hi all. I live in a detached garage apartment, where I don't pay rent in lieu of being a sort of handy man. I'm pretty good with household issues, but a plumber I isn't.

in short, the shower won't drain, washing machine is backing up into shower, toilet won't flush if theshower's backed up and if I plunge the toilet water backs up in the shower and sink. Everything's connected, one is clogged. I don't think it's the toilet.

the problem started when I was taking a shower and it wasn't draining. I got out and noticed that when the shower was slow to drain, the toilet wouldn't flush.
this has happened once before, again without any noticeable provocation. That time I plunged the toilet for a good 20 minutes and finally some blockage obviously went through, it drained immediately as did the shower.

this time, tho--i've been plunging it for hours. The sink, toilet, and shower are all backing up. The toilet will flush once but it takes an hour before it will go down normally. Shower is still clogged. Now if I plunge the toilet, water plunges down but backs up in shower and sink. Black particles are coming out as well. There is a laundry room out here and when the washing machine drains during the cycle, all the soapy water backs up into the shower.

luckily, no sewages has yet backed up, only clean water and black particles. I don't know if that means there's roots in the line or what. There has been no 'incident' to knowingly clogg up any of ANY of the fixtures or appliances. I'd drain-oed the sink and shower w 2 bottles.
I do not have access to a snake, but I have shoved wire down the shower hold as far as it will go and found nothing.

so, given the circumestances, it's kind of my responsibility to fix this and I'm stuck.

what's my next move?

if I plunge one thing, it backs up in another. Do I plunge everything at once, like an octopus with plungers? Would one of those air=pressure decloggers work?
which fixture should I assume started the blockage?

Are you on c ity sewer or a septic tank?

if I plunge one thing, it backs up in another. Do I plunge everything at once, like an octopus with plungers? Would one of those air=pressure decloggers work?
which fixture should I assume started the blockage?
Those air thingys only work until they come to a vent. Then all the action stops, Forget it! It don't believe it's a fixture that's at fault. Locate the house cleanout and open it up. It sounds like your entire system's clogged. Let bme know if the cleanout's full of water. Good luck, Tom

hi all. i live in a detached garage apartment, where i dont pay rent in lieu of being a sort of handy man. i'm pretty good with household issues, but a plumber i aint.

in short, the shower wont drain, washing machine is backing up into shower, toilet wont flush if theshower's backed up and if i plunge the toilet water backs up in the shower and sink. everything's connected, one is clogged. i dont think it's the toilet.

the problem started when i was taking a shower and it wasnt draining. i got out and noticed that when the shower was slow to drain, the toilet wouldnt flush.
this has happened once before, again without any noticable provocation. that time i plunged the toilet for a good 20 minutes and finally some blockage obviously went through, it drained immediatley as did the shower.

this time, tho--i've been plunging it for hours. the sink, toilet, and shower are all backing up. the toilet will flush once but it takes an hour before it will go down normally. shower is still clogged. now if i plunge the toilet, water plunges down but backs up in shower and sink. black particles are coming out as well. there is a laundry room out here and when the washing machine drains during the cycle, all the soapy water backs up into the shower.

luckily, no sewages has yet backed up, only clean water and black particles. i dont know if that means there's roots in the line or what. there has been no 'incident' to knowingly clogg up any of ANY of the fixtures or appliances. i'd drain-oed the sink and shower w 2 bottles.
i do not have access to a snake, but i have shoved wire down the shower hold as far as it will go and found nothing.

so, given the circumestances, it's kind of my responsiblity to fix this and i'm stuck.

what's my next move?

if i plunge one thing, it backs up in another. do i plunge everything at once, like an octopus with plungers? would one of those air=pressure decloggers work?
which fixture should i assume started the blockage?
As you say that, I recall being told to do that already.

Is it dumb of me to ask where I might potentially locate this house-clean out?
Should I assume it's the garage-apartment's plumbing issue, or would it be connected to the main house, too? We do share a common hot water heater...

Sounds like the main line to me as well... I'll let speedball answer your question cause he seems to love telling me I'm wrong.. back to you speed

Hey! I calls them like I sees them! Sorry! I'm just out to give the askers the best information possible. And what are you doing up at 2 o clock in the AM anyhow? Have a hot toddy and hit the sack. I'm on my way. Good night all!

Hey! I calls em like I sees em!! Sorry! I'm just out to give the askers the best information possible. And what are you doing up at 2 o clock in the AM anyhow? Have a hot toddy and hit the sack. I'm on my way. Good nite all!!

Trust me on this my friend... im sure you have forgoten more than I will ever know about plumbing... but at the same time the answers to problems are not always as tech savy as you think the are... I mean no disrespect believe me on that... and what am I doing up at 2 am... drinking beer and loving life!

as you say that, i recall being told to do that already.

is it dumb of me to ask where i might potentially locate this house-clean out?
should i assume it's the garage-apartment's plumbing issue, or would it be connected to the main house, too? we do share a common hot water heater...
The house cleanout's located at the point the sewer leaves the house. If the main house has no drainage problems then the problem's at your end. Locate the clean out coming from the garage apartment an d open it up. If it's full of water the problem's downstream from the cleanout. If it's dry then the problems in side and you must snake from a roof vent or pull a toilet and snake from there. You may rent a sewer from from your local Rent All. The water heater doesn't enter into the equation good luck, Tom

So this cleanout is going to be outside?
Somehow I think it's getting worse. It's draining from the shower much slower now at least.

The washing machine is severely backing up into the shower now. I don't know if this info helps.