Strange Draining Issue

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micahmicah

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Hi there, we have an issue with the basement toilet, and I can't figure out whats causing it for the life of me.

Okay, so it started when the toilet in our basement started gurgling when the upstairs toilet was flushed. In about a week's time, the basement toilet splashed when someone was using the upstairs tub, and afterwards stopped flushing. Only when the upstairs toilet was flushed did the water level drop to normal on the downstairs toilet. Running the washer in the basement made water come up the basement toilet and the basement tub. So, our family called the plumber. My dad, in the meantime, had poured dish-washing liquid and lots of hot water down the floor drain in our basement.

The plumber snaked our pipes and found nothing. The basement toilet started flushing fine immediately. The plumber said that whatever our dad did fixed the problem.
But, a day later, someone was using the shower upstairs, the basement toilet splashed again and stopped flushing. Again, only when the upstairs toilet is flushed does the water level return to normal. And now whenever the upstairs toilet is flushed, the downstairs toilet splashes and gurgles.
Dad tried the same thing again for two days, and the toilet started working again for a week. But then, again, the washer was running and the basement toilet splashed and stopped flushing. Again, flushing the upstairs toilet causes the downstairs toilet to gurgle and splash.

I should mention that we live in central canada, so frozen vent stacks are a problem here sometimes. The temperature was above freezing point yesterday and its still a no-go though. Any help on what the problem is? Thank you in advance.
 

Reach4

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How long since you got your septic tank pumped?

If no septic, I would get your drains, including the one to the street, cleaned out with a big machine. Look for a drain cleaning specialist. I am not a pro.
 

micahmicah

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How long since you got your septic tank pumped?

If no septic, I would get your drains, including the one to the street, cleaned out with a big machine. Look for a drain cleaning specialist. I am not a pro.
hi. we are on the city sewer. yeah i think we'll get our drains looked at again. thanks
 

Plumbs

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Get your line video inspected. If your plumber snaked the line already then there might be an issue with the pipe. It's also possible the plumber didn't snake it properly or someone in your house is flushing things that should not be flushed.
 
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