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    AZPLUMBNOV's Avatar
    AZPLUMBNOV Posts: 1, Reputation: 1
    New Member
    		  
    #1

    Oct 18, 2008, 09:41 AM
    Sewage backup in basement sink
    The sewage from the upstairs toilet and sinks are backing up into the sink that I have in the basement in the laundry room. What should I do?
    speedball1's Avatar
    speedball1 Posts: 29,301, Reputation: 1939
    Eternal Plumber
    		  
    #2

    Oct 18, 2008, 10:16 AM
    Are you on a septic tank or city sewer? Locate the house clean out, open it up and tell me if there's standing water in the pipe. Get back to me, Tom
    SewerSup's Avatar
    SewerSup Posts: 7, Reputation: 1
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    #3

    Oct 22, 2008, 07:05 PM
    AZ,

    What you'll want to do is take the P-Trap under the sink off in the basement and run you a hand auger/snake in the line. Some folks like using the power/electrical auger that you plug in, which ever you want to use is up to you. I would suggest if you can rent a power/electrical auger/snake from your local hardware store, that might be easier. Should run you somewhere around $25-$50. All you do is plug it in and step on the pedal. You'll need thick gloves also to grab hold of the auger.

    If the auger does not work, there may be other things that could be making it back up. If you have old cast iron, sometimes corrosion will cause it to back up. If you're on city sewer and you know roughly where your sewer line runs outside your house, check to see if there are any tall trees around where the pipe runs. Sometimes roots will grow into your line. Another possibility could be the line where your sink and toilet upstairs ties into the line of the basement may be too small (highly unlikely, but a possibility) for all the flow.

    Try the auger first and if it doesn't work, get back in touch with me. Take care.
    LITTLE856's Avatar
    LITTLE856 Posts: 1, Reputation: 1
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    #4

    May 23, 2009, 06:05 PM
    Quote Originally Posted by speedball1 View Post
    Are you on a septic tank or city sewer? Locate the house clean out, open it up and tell me if there's standing water in the pipe. Get back to me, Tom
    Yes there is standing water in it
    speedball1's Avatar
    speedball1 Posts: 29,301, Reputation: 1939
    Eternal Plumber
    		  
    #5

    May 23, 2009, 09:08 PM
    Septic tan k or city sewer?
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