Bubbles in all the toilets when water drains from washer or someone is taking a showe

**marbeta** · 01-19-2013, 06:05 AM

HELP!!!!!
eVERY TIME THE WASHER DRAINS WATER OR SOMEONE IS TAKING A SHOWER WE HAVE BUBBLES COMING FROM THE TOILETS (3) .
wE SNAKE TO LINES BUT WE STILL HAVE THE PROBLEM. WE CLEAN THE SEPTIC TANK MAYBE 1 1/2 AGO. DON'T THINK IS THAT. WHEN WE OPEN THE TANK THERE WAS WATER ON BOTH SIDES OF THE TANK (IS THAT NORMAL?) pLEASE HELP!!!!!!

**LLigetfa** · 01-19-2013, 06:38 AM

Both sides of the septic tank should have a liquid level that is no higher than the bottom of the inlet.

hj · 01-19-2013, 07:02 AM

quote; Both sides of the septic tank should have a liquid level that is no higher than the top of the inlet

It is supposed to at the BOTTOM of the OUTLET, which is normally 4" below the inlet. While there is supposed to be water in both sides of the tank, the question is how much water is there. How high the water is determines whether that is causing your problem or not. IF the water is "at the top of the inlet", or higher, the system is probably "flooded" because of wet weather and thus when you add water to it it takes a while to "stabilize" which is why it forces trapped air out of the toilet. If you had a "real stoppage" something would probably overflow.

**LLigetfa** · 01-19-2013, 07:17 AM

Typo. Correct, no higher than the bottom of the inlet. The pipe leading to the inlet should be empty.

hj · 01-19-2013, 07:35 AM

Actually, it should be a the bottom of the outlet which is usually 4" below the inlet. If it is at the bottom of the inlet, then the outlet is either plugged or flooded.

**LLigetfa** · 01-19-2013, 07:48 AM

Originally Posted by hj

Actually, it should be a the bottom of the outlet which is usually 4" below the inlet. If it is at the bottom of the inlet, then the outlet is either plugged or flooded.

Yes, that is the ideal but there could be times when the field may be saturated due to heavy rainfall or snow melt.

For the purpose of troubleshooting the bubbles in the toilet, as long as the septic tank level is below the inlet, the house plumbing would be unaffected. In other words, the plumbing in the house cannot tell the difference between the septic tank level being at the top or bottom of the outlet, only the inlet.