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    sewerproblems's Avatar
    sewerproblems Posts: 4, Reputation: 1
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    #1

    Nov 1, 2010, 11:35 AM
    My downstairs toilet bubbles when washing machine drains.
    I have a 2 story townhome and been having problems with clogged toilets. It first started by bubbles and girggleing sounds every time I washed(washing machine is upstairs almost above bottom restroom) after some time of this bubbling the toilet overflows. I have called a plumber and they snaked everything out to the main taking off the toilet. 4 days later when we had a chance to put back the toilet I wash some clothes and the bubbles are there!! They did not go away how can I fix this problem? Please help!!
    smoothy's Avatar
    smoothy Posts: 25,490, Reputation: 2853
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    #2

    Nov 1, 2010, 11:57 AM

    How many feet did they snake? Was it all the way to the street or just to the main drain under the slab. The blockage at this point appears to be betweent he basement and the street sewer line.
    speedball1's Avatar
    speedball1 Posts: 29,301, Reputation: 1939
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    #3

    Nov 1, 2010, 12:03 PM

    Sounds like the plumber didn't clear everything. A bubble is caused by the discharge hitting a partial clog and bouncing back sending a bubble of sewer gas ahead of it and then it simply drains away.
    Somewhere in that line is something, while it's not completely blocking the drain is blocking it enough to hinder the flow. Call him back to complete the job. Good luck, Tom
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    sewerproblems Posts: 4, Reputation: 1
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    #4

    Nov 1, 2010, 12:19 PM
    They drained from the bottom toilet to the main sewer then from the main to the street.The snake was 75' long.

    Also when the machine drains like I said the bubbles but it also sucks up the water that is in the toilet and later it comes back up, this is done sometimes.
    smoothy's Avatar
    smoothy Posts: 25,490, Reputation: 2853
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    #5

    Nov 1, 2010, 12:26 PM
    Quote Originally Posted by sewerproblems View Post
    Also when the machine drains like I said the bubbles but it also sucks up the water that is in the toilet and later it comes back up, this is done sometimes.
    That part sounds like a vent stack blockage... instead of drawing air from the roof its finding it easier to suck water out of the toilet to relieve the vacuum (suction) of the draining process. And the path of least resistance SHOULD be the vent stack.
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    sewerproblems Posts: 4, Reputation: 1
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    #6

    Nov 1, 2010, 01:12 PM
    Thank you so much for your quick response but one more thing does that mean I need to clean the vents or add more vents to the place?
    smoothy's Avatar
    smoothy Posts: 25,490, Reputation: 2853
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    #7

    Nov 1, 2010, 03:30 PM

    I'd clean the vents... worst that can happen is no change.

    I assume you haven't had major plumbing work done recently... so there is no real reason to believe its improperly vented. It did work well until recently I assume... this doesn't date to the time of original occupancy (since new).
    speedball1's Avatar
    speedball1 Posts: 29,301, Reputation: 1939
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    #8

    Nov 1, 2010, 04:46 PM

    Since Smoothy brought it up. A bubble indicates a partial blockage,(as I've already explained.
    However a gurgle indicates a vent problem.
    it also sucks up the water that is in the toilet
    You've just told me that you have two problems and your plumber only addressed one of them. Have the plumber snake the lavatory roof vent of the toilet that's losing water. Good luck, Tom
    sewerproblems's Avatar
    sewerproblems Posts: 4, Reputation: 1
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    #9

    Nov 2, 2010, 09:46 AM
    I wish Id know how to put up a video so it can be easier for all of you to know the exact problem. So does the plumber use the same snake that he uses to drain the toilet or is it a different one? I have been having this problem for about 6-7 months but every other month or every 3 months I do not get what else the problem could be. I think that today they are going to clean the vents to see if that works out fine.
    smoothy's Avatar
    smoothy Posts: 25,490, Reputation: 2853
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    #10

    Nov 2, 2010, 10:26 AM

    Any trees or certain shrubs between the house and sewer at the street?

    THere is actually a few possibilities that come to mine... collapsing terra-cotta pipes, Tree root infiltration... solid objects flushed by children at some point in the past. Paper towles, or Tissues being flushed over a period? Sure there are other possibilities and I was hitting on only a few.

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