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Toilet issues

frankwhitely | Posted in General Discussion on January 7, 2009 07:54am

Hey Folks,

I hope my question ends up in the right folder… I have a bubble of air in my toilet. When I flush, there seems to be a bit of air trapped somewhere and spits a bit upon pulling the handle. Any ideas on how to fix it?

Frank

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Replies

  1. wallyo | Jan 07, 2009 07:57pm | #1

    What type of toilet, is this a new one or one that has been there for years. Could be a slight clog if it is an old one that has been there.

    Wallyo

    1. frankwhitely | Jan 07, 2009 08:20pm | #2

      Yeah, I took it up a while back to tile the floor. Before that it was there for 20 years or so...

      1. wallyo | Jan 07, 2009 08:25pm | #3

        If it is the same one reinstalled and is burping on flushing. something has changed. LIke I said a slight clog making an air pocket. or incorrect wax ring install, the ring is not in contact with the base and flange causing air to be sucked in on flushing. It has to go some where. Or on that note a clogged vent pipe.Wallyo

  2. cameraman | Jan 07, 2009 08:28pm | #4

    I am not the plumber, but the plumbers son.....clog somewhere causing improper venting is my bet!!

  3. DanH | Jan 07, 2009 08:28pm | #5

    Depends on where the air is coming from. Most likely it's coming out of one of the jets below the waterline, early in the flush, as water from the tank rushes into the bowl. Not much you can do about that.

    Occasionally you'll get bubbling when the drain pipe is partially clogged or the vent is clogged. This will cause bubbling back out of the drain opening, late in the cycle.

    The mark of the immature man is that he wants to die nobly for a cause, while the mark of a mature man is that he wants to live humbly for one. --Wilhelm Stekel
    1. frankwhitely | Jan 07, 2009 09:27pm | #6

      The air comes right away upon flushing, as if there's a bit of air being pushed through by the tank flow. Maybe taking the tank off and cleaning it up a bit would help?

      1. DanH | Jan 07, 2009 09:35pm | #7

        It may be that the jets around the inside of the rim are clogged with hard water deposits. Inspect them with a mirror. They can be cleared by pouring acid through the flush valve opening in the tank.
        The mark of the immature man is that he wants to die nobly for a cause, while the mark of a mature man is that he wants to live humbly for one. --Wilhelm Stekel

        1. Shacko | Jan 07, 2009 10:57pm | #8

          NO ACID IN THE PLUMBING SYSTEM!!

          1. DanH | Jan 07, 2009 10:59pm | #9

            Check the pH of your pee.
            The mark of the immature man is that he wants to die nobly for a cause, while the mark of a mature man is that he wants to live humbly for one. --Wilhelm Stekel

            Edited 1/7/2009 3:02 pm by DanH

          2. Shacko | Jan 08, 2009 08:38pm | #11

            Are you peeing in your flush valve?!!. LOL............ "If all else fails, read the directions".............

          3. DanH | Jan 08, 2009 09:25pm | #12

            Whatever it takes.
            The mark of the immature man is that he wants to die nobly for a cause, while the mark of a mature man is that he wants to live humbly for one. --Wilhelm Stekel

  4. woodway | Jan 08, 2009 02:51am | #10

    Camaraman has it right on!!! You've got a plugged or improperly vented toilet. If you live in the colder areas of the US it's not uncommon for the moist air rising up through the toilet vent(any vent really) to freeze in layers inside the last few inches of the vent above the roof line. If it keeps up long enough, the vent eventually forms an ice plug and you lose proper venting. Snow plugging the vent might also cause the same effect.

  5. 802Mike | Jan 09, 2009 12:28am | #13

    Most likely it's air being pushed out of the jet hole below the water line, it's normal.

    If it was a clog the toilet would flush sluggishly. On really cold days a vent pipe will frost closed where it exits the roof. This will also cause the toilet to flush sluggishly. If the vent is  closed AND there is a clog in the drian, when another fixture is used air bubbles will be forced up through the toilet. That actually happened to me once, I was in the shower and heard the toilet burping. I opened the door and saw big bubbles coming up in the bowl. The next day I had to chop through frozen ground to expose the septic tank inlet and found the problem. The baffle was built up with paper.

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