Hi Tim,
My fiancé lives in Ohio in a house that was a new construction when he bought it in December 2002. I live in Boston in a house that is 100+ years old. As if the long-distance weren't enough of a problem, the first time I went to visit him I noticed that every time a toilet is flushed in his house, the sinks and tubs make gurgling noises.
I don't know much about plumbing in new construction, but the only reason for this behavior that I can think of is that the system is not properly vented. Is this a normal thing in new construction? Is this a normal thing in Ohio? I asked him what his home inspector said, but he gave me a blank stare.
If there is a problem with this house, I would like to know now before I marry him and it becomes my problem. ;-)
Thanks,
Megan
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Megan,
Let's see if I understand this. If the problem is too big, then it is time to go on the hunt again...... Well, set the date for the wedding, because all that is probably wrong are vent pipes that still may be capped. Sometimes the plumbers are too lazy to go up on the roof to remove test caps that must be in place to check to see if the plumbing drain system is leak-free. If the caps are still on, the system is starved for air when lots of water discharges down a stack as happens when you flush a toilet. The system gets the air from a nearby trap.
If the vent pipes are open, then they must be clogged. The worst case scenario is the drain system is not designed correctly, in which case, it might be time to look for a new beau. ;-)
By the way, our Ohio pipes work just as good as yours up in Bawston..... Among other things I am a licensed master plumber here in Ohio..... :-)
Tim Carter
www.askthebuilder.com
W3ATB