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    wtbowman's Avatar
    wtbowman Posts: 1, Reputation: 1
    New Member
     
    #1

    Aug 14, 2007, 08:08 PM
    2 story house dwn stairs toilets don't flush solids
    I have a 2 story house with 3 bathrooms built in 76... 2 days ago the 2 toilets downstairs started to act up and won't complete flush cycle 7 out of 10 times... solids remain... I have a 50' auger and have snaked the line from access outside kitchen wall and also from back center of house. Nothing seems to help. I poor bucket of water in bowl and toilets drain correctly. I do not have a tree near my sewage lines. The kitchen sink is now starting to drain very slowly also.

    1.) How do I locate the vents that are referred to so often?

    2.) Is there a chemical/cleaner that can be used other that the useless liquid draino type products?

    3.) Is the kitchen sink just a coincidence?
    speedball1's Avatar
    speedball1 Posts: 29,301, Reputation: 1939
    Eternal Plumber
     
    #2

    Aug 15, 2007, 06:51 AM
    The vents referred to are the lavatory vents from the bathroom group of fixtures. That's the one we send a snake down to clear the lav and tub branch and out into the main. However, I have one that most repair plumbers miss.. Look down at the bottom of the bowl. If there is a small hole, then that is a jet that starts the syphon action. If it's clogged the water will just swirl around and slowly go down leaving solids behind. Take your finger,(UGH! ) and run it around the inside of the opening. Over the years minerals build up and cut down on the syphon (flush) action. If it is rough or you feel build up, take a table knife and put a bend in it to get around the curve in the bowl and chip and scrap it clear. Next take a coathanger and clear out the holes around the rim. They start the swirling action. And last, check the water level in the tank. It should be 1/2" below the top of the over flow tube. And speaking of the overflow tube, Make sure the small 1/8" tube from the ballcock to the white overflow tube is connected so it discharges in it and that it's flowing when the ballcock fills. This is what raises the water level in the bowl. For a good solid flush they all have to work together. Hope this helps . Tom

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