New Gurgle in 2nd Floor bath tub and basement bathtub - Would venting issue need to be 'above' 2nd floor that?

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personalt

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I own an older three family house that has these symptoms which is essentially gurgling in 2nd floor and basement tubs. No complaints yet from third floor. More details are below. I am trying to determine if I start my investigation in the basement or upstairs (roof). Is there a case where a blockage in the basement would result in the 2nd-floor tub to gurgle? To get to roof I need to go up a crappy fire escape ladder 4 stories high so not loving that idea and to bring and equipment up there is going to be a real pain.

1)2nd Floor Tub Gurgle - 2nd floor tenant called me two days ago. Their tub was making a noise from time to time. The tenant actually thought it was cockroaches living in the pipe. :eek:. I couldn't replicate anything but I thought maybe it was a gurgling noise. I ran tub, no bugs or issues found. I have access hatch behind tub and everything sounded a looked out there. The branch for this tub is old and in the past when I had tenants with long hair I would sometimes have to snake it. The 2nd floor tenant gave the impression this was happening on and off before but she seemed to indicate it was increasing in frequency.

2)1st Floor Toilet was Slow - Toilet flush equals their shower gurgling - Today 1st floor/basement tenant messaged me.. Said their basement toilet was draining slowly previously in day. They said it seems okay now but that when they flush toilet their shower drain gurgles. Bathroom underground is about 10 years old with PVC that ties in to the older cast stack. The toilet is closer to the street then the shower drain.

3)The third floor has not commented on any issues. No known issues in 1st floor bathroom.

This two gurgles seems to support a vent blockage above the 3rd floor tie in but I am not sure? One line of reasoning - if the blockage was above the 2nd floor then I think the blockage would also serve as a drain blockage for 3rd floor. Though maybe there is some case where there is a partial blockage of the stack that lets l water drain down but is to constricting to provide make up air for a toilet below it. Is there a way the issue could just be downstairs?
 
If a shower or bathtub gurgles when you flush a toilet then you most likely have a main building/sewer or branch drain with an obstruction.

In other words it’s a 3 or 4” drain that’s giving you trouble most likely.
The tubs or showers show problems first because they’re the lowest fixture to the floor.
 
If a shower or bathtub gurgles when you flush a toilet then you most likely have a main building/sewer or branch drain with an obstruction.

In other words it’s a 3 or 4” drain that’s giving you trouble most likely.
The tubs or showers show problems first because they’re the lowest fixture to the floor.
that makes sense, but is there a case where the main line stock blockage is down in the basement would that make second-floor tub gurgle? I always think of gurgling as a makeup air issue which might mean I need to start on the roof.
 
Gurgling usually indicates the pipe filling up with water and air being displaced resulting in gurgling
 
Gurgling usually indicates the pipe filling up with water and air being displaced resulting in gurgling
Makes sense.. If water coming out of toilet cant move downhill fast enough I could see it gurgling the basement shower not from a vacuum but from air-displacement/pressure. That could mean a snake from basement toilet out to street addresses my issue. But I cant connect that to 'what might cause the 2nd floor tub to gurgle when not running and second floor fixtures. I cant figure out how any backup in basement wouldn't cause an issue at second floor as any air displaced could just escape to roof.
 
I went down there tonight.. Is does seem the basement and 2nd floor issues are unrelated and the basement issue is a blockage really close to the toilet. It seems blockage is between vent tie-in and where the toilet branch ties in to main line to street. Reason I think this is toilet would flush once but not more than that and when I hit with the plunger and it would gurgle sink/shower.

My main concern for tonight was making sure there was no blockage on mainline that could flood up through shower. Ran the shower and sink and first floor bathroom for 20 minutes and no back ups.. Will snake or pull toilet in the morning. Thanks for guidance
 
I went down there tonight.. Is does seem the basement and 2nd floor issues are unrelated and the basement issue is a blockage really close to the toilet. It seems blockage is between vent tie-in and where the toilet branch ties in to main line to street. Reason I think this is toilet would flush once but not more than that and when I hit with the plunger and it would gurgle sink/shower.

My main concern for tonight was making sure there was no blockage on mainline that could flood up through shower. Ran the shower and sink and first floor bathroom for 20 minutes and no back ups.. Will snake or pull toilet in the morning. Thanks for guidance
one or the other., it's either the drain downstream, which is more often the case., or a Vent pipe upstream to the roof., Now since the First Floor and 2nd floor is gurgling and *assuming it has separate vent pipes for each branch., the main drain has a clog or obstruction like the other guy said...

some don't like it., but you can pour draino down both Bathroom sinks and the kitchen sink., then 20 minutes later run hotwater., or pull the toiles and run a snake.
 

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