Expert: speedball1 - 1/11/2005

Question
When We are taking a shower after a few minutes there's a large gurgling in the toilet - if we use the toilet and flush sounds like it's venting in the shower -  I think we have a vent problem?

I've treated line for roots, and we've put drain cleaner down the toilet and the shower/tub drain.  Problem is this is still happening, and now pipes are "leaking" (small leak/water) in basement -  

We live in a cold area and my husband tried to clear the air vent of ice - ice broke off and slid down the vent -  

Is this a vent problem or a problem with the toilet seal?
What do we do now?

Answer
Hi Carrie,

Let me explain about vents. The best example I can give in take a straw and place in a glass of water. Now put your thumb over the straw and pull it out of the water. Is it full of water? Now take your thumb off. You have just vented that straw. When you pull a plug or flush a toilet the water going down the pipe sets up a suction. This has to be relieved by outside air. Hence a pipe through your roof. If the vent is blocked by a birds nest, dead critter, or ice as you have stated, the water will pull suction through the nearest trap and you will hear a gurgle. It may be a fixture trap or the toilet may talk to you but you will hear it someplace. While it is possible for the suction to pull enough water out of a trap to have sewer gas escape but it's more likely a smell will come from decaying food, grease or hair. But why take chances? Sewer gas is hazardous to your health and the methane content makes sewer gas explosive.  Shove a hose down that vent or pour boiling water down and it and melt the ice that's blocking its function.  Hope this helps and thank you for rating my reply.  Tom