every aspect of this system over the years when working on it or when we had the additional lines added. I have watched them go into the septic 4 inch line at the septic tank and back into the line under the house. My husband goes under the house and through the 4 inch line to the septic wall every time pushing out something blocking the line. With this said we do not put any tissue down the lines. My washer is not on the septic either. Kitchen sink, both bathrooms are all that access the tank. And yes the land perks great! No outside back ups at all. Do you think the cast iron is snagging something or causing the problem? Hubby just flushed the tub overflow... It did not back up at the tub however it did stop the toilet from flushing and backed up in his shower which is on the end of the house opposite the septic tank. Something is stopping the water flow and pushing it back to the other end of the house lines. I have not sent him to the kitchen roof vent yet... waiting to hear back from you. Thanks!

[tcoe57]

OK... Used the snake in the main line. Everything cleared for the afternoon. Toliets flushed fine. Hubby took shower and it backed up then it broke free. I took bath and it backed up... toliet bubbled and stopped bubbling. Water in tub not draining. Hubby's shower standing in water that backed up after my bath in tub. Toliets not flushing. Checked kitchen vent today and it was clear. Checked tub overflow and it was also clear. Any ideas would be helpful.