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Gurgling toilet

I'm on the ground floor of a three story apartment - from time to time, one of the my toilets makes a loud gurgling noise - sometimes, after the gurgling, the water runs down very slowly - sometimes, after the gurgling sounds, it flushes just fine - I've noticed no other drainage type problems in the other toilet or the laundry drain or the adjoining tub - what might be the problem - the apartment maintenance people don't seem concerned - I don't want the toilet to back up and overflow in my apartment. Thanks.

Reply to
No-Name
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It sounds like the main sewer line downstream from your apartment is slowly stopping up. The bad part is that if it completely stops up - you will be the recipient of one nasty mess everytime someone above you flushes. Your apartment personnel should remove a cleanout plug and begin cleaning out the line. If they refuse to do so - remove it yourself - let the crap hit the landscaping - and tell them that *could* have been in your apartment. It will not only get their attention - but also (hopefully) relieve you of some miserable grief.

Jim

Reply to
Jim Mc Namara

Mc Namara has it right! Trouble is coming your way.

If you do nothing else, document your complaints to mngmnt carefully. Even get them to sign the complaint. Assure them that any losses will be their responsibility. Invest in a digicam to record the damages.

(t'other Jim)

Reply to
Speedy Jim

A maintenance guy came by and snaked the toilet - found no blockage - he says it's possibly air "caught in the line" that's causing the noise - I don't know enough about this stuff to decide if he's possibly right or not - but I do trust you guys - should I let it go for now - or push the case with the apartment management for them to remove the cleanout plug and clean the sewer line?

Thanks very much!

Reply to
No-Name

The reason there's no blockage is because the problem is not with your toilet. It's down the line from you. If he's saying there's air caught in the line - to an extent he's correct. A properly flowing sewer line will have no water left in it (gravity still works) and it's always filled with air. The guy is an amateur and you're going to be the one who will have to clean up (and live with) someone else's grease, fecal matter, urine, and anything else that goes down the drain - whether it be from the toilet or the kitchen sink. Let your manager know that you've spoken with two master plumbers who say the main sewer is stopping up. If nothing else have them open the clean out plug but you need to wait until people are home and the line has a chance to fill up first. If this were me - I would not sit back and wait for the proverbial sh*t to hit the fan . . . in this case it would.

Jim

Reply to
Jim Mc Namara

Also, consider threatening (or actually making) a complaint to the local health dep't.

Jim

Reply to
Speedy Jim

Thanks for taking the time with an explanation, Jim - I'll push them a bit harder - and file a complaint with the management office in California (the apartment is in Texas).

I'll bet you're a successful guy with an attitude like you have - if not successful, you're a damm decent guy - and I'd take be> >

Reply to
No-Name

Where are you in Texas - No Name? I'm in Houston and have done a *lot* of work with many of the property managers here.

Jim Mc Namara snipped-for-privacy@flash.net

Reply to
Jim Mc Namara

I'm in Dallas, Jim - I talked again with the maintenance guy and management - I'm gonna watch the situation closely, and flush the hell out of the toilet - see if there are any more problems - I home-office, so I'm here all day - listening to the toilet - what a life, huh?

Keep ya posted - thanks again, friend.

Joe

Reply to
No-Name

In alt.home.repair on Wed, 20 Aug 2003 16:03:41 -0500 "No-Name" posted:

I know they take these complaints very seriously. They will probably have someone hand-carry it from Texas to California, and hand-carry the reply back, even if it takes someone walking for months.

(Just kidding. I'm sure there is a wide range in apartment management.)

Meirman

If emailing, please let me know whether or not you are posting the same letter.

Change domain to erols.com, if necessary.

Reply to
meirman

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