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Author:
Rebecca1 (Non-US)
Every time my new toilet flushes, an air pocket comes up from the drain causing it to slow down during flush. It seems that air rises from the lower pipe where the water goes.
This only started when we had to shut the water off temporarily in the house during renovations. When we turned the water back on, this air bubble kept showing up when we flushed. What causes this and is it fixable?
Reb/ Homeowner who knows nothing about plumbing....
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Author:
packy (MA)
take a 5 gallon bucket of water and pour it into the toilet. you should be able to pour if fairly quickly. if this backs up you have a problem. post back with results.
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Author:
e-plumber (NY)
It could be as simple as a basic toilet clog or as complicated as a main sewer line problem, from here it's hard to tell for sure.
If only the toilet is showing signs of not draining right, I would lean towards an obstruction in the toilets' trapway.
If a toilet plunger doesn't help, a toilet auger may be needed if the problem is in fact inside of the toilet.
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e-plumber
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This slow drip will waste 7+ gallons of water per day.
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Author:
redwood (CT)
If you still get the air bubble with the 5 gal pail test there is a problem below the toilet in the piping.
If you don't the fix is probably as simple as taking a piece of coathanger wire and cleaning out all the ports under the rim of the toilet bowl. There is frequently a buildup of minerals and algae that occurrs in these ports. While the water was off it dried and became hard blocking the ports. With the ports open air in the water inlet area of the bowl is dispelled through the ports. With them blocked it is forced down to the siphon jet appearing to come out of the trapway. This blockage slows the incoming water and gives a weak flush.
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Author:
Rebecca1 (Non-US)
Hi, We did the 5 gallon test and the water went down fast with no problems and no air bubble, but when we checked the flush afterwards, the air bubble was back?
I also noticed that the water level is slightly lower in the bowl now than it was originally when the toilet was first installed a month ago. After turning off the water line temporarily, the water level never came back up to its original place when turned back on.Could this have something to do with it?
Rebecca
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Author:
redwood (CT)
Check that the tank water level is up to the full line if there is one or 5/8" below the top of the overflow tube. Also clean the ports under the rim of the bowl.
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Author:
Rebecca1 (Non-US)
The tank water level is completely up to the line where it should be and the toilet is a brand new installation so I cleaned and scrubbed it anyway but there is no residue or staining anywhere, not even in the tank as its sparkling clean.
Could the air bubble and lower water level in the bowl be due to a pipe leakage problem? How would I know for sure before digging up the ground under the house?
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Author:
redwood (CT)
Okay I'm thinking something else here. Try flushing the toilet repeatedly until you are seeing the problem then try the bucket flush. Are you on a sewer or a septic system?
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Author:
Rebecca1 (Non-US)
We are on city sewer system.
Flushing it repeatedly just keeps the bubble coming.. now it is turning into a lot of bubbles rising.
The water still does go down with the 5 gallons in a good speed.
My husband says that on the top of the main drain pipe under our house there appears to be crack about 3" long. Could air be going in there causing this? If so, why don't we see any water coming out if there is a leak? BTW thank you for all your advice so far.
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Author:
redwood (CT)
Okay I'm a little baffled. Usually air is either coming from the internal water passages in the bowl, from a clogged pipe filling with water, and, or a venting problem. The information we are getting is contradictory. You now have a crack in the drain pipe which would relieve the filling or venting so I'm baffled! In any case a cracked pipe is not good and I would say it might be time to call in professional help.
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Edited 1 times.
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Author:
Rebecca1 (Non-US)
We will have to have the vent checked to see if its that and have the pipe fixed to see if the problem goes away.
As long as nothing explodes or falls apart, I will be happy. LOL... Thanks for your help.
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Author:
redwood (CT)
The vent is the least likely cause!
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Author:
Wheelchair (IL)
Just what brand of toilet is this?
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Author:
jpplumbing (CT)
sounds like a venting problem to me also
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Author:
redwood (CT)
Sounds like the sewer line might have a partial clog or a sag in it.
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Author:
Rebecca1 (Non-US)
Hi, Its American Standard brand toilet, brand new.
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Author:
Rebecca1 (Non-US)
What do you mean by "partial dog" or "sag" in it?
Does that mean that the pipes connected to the toilet are not properly installed?
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Author:
redwood (CT)
Partial clog is just that the line may be partially blocked. The bubbles come from the line filling with water.
A sag is where the line has a section that is low so that the is water puddled in the line.
We could go on for weeks over the internet as to what is going on but it all boils down to you probably need someone there that can see for themselves what is happening. At the least they can look at the crack pipe you have.
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Author:
Rebecca1 (Non-US)
Thanks for all your advice. I appreciate it very much. We will have someone come in and inspect it and I will let you know the outcome.
Rebecca
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Author:
Rebecca1 (Non-US)
Okay, I called the contractor in to see what could be the problem and he found that the little hose that is supposed to attach and pour water into the larger hose in the tank was displaced (is this called a siphon hose that was mentioned earlier?) It was actually running water along the outer edges of my tank.
American Standard toilet has only one tiny clip to hold that hose in place (looks like a paper clip)..
YOu would think they'd use something more permanent?
Well.. mission accomplished, the bubbles are almost gone... now on to the 3" crack in the pipe in the basement. Pipe is 7" diameter so how would a pro plumber fix that?
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Author:
redwood (CT)
What is it made of? I'm guessing its looking like a dark reddish brown color to be that kind of diameter. Maybe like so kind of ceramic material?
Did you ask the plumber about it while he was there?
This internet guessing is a little tough.
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Edited 1 times.
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Author:
Rebecca1 (Non-US)
Yes brownish color. Don't know what its made of.. they said to put rubber seal around it? with some brackets to hold it for now. They never said anything else.
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Author:
redwood (CT)
Can you post a picture of the cracked area showing the surrounding pipe and post it on photobucket.com? Back to where all the drains come into it.
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Author:
Rebecca1 (Non-US)
My husband says he believes the pipe to be cast-iron but he's not exactly sure.
I guess I could ask him to take a couple of shots of it next time he goes down there. We'll post it on the site, but it may take a day or two as we're experiencing a lot of rain here and the basement area, (a dug out basement) has some issues with water so he can't crawl through it at the moment.
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