We lived in a house build in 1959 when we moved in a couple years ago one of the previous owner convert the garage into bedroom with bath room shower and toilet added to be second bathroom.

The sewer system were working fine until couple days ago when taking a shower in the house the toilet in the converted garage starting to bubble up, and when flushed the toilet in the house the toilet in converted garage water was sucked out almost dry, and then try to flush toilet one at a time both toilet overflow all over the floor.

Could anyone tell me how to troubleshoot the system and fix the problem?

Thanks
Art

Check the septic tank

Sewer or septic tank? Can you locate the house cleanout? By law we are required to install a house cleanout not over 18 inches from the foundation and bring it up to grade. Over the years it might be covered with dirt but it's there.
Open it up and give it a few flushes. Did it back up out oif the cleanout? If so the blockage is downstream from the clkeanout. If not you will have to snake the system from the bathroom roof vent. Let me know what you find. Tom

Thank you Tom,

I'll check it out and will let you know

Art


Hello Tom,
Found the cleanout in the yard next to the foundation. After I opened the cap I saw water about six inches fron toe top. I used sneak but it doesn't seen to make any different. I push the garden hose into the cleanout down about twenty feet and turn on the water, it overflow out of the cleanout. It still the same cleanout full of water. I stop and went out and purches two can of liquid plumber and pour it into the cleanout and closed the cap. Came back inside the house got into the shower when I finished taking a shower I have about one inch of water in the shower. What can I do to fix this problem Ton!

Art

We still didn't hear if you are septic or city sewer. If you are city you need a sewer rodder to go down stream from that clean out all the way to the city riser. If septic you may have a failed field. Have the tank pumped and inspected by a pro, not a DIY project.

Hello Tom,
I'm new to website have much more to learn from. Sorry, I forgot to tell you that we tide to city sewer. Can I byu/rent this sewer rodder or I have to get profeshional? Art

You have a blockage between the cleanout and the street. You can snake this yourself and save big $ by renting a sewer machine,(see image) from your local rent -all and snaking from the house to the street. Most clogs will be found at the street raiser so put out enough cable to get there. You know you have the clog when the water starts to drain out of the cleanout. Good luck, Tom

Thank you Tom, I will try to do it myself on my time off, will come back and report the outcome. Thanks again, Art

Before you rent the rodder you need to measure from your clean out to the city riser which could be oon the far side of your street. The last one I worked on was slightly over 200' to the riser and all we had was 200' of snake, the clog stayed at the riser until we got more rod.

Hello Tom,
On Oct 6, 2008, 06:47 AM.
Said, I pout two can of liquid plumber into the cleanout and I push the garden hose into the cleanout down about twenty feet and turn on the water

On Oct 7, 2008, 05:13 AM
Said, I will try to do it myself on my time off, will come back and report the outcome.

On Oct 9, I was measure the distance from the cleanout to manhole in the middle of the street, and when I open the cleanout to measure the depth of the hole, I notice that their isn't any water. I use the flashlight and check it was dry no water in the cleanout.

I think two can of liquid plumber, and twenty feet garden hose into the cleanout and turn on the water, two day later it clear on it own.

Yes Tom, I do have a blockage between the cleanout and the street just like you said. Even if it doesn't clear by it self, and as your suggestion I would have rent the machine and sneak it until it all clear. Thank you very much Tom. Art