Toilet Gets Sucked Dry

[Peter Dillon]

Whenever one of the kids takes a bath upstairs (either upstairs tub), draining the bathtub causes the toilet on the main level to get sucked dry. You can see/hear air getting sucked into the bowl. Also happens when washing machine on main level drains. Normal flow of sinks, showers, dishwasher, etc., has no effect. Toilet flushes OK. Sounds like a vent problem, but what would cause a vent to stop venting?

Also having a problem with multiple washing machine loads (on laundry day) causing water to be forced out of the main vent on the front of the house. Is this related to the toilet problem or coincidental?

I’m not sure whether to call a plumber, Roto-Rooter, or a cesspool guy.

FYI, we have 2 cesspools (NOT septic tanks) that the main line drains into. Cesspools are the norm here due to very sandy soil and good drainage.

» This message has been edited by Don 411 on 14 February 2005

» This message has been edited by Don 411 on 14 February 2005

[Retired plbg1Participant]

Sounds like you might have a stoppage, it might have choked up the vents are the vents were put in inproper, might have cable run in sewer and down the stack, it depends on how your plbg. was installed, its hard to say which way to go but you have to start somewhere. When your toilet is syphoned by the shower shows that vent is not working. Let me know.

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Art retired plbg

[Don 411Participant]

Art, thanks for the info. House is 30 yrs old, have lived here 10 yrs, everything worked fine until about 6 mos ago, so am pretty sure plumbing was installed OK.

Have 2 stacks. Wasn’t sure whether to cable the main drain or stack(s) first. Know I need professional assistance on this, but was hoping to narrow it down so I don’t spend $$ on process of elimination.

Do you think sucking toilet and main vent discharge are separate or related problems?

Where would you start if it was you?

Don

» This message has been edited by Don 411 on 15 February 2005

[Retired plbg1Participant]

If you are talking about the vent in front yard backing up when washer is empyed then you have a partial stoppge beyound the yard vent. I would have line cabled from vent to lagoon and see what happens then and go from there, kind of sounds like when kids take shower the pipe fills up with water and all of sudden releases and syphons out bowl hard to say when not there just thinking. Let me know. Still sounds like lack of vent.

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Art retired plbg

[Don 411Participant]

Thanks again Art…I’m calling Roto-Rooter today to have that done, and I’ll post back results.

Don

[Don 411Participant]

Art, Update on the situation: Problem was the cesspools were both full. Water backing up into the drain line would cause overflow out of the main vent, and when the line drained, would siphon the first floor half bath dry.

had the cesspools aerated and chemically treated, fixed both problems. no stoppage in the main drain at all.

Thanks for your help!!

[Author]

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