Expert: speedball1 - 11/30/2005

Question
The bldg. is 3 stories and each level is a seperate flat. Two days ago there was a blockage in the sewer line. I snaked it from the rear of the bldg, but could not get to the sewer trap which is about 100 ft.  I was able to get about 80 ft. and could go no further.  I called someone else the following day and he started at the front (with a larger snake) and was able to clear the line. plenty of water was flushed through the lines, but I still have a gurgling sound occasionally. I went to the first floor and no overflow (thank God).The day of the blockage there was sludge everywhere.  Do I still have a problem? any help would be greatly appreciated.

Answer
Good morning Kevin,
"Bubbles" and "gurgles".  They both are indicters of something happening in your drainage system.
A "bubble" indicates a clogged line while a "gurgle" indicates a blocked vent. let me explain.  When you flush the discharge drains down the pipe untill it hits a partial clog.  Then it rebounds back sending a "bubble" of air ahead of it.   When you flush a toilet or drain a bathtub a suction is created by the water rushing down the pipe.  This suction is relieved by a open pipe that runs to the outside called a vent.  When a vent's stopped up the suction has to relieve itself somwhere, in this case your toilet.  The noise you hear is the air being pulled through the trap by suction, (gurgle).  
As long as the gurgle doesn't occur every time you flush or drain I wouldn't be too concerned. If it becomes worse I would snake out the vent that services the toilet that makes the noise.
Hope this helps and thank you for rating my reply.  Tom