chipsndust
Platinum Member
Wasps, birds, leaves, mice, squirrels.
Lots of things can plug the roof vent.
Lots of things can plug the roof vent.
Another plumbing mystery.
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OP
N80
Super Member
Are any of those things likely to plug a roof vent? I've never seen it happen in any home I've ever lived in. But, we've got all four of those things including tall trees over the house. Could even be a pine cone I guess.
I suppose once the item is detected the next decision is whether or nor it needs to come up or go down.
I suppose once the item is detected the next decision is whether or nor it needs to come up or go down.
Pops15
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Are any of those things likely to plug a roof vent? I've never seen it happen in any home I've ever lived in. But, we've got all four of those things including tall trees over the house. Could even be a pine cone I guess.
I suppose once the item is detected the next decision is whether or nor it needs to come up or go down.
Highly unlikely, plus you said its pushing air out the shower. Forget about the vent. Your main sewer line is about plugged up. Ask me how I know.
OP
N80
Super Member
We've got 4 people living here. All toilets, sinks, tubs, showers and dishwasher draining fine. And the main sewer line is probably only 20 feet long as the septic tank is right out the back door. I'd surely prefer a bird in the vent stack to a clogged main line so I hope that isn't what it is.
Egon
Epic Contributor
Have you looked into the septic tank?
MossRoad
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I found in my house (which we bought used and are therefore not responsible for the way it was constructed, modified, massacred, etc... ) that the straps holding the vent stack vertical through the wall and up,out the roof did not hold the vent stack for the bathroom and it slipped down 6" into the basement. That, in effect, made a trap at the bottom of the vent where water would gather. In the winter, that water froze and when we flushed the toilet, the bathtub drain would gurgle. That's how I knew something was wrong. So I followed the drain pipes in the basement and found the sagging vent stack, which is supposed to be higher than anything else in the line. I made two brackets on the corresponding joists and ran a 2x4 under the sagging vent stack. Then I used threaded rods with nuts and large washers through the brackets and 2x4 and started jacking it up a few turns at a time until I got it at the proper level. That stopped the gurgling in the bathtub. Now I just have to permanently fasten that 2x4 to the joists and remove those threaded rods that I keep bonking my head on! :laughing:
) that the straps holding the vent stack vertical through the wall and up,out the roof did not hold the vent stack for the bathroom and it slipped down 6" into the basement. That, in effect, made a trap at the bottom of the vent where water would gather. In the winter, that water froze and when we flushed the toilet, the bathtub drain would gurgle. That's how I knew something was wrong. So I followed the drain pipes in the basement and found the sagging vent stack, which is supposed to be higher than anything else in the line. I made two brackets on the corresponding joists and ran a 2x4 under the sagging vent stack. Then I used threaded rods with nuts and large washers through the brackets and 2x4 and started jacking it up a few turns at a time until I got it at the proper level. That stopped the gurgling in the bathtub. Now I just have to permanently fasten that 2x4 to the joists and remove those threaded rods that I keep bonking my head on! :laughing:Pops15
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I had the exact same gurgling noise and air coming out the tub drain. Everything appeared to be draining fine. My first thought was a problem with the vent. I and a garden hose down the vent and flushed it out really well. The gurgling persisted. The gurgling got worse over the next few days. I knew it wasn't the vent so I pulled the inlet cover off the septic and had my wife flush a bunch of toilet paper.......I saw water entering the tank but no paper. We repeated the test with the same results. I knew the main sewer line was partially plugged. Water could still get through but we had 12+ feet that was full of paper and solids. I just backfed the garden hose in the sewer to loosen the blockage and drained a tub full of hot water to flush it out. Had this problem 3 times in 29 years so your problem sounds very familiar.
OP
N80
Super Member
Hmmm. Sounds like I need to make a trip under the house. I sure hope there is an access stub to the the main sewage line.
I still wonder why the shower in the kids bathroom doesn't gurgle when their toilet is flushed?
I still wonder why the shower in the kids bathroom doesn't gurgle when their toilet is flushed?
