Air belch from water jet - DIY Chatroom

dusty_trails · 11-05-2009, 12:22 AM

I have a 35 year old toilet that has developed a problem in the water jet that pushes the waste into and over the U trap. Every flush, there is a large bubble of air that 'burps' before water starts flowing with any force from the low nozzle that pushes stuff toward the back of the toilet. this tends to bubble solids up and makes for a very weak flush. We sometimes have to flush twice or three times to get waste and paper to drain out of toilet bowl. Where does the air enter? How do I fix it? i shall try sore sort of acid wash to disolve calcium, but i don't think that will cure belch.

faucetman886 · 11-05-2009, 08:38 AM

This sounds like a clogged vent to me. Your toilet is starving for air to allow the flush to flow out. Think of a straw in a glass of water, if you hold your finger on top of a filled straw the water wont flow out. A stopped up vent does the same so the toilet can only drain with what small amount of air can get through the vent or in some cases will suck water out of the closest "p" trap in a sink or tub and breathe through that which causes a gurgling sound to come from the sink.
Vents are generally cleaned out by locating where they emerge through your roof and by augering down to free the clog or sometimes by using high pressure water from a garden hose.

dusty_trails · 11-05-2009, 11:22 PM

Does the vent enter the pipe directly? I don't think the bathroom itself lacks for ventillation. I can open the bathroom directly to the outside. It was designed to be accessable from the pool.
thanx for any education you can impart.

faucetman886 · 11-05-2009, 11:39 PM

a vent is part of the plumbing installation and would be a verticle pipe in the wall extending up from the main drain line and out through the roof. you might be better served to call a plumber for help.