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beth1954_gw

everything plugged in one bathroom--HELP!

19 years ago

I posted this last night, but I don't see it on the list. It might be because of the technical problems??

I have a small bathroom where everything is completely plugged up. This has happened several times. Each time we call out a plumber and he plunges and runs the tape through (with and without the cutter) and eventually it all goes down. Usually a few days after he leaves, it starts up again. The usual problem is that the toilet gets plugged up....then I try to plunge it, and water shoots up out of the sink. Eventually it also comes up in the tub. The plumber said he thinks there might be an air lock?? He said he would have to go through our floor (we live in a mobile home) to get it fixed. We don't have that kind of money for a repair that big. Does anyone have any ideas on what it might be??

Comments (8)

  • 19 years ago

    I thought the big benefit of a mobile home was that you could get underneath the trailer itself? Why would he have to go THROUGH your floor?

    Unless you're not in a true "mobile" home, but are on a slab?

  • 19 years ago

    I meant that he said he would have to go through our floor from beneath....through the insulation and subfloor.....

  • 19 years ago

    Please help!!

  • 19 years ago

    It could possibly be air lock, but this would indicate a problem with the vent portion of the line. Ask him how exactly he proposes to cure the problem by removing the floor

    Any Idea how far he is running the snake?
    Where is he running the snake through (is he removing the toilet or using an outside cleanout)?
    Also any idea the size of the line? From your description it should be 3".

    Sorry I cant be of more help at the moment

    My last piece of advice: consult with a different plumber if problems continue

  • 19 years ago

    Thanks, Jason.....
    He said he ran the snake all the way to where it goes outside. Also, this last time he came he did remove the toilet. I do not know the size of the line....
    I thought the same thing--if it's an air lock and has to do with the vent, why would he tear my floor up???
    I have been thinking about (as you suggested) getting another plumber to take a look and see what he thinks.
    Thanks so much for your reply!! We are desperate!

  • 19 years ago

    2nd opinions will tell the tale of the situation you have.

    I personally turn down calls on mobile homes just because of their nature.

  • 19 years ago

    Get out of panic mode. The 3" line is clogging downstream from all the fixtures in that bath. Either it is not being snaked properly, it is not pitched properly for gravity draining, it has some feature which catches and holds debris, or improper materials are being put into the drain system. One, or more, of those 4 is the problem. Accessing the pipes from below does not change or affect the flooring above at all. You will not see any of the work from inside your house. After the work is complete, it is important that the insulation and the cover be properly replaced. Failure to do so will invite freezing pipes, cold floors and critters such as mice and squirrels.

  • 19 years ago

    Thank you bus driver....we were kind of thinking along the same lines as you are. This mobile home has been in the same place for almost 10 yrs. Do you think that a problem could have developed in the "gravity draining?" We haven't had any problems with this until the last couple of months. It's all stopped up again I plunged it...water shot out of the sink....plunged it some more, dirty water is now up in my tub again...........GOOD GRIEF!