Sewer gas comimig up from the shower drain

[Anonymous]

I want to say that this site is a daily stop for me. The posts are great reading and I am getting a wealth of information from them.

I have a problem with gas comimg up from my shower when I first turn on the water or, after the water is running for a little while. The smell will go away after a few minuites. It doesn't always hapen either.

The house was built in 1959, has a septic tank and only two bath rooms.

This is happening at the farthest bathroom on the line. I opened the back wall (for other work) and I can see it shares a 3" wet vent with the kithen and bathroom vanity. As far as i can tell the plumimg hasn't been altered since installed. This only happens in the shower drain.

An intersting thing is also hapening. When the shower was used this morning the toilet in the other bathroom had bubbles comming up from it. it stoped in a few minuites. I tried to flush the toilet with the bubbles and the water drained real slow. This toilet is the second one in line to the septic tank. it also has a 3" vent shared with the vanity. The bathrooms are in line with each other (I mean the drain line is in a stright line) adn are about 15' apart. from the second bathroom (the one with bubbles) it goes out side to a cleanout about 10' feet away and then the septic tank.

Any help with this would be appreciated. I don't know what to do about this situation.

Thanks,

Tom

[Wgoodrich]

Need some questions answered investigating possible cause or causes.

How far away is this shared 3" vent from each drain that shares that vent?

Is that vent up stream from the kitchen and other toilets to the septic outlet with the shower further down that same line from that vent. Otherwords is the kitchen and bathroom closest to the septic and the kitchen drains located in the drain pipe between the septic outlet and that far shower where the gas smell is coming from?

What size drain pipe serves each individual drain and then what size if that drain pipe that carries all the drains to the septic?

Last question, when was the last time you cleaned out your septic tank professionally?

Wg

[Anonymous]

I just bought the house a yaer and a half ago and have never cleaned the septic tank. I don't know when the last owner cleaned the tank either.

The farthest unit from the septic is a toilet, the shower with the smell is next to it, next in line (and I mean in line, not behind) is a three inch wet vent with a double drain connection about 14" high. One side has a 1.5" copper drain line from the vanity 30" long, and the other side has the kithen sink drain, 1.5" copper and 22" long. From the wet vont the main drain gooes in a stright line to the toilet with the bubbles, then another 3" wet vent which has one connection 1.5" copper drain 30" long from the vanity in that room. Then comes the second shower (which I have never used since remodeling), then the cleanout 8' feet away, and then the tank.

The main drain line is 4" cast iron. I took the cap off the clean out and its clean inside.

I ran the shower again and get bubbles and the second toilet (clesest one to the tank. I fushed the farthest toilet (the one next to the shower with gas and no bubbles at the other toilet. I suspect the one flush is not enough water.

I am stumped, I hope I got the information helps.

Tom

[Wgoodrich]

TEll me is the kitchen or vanity on that wet vent running slow drain? If so I am suspecting a plugged wet vent between the point where the kichen sink connects and the vanity and the 4" drain connection of that wet vent.

The bubbles would normally vent through that wet vent but are not and are hitting the toilet instead.

If the kitchen or vanity is not running slow [SHOULD BE SUCKING WATER DOWN THOSE DRAINS] at the kitchen sink and vanity not just running out. Then see if any drain connected to this 4" pipe is running slow.

If all is draining in a sucking manner then it may be you septic needs cleaned. I would clean it anyway. If you don't maintain your septic by periodic cleaning then sludge will enter you finger system and plug up you finger system. Then you will yell ouch at the repair cost. Cleaning a septic system can add decades to the life of a home septic disposal site.

Let us know what you find

Wg

[Anonymous]

I called the plumber today. he tried to rod from the setic tank but it wouldn't go. He then went to the closesest vent and rodded.

What ever was in there broke loose and I was supprised how much water a 4" pipe can hold.

He also reported that I was missing a proper cap for the septic tank and that watter and dirt could be getting in there. I will have the tank cleaned soon like you suggested.

The shower now has that sucking sound you mention so much. it should have been a clue for me.

We'll see if the smell is gone.

Thanks,

Tom

[Wgoodrich]

Love to hear a success story.

Congrats

Wg