Plumbing question

[Jayvn]

Ok..so the new house we moved into has an issue. The other night both toilets start bubbling... like making glug glug glug noises and giant bubbles are coming up..the sink starts to sputter up stuff and the bathtub is making gurgling noises. One of the neighbors said we may have an air escape type thing that's clogged..but I don't know wtf I'm looking for to check.. anyone have any clues or ideas? thought about plugging all the holes and plunging one or something. It's a well and septic system as far as I know

[4a6c1]

Sounds like it could be an expensive fix. There could be something wrong with your tank. Call a handy man. Dont mention the septic tank unless he asks. See if he can figure something else out that does not involve the tank.

[Goretawn]

May just have to throw some rid-x (sp) down there.

[Trouble]

The air escapes inside the house would lead to your roof. Maybe check to see if something built a nest on/in one. I don't know how the septic ones work though. Rid-X sounds like a plan too.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plumbing_drainage_venting

[ElvenFury]

If it's bubbling out of the toilet bowl, that's not good. I would think it would take a unhealthy amount of pressure to push those bubbles past the u-bend (which is specifically designed to stop gas from leaking out through your toilet).

I'm assuming that you're talking about the sink drains and not the faucet?

You can try that anit-gas stuff that you flush down, but it sounds worse than that. I'm guessing that you're going to end up calling a septic company to come in and look at your tank.

[ElvenFury]

If I can back it up here for a sec...

It's unclear from you post which part of your plumbing system is in jeopardy. It's either in incoming water (faucets, shower head, toilet TANKS), or the outgoing (drains and toilet bowls). If it's the outgoing, then it's going to be a septic issue, and if it's the incoming, then it's most likely going to be an issue with your well pump.

[Goretawn]

..... both toilets start bubbling... ... giant bubbles are coming up..the sink starts to sputter up stuff and the bathtub is making gurgling noises....

Sounds like outgoing to me. The air escape will be on your roof. Should be about a 5-6 inch pipe sticking up about a foot high. If it doesn't have a bird resistant cover, you could have a nest that clogged it. I would also throw in the Rid-X for good measure (if you are sure it is a septic/well system). You never know when it was last done if it was not disclosed when you bought it. If it continues, call in a pro.

Careful next time you take a dump, you might get a shit water enema.

[ElvenFury]

Sounds like outgoing to me.

That's what I originally assumed, but then I started to wonder. :-\

[Ker_Thwap]

Sounds like a clogged vent stack to me.

[Bhuryn]

I'll second what everyone else has said.

I almost garantee you that you have a clogged vent.

Don't call a plumbing or septic company until you're sure your vent is clear.

You can probably fix this problem with a $15 dollar plumbing snake.

Get a flashlight and look down the vent, 99.9999% of the time they're a straight pipe. If you can see a clog clear it with the snake.

[Parkbandit]

I'll second what everyone else has said.

I almost garantee you that you have a clogged vent.

Don't call a plumbing or septic company until you're sure your vent is clear.

You can probably fix this problem with a $15 dollar plumbing snake.

Get a flashlight and look down the vent, 99.9999% of the time they're a straight pipe. If you can see a clog clear it with the snake.

This.

There is usually a lead pipe that is bent on the top of the vent pipe that stops critters from going down into the pipe... just straighten it out and peek down the pipe.

[Cephalopod]

I saw the thread title, and just assumed this was going to be a followup on that hot pepper thread...

[Jayvn]

nawp, diff plumbing this time... I bet those habaneros would clear out a clogged toilet though.

[diethx]

Good thing you just rent, in case it's an expensive fix.