Plumbing Question

MrsBartolozzi

In the last week I have noticed that when the washing machine or dishwasher is on and draining I hear air bubbles bubbling up the loo. It's only bubbles, there's no unwelcome "backwash" but today I noticed that the level of the toilet water in the bowl was slightly (maybe 1 inch) lower than normal after a bubble episode (returned to mormal after a flush and remains normal depth).
I suspect this means there might be a blockage somewhere, but any idea where?
The washing m/c and dishwasher are plumbed into the kitchen which is through a wall from the bathroom (maybe 3m from toilet to kitchen sink) and the main drain out of the property is outside level with the bathroom (may mean that kitchen waste joins up with bathroom?). We are in a bungalow, so neither is upstairs.
I have no idea what's wrong, but would like some idea of where to look/what to do.


Thanks, MrsB.

Please ask questions if I've not explained things well or if what I've put is not enough information!

1984ReturnsForReal_2

Its the air pressure in the pipes sucking water out from the toilet like a straw.

It can happen for a number of reasons but mostly its due to poor installations or design.

You would need to tell people the set up of the pipes in order for someone to help.

By the way wind can do this also.

1984ReturnsForReal_2

& by the set up of the pipes I mean how they they drain.

IE large waste pipe coming from the back of toilet goes where & joins what & do the pipes emptying the washing machine & dishwasher & kitchen sink join the same vertical pipe? Do the washing machine & dishwasher join in under the kitchen sink before the sink trap?

Its how they connect which will be the answer. Or its been a bit windy where you live & you have only just noticed & only moved in recently etc

MrsBartolozzi

Thanks for your answer.
I think I've fixed it!! The waste outlets for the WM and DW fit into a spaghetti junction pipe thing (difficult to describe, a tube fitting with lots of pipe fitting holes not all of which are in use). Anyway one of the not-in -use holes is covered with a screw on cover and this cover had been unscrewed a couple of turns. I screwed it tight and the WM has just finished spinning with no bubbles heard so I think the air was getting in here and hopefully the problem is solved.
Do you think this might have been the cause?

ormus

could well be that. ive seen similar problems and similar fixes.
partially blocked gullys can give all sorts of weird problems like the above.

1984ReturnsForReal_2

MrsBartolozzi wrote: »

Do you think this might have been the cause?

No idea. Without seeing it I couldn't say.

1984ReturnsForReal_2

ormus wrote: »

partially blocked gullys can give all sorts of weird problems like the above.

To a toilet?

Canucklehead

Hi,

Just for the hell of it , lift the manhole lid outside and see what lurks.....


GSR.