Hi there,
I have toilet paper and other lovely things coming into my shower and bathtub. The vent was checked on the roof as well as the pipe outside that we had to dig to get to. I thought I had fixed it when I just kept cleaning the stuff out of the shower after every flush and finally it was draining, but now it is worse. I also tried to do some laundry and water came on the floor. We are really broke and I want to try to fix myself before calling a professional. I think we had this problem years ago and the plumber just found a big clog in one toilet (I have 3 kids) and it was fine. Maybe I should remove a toilet, could that really be the problem?

Thanks for any help,
Kelley

Hi there,
I have toilet paper and other lovely things coming into my shower and bathtub. The vent was checked on the roof as well as the pipe outside that we had to dig to get to. I thought I had fixed it when I just kept cleaning the stuff out of the shower after every flush and finally it was draining, but now it is worse. I also tried to do some laundry and water came on the floor. We are really broke and I want to try to fix myself before calling a professional. I think we had this problem years ago and the plumber just found a big clog in one toilet (I have 3 kids) and it was fine. Maybe I should remove a toilet, could that really be the problem??

thanks for any help,
Kelley

Hi Kelly,

You have a blockage downstream from the fixtures that have backed up. This effects the entire system so it's not just a clogged toilet. Are you on city sewer or a septic tank? When you ran your washer did it back up in the shower or run out of the standpipe? How was the vent checked on the roof? By snaking it or just inspecting it? Get back to me and I'll answer ASAP. Tom

Thanks for your reply, we are on city sewer. When the washer backed up it was from the pipe and just overflowed through it. The inspection from the roof was just my husband looking into it for any obvious obstruction. I just did some dishes in my kitchen and the shower is now Full!

Thanks for your reply, we are on city sewer. When the washer backed up it was from the pipe and just overflowed through it. The inspection from the roof was just my husband looking into it for any obvious obstruction. I just did some dishes in my kitchen and the shower is now Full!!


Got it Kelly, thanks.

If you wish to take care of this yourself then you will have to rent a sewer machine from your local rent all. A Ridgid K-60 comes to mind. First locate and open the house clean out. It will be within 18" of the house foundation on the street side of the house. If, after you remove the clean-out cover, you find standing water in the line then snake from the clean out to the street. If the sewer's clear then snake from the roof vent. Drop the cable down the roof vent the bathroom's located on and snake out enough cable to take it past the house clean out. After you're through snaking and the water's draining then flush the vent out with a hose. Good luck, Tom