Toilet Problem

Mike Finley

I have a customer who we haven't started their project yet. During the estimate she showed me her toilet in the basement bathroom and wondered if she should replace it. She said it gurgles and bubbles when the vanity sink is run and sometimes overflows when the washer runs.

I didn't see how this could be fixed by replacing the toilet and said it sounds to me like a vent problem or more likely a drain line problem. Since then she has had the drain line professionally snaked out but the problem hasn't gone away, she again is asking about adding the toilet to the job to change it out.

I told her we could do it as long as she wants a new toilet, however I still don't think replacing the toilet is going to fix her problem.

What would be the next thing for her to do?

Chris Johnson

When you get the answer, let me know. I have a simalar problem with my master toilet, only happens though when the kids release 75 gallons of water out of the tub which is on the second floor right above it. I figured it is a venting issue.

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Chris

Tom M

I would have to go with the vent problem. It could be a hive or some kind of nest dropped down the pipe or too many fixtures on an under sized drain.

The plumber

It's not the toilet. It's rare to have a vent clogged. If the vent was improperly installed she would have always had a problem so I would ask when it started. My first thought was mainline blockage, but if the person that cleaned the drain knew what they were doing that should not be it unless the line has a real bad belly. Don't rule it out though. I've seen dozens of people cable the wrong direction from the wrong spots and accomplish nothing.

What I would do first is pull the toilet and run a camera down the main and check for a blockage, then I would run it down the vent. That's the only way to know for sure. Make sure it's a licensed plumber and not an inexperienced drain cleaner behind the camera. He'll be able to tell you if it's plumbed correctly

Ron The Plumber

Anyway to see the plumbing from below? If so you can find out a lot by it alone.

Mike Finley

No, it's a basement with a slab. The camera idea sounds like a good one.