Lower level toilet is overflowing

[Susantrendy]

Hello out there! I am knee deep in , well, you can guess. My 62 y/o split level has two upstairs bathrooms and one lower level bathroom/laundry room. For years, at least twice/yr, the bottom toilet overflows, the plumber comes and snakes the main line. The rest of the time, this toilet gurgles, empties and threatens to overflow when the laundry sink, washer, or toilets are used. (The laundry sinks also backs up when the washer empties, then the toilet gurgles.)

So, last night and today, the lower toilet overflowed multiple times before I realized it. The curious thing is that only one upstairs toilet is causing the overflow. Nothing happens when the other is flushed. The two toilets are back to back and share a vent and soil stack which empties into the main, about two feet away and where the lower toilet sits right on top.

What do you think is going on? Thanks!

 

[Reach4]

Blockage. You might be a good candidate for getting your lines inspected by camera.

Is there a shower or tub in the bathroom where the toilet overflows? Is there a floor drain?
Or is the toilet the lowest-rimmed fixture on that floor?

I think you need to rig up a water alarm until you get this sorted out on a permanent basis.

 

[Sponsor]

 

[hj]

You DO realize, don't you, that BOTH toilets use the same pipe so what you describe is "illogical" and therefore we cannot give an answer.

 

[Jadnashua]

When repeated snaking of the line doesn't solve the issue, that implies either you're flushing some stuff you shouldn't, or there's an issue with the line itself. IT could be roots, improper slope, a buildup of crud, or maybe the line is crushed. Is this on a sewer system or into a septic system? If a septic system, you may have an issue in the tank or drainage system.

 

[Terry]

I did look at a home this year that had two lines going outside for the sewer. I was able to locate the two cleanouts nearly side by side on the first floor.

 

[Susantrendy]

HJ, I appreciate your time, but please don't call me illogical - I can't help what is the situation is. I stated that the toilets share the same stack which is why I am asking the darn question! We have flushed the master toilet 4 or 5 times and when we do, the lower toilet does not overflow but instead, the water sucks into the main, I guess, leaving very little water in the lower toilet. When we flush the main toilet, the lower toilet overflows. Both upstairs toilets are emptying perfectly. The master is a low water tank and the main is the original from 55. We have had the main TV'd to the street, but not the opposite way - there are no trees or roots. Nothing has been thrown into the toilet that doesn't belong. There are no kids, we use Scott single ply and we don't use wet wipes. We don't throw cotton balls, q-tips or anything else in there. I can get to all the cleanouts - the soil stack hasn't be opened in our lifetime our 4o years living here and having tried others, I'm afraid the galvanized pipes might have to be cut open, which I have done, but... This is a city system and we only have one line. Thank you all for your replies.

 

[Susantrendy]

Oh, there two sinks and a washing machine on that level. There is no floor drain.

 

[Reach4]

If I got it right, the old main toilet probably uses 5 gallons per flush, and the master toilet uses 1.6 or less gallons. So I expect that is why one pushes water out the bottom toilet and the other does not.

The bottom toilet is the lowest opening that you have.

As a test, you could have somebody repeatedly flush the lower flow master toilet. I am thinking that at some point the bottom toilet starts getting extra water. Since you will be watching the bottom toilet, you will tell the top flusher person to stop flushing. I am counting on one 1.6 gallon flush not raising the water level enough to flood onto the floor.

Now if the sewer blockage lets 1.6 gallons through during the time it takes for the the master to refill, you would not get the rise I am suspecting.

In any case, your action item would be to get a drain cleaner in who has a big cutter on his machine. He would lift the bottom toilet and go in there, unless there is a cleanout that will do the main. He should clean all of the way to the sewer.

If you are into the why of it all, get a combo deal where the cleaner also runs a camera. Expect that to cost 3 or 4 times as much, but maybe it would be worth it.

 

[Terry]

So the five gallon or more toilet is too much, and the low flow of 1.6 or less isn't overflowing the downstairs.
It does sound like the main line if the downstairs can't handle it.

 

[Susantrendy]

Ahhhhhhh! That does make sense. There is a little rough edge near the water meter that sometimes catches paper. I've been trying to keep up with adding enzymes to avoid problems and it was working - oh well. I think I can reach that spot with my auger and am hoping that's the answer. Thank you all so much for your help. Wish me luck ;-)

 

[Reach4]

For a toilet, the path all of the way to and through the sewer is 3 inches or bigger. This might be the time to call in a sewer line cleaning specialist with a big machine and big cutters. Even without a camera, the experienced person can tell a lot by feel.

If you rent the big machine, you could get injured.

Your 1 inch auger can poke a hole but I think you want to drill that thing clean bigger.