Anyone know plumbing?

[GoldenRivet]

Just had a new experience in my rent house, and plumber is on his way tomorrow morning. but...

The 8 yr old was taking a bath, and laundry was going.

keep in mind there was no drainage from the bath at this point.

im sitting here on the computer and i hear bubbling, i go and look and the toilet in both bathrooms is bubbling in the bowl.

kid gets out of the bath and drains the tub.

now both toilets are really bubbling like a couple of percolators, she went in her room and a few moments later the bubbling slowed and seemed to stop

I noticed a wet spot in the carpet outside the bathroom and upon entering the bathroom i noticed about 2-3 mm of water spread through the whole bathroom. WTF? kid takes a messy ass bath!

as im toweling it up, i realize its coming from under the wall, and water is coming in about as fast as i can get it cleaned and i also take notice that there is still about 3 inches of water in the tub that is not draining down the open drain.

I yank the return air vent cover outside of the bathroom off and look in under the heater and from the slab drain for the AC unit water is bubbling out. It was warm water... it was tub water coming out of the slab drain!

My assumption is at this point that the drains are not venting and the water has no place to go except backwards.

the tub slowly drained down to empty, and the bit of a backup subsided, the water is cleaned up, but not sure really why that happened other than poor ventilation of the plumbing system.

My guess is that the plumber will show up and snake the drain vents and everything will be running smoothly again.

thoughts

1st.
If nothing was draining in your home and the bubbles were going on?
I'd suspect a blockage in the sewer line and air was being forced back through your system by others drainage. Ask around to find out if others near you had problems.

[GoldenRivet]

she said the washer may have been draining.

beats me.

hope its an easy fix

[Stealhead]

Could be the sewer line backing up assuming you are on a sewer or the septic tank might be full or a clog from the house to the tank or jacked up leech(which is really bad).

Yeah that sounds pretty bad if it is all the way to your A/C drain line.Many times in Florida A/C drain lines are separate from the main plumbing for just this reason.

Not an expert in plumbing but I know refrigeration and A/C for the most part.

Or it could be like you say crappy ventilation in the plumbing which means it will happen again and again and again.

Of course once when I a little kid I dunked a magazine in the tub until is was mush and then flushed it down the toilet that went over real well and my dad thought Vietnam was hard.

Maybe you got an alligator stuck up in the sewer line.

I'd still suspect a sewer line plugged up.
It depends on how the plumbing lines are all connected as gases should vent through things like sink drains and the stink pipe that goes out the roof of a dwelling. Did you notice any smells?

[nikimcbee]

You may want to go in the crawl space, but since you're Texas, proceed with caution. Watch out for critters.

[Stealhead]

Originally Posted by privateer

I'd still suspect a sewer line plugged up.
It depends on how the plumbing lines are all connected as gases should vent through things like sink drains and the stink pipe that goes out the roof of a dwelling. Did you notice any smells?

Yeah that is true unless those all somehow got blocked up which is pretty much impossible.

[GoldenRivet]

everything seems to be draining normally for the time being. But just in case, plumber will be here in the morning.

glad it was all clean water and not sewer!

[fireftr18]

Sounds to me like a major clog in the main drain line.

[Aktungbby]

Grey water(baths) and Black water (toilets) drainage issues all at the same time indicate Main sewer partial blockage from tree roots, washer lint buildup, feminine hygiene products, kitchen grease and excess disposal sludge etc.. Should be a tapout in the sewer to open or the plumber will put one in when he snakes it all out. As long as pure Stygian Black stuff(blow all ballast!) ain't backing into the tub, you're not in reeeeeal tuff shape...yet! It's still going, albeit slowly, in the right direction. Could also be a frozen/split bath drain in the wall from the tub depending on your recent Polar vortex temperature issues if leaking in the house wall/ flooring, though, as you indicated.. Have had all of the above myself...had to cut down the tree and replace the original 40 yr. Asbestos 30' sewage line too trench warfare if ever mingled with joy of home ownership!

[Wolferz]

My toilet is leaking under the tank. Not from the recent polar episode but, most likely from my stepson's heavy girlfriend sitting on it.
Her name is Heather when it should be Heifer.

[kranz]

I'm an expert plumber.
Your GF will confirm.

[Jimbuna]

Originally Posted by Wolferz

My toilet is leaking under the tank. Not from the recent polar episode but, most likely from my stepson's heavy girlfriend sitting on it.
Her name is Heather when it should be Heifer.

That's terrible!!


But I liked it

[Wolferz]

Originally Posted by Jimbuna

That's terrible!!


But I liked it

In my best Scottish brogue; "Aye! she's a fat'un she is"
And now I have to fix the toilet.

[GoldenRivet]

The city side of the main vent trap had a clog, contributing to the backup was the washer and bathtub draining simultaneously... if one or the other had been draining separately the clog might not have been discovered until things got worse.

City came and flushed the system, drained the bathtub 3 times... no problem.

Now the missus has her shower back, her laundry room back and i have my peace and my piece back