I live in a house built in 1960 something. The washing machine is on the enclosed back porch where washer/dryer hook-ups are. When I do a load of laundry, the water backs up into my tub. Seemed to be OK because it always drained quickly from tub. Now it is clogging, and the bottom of the toilet is leaking water, (where the toilet bolts to the floor),also bubbles come up in toilet bowl . I have cleaned debris from the tub drain with a pronged device that cleared a gob of hair out and it's OK for a few weeks, but I never had the toilet leak until a few days ago. The floor of the porch is about 8 inches lower than the tub. I think I should snake the drains but am unsure where to start. I appreciate any help. Thanks

I am afraid to say that your main drain line may be clogged. I wonder if your home is on a slab or if you have a full basement? If you are on a slab there should be a main drain cleanout either in your home under the stairs or just outside the foundation (it should be on street side of building anyway)... see if you can locate that and open it... then flood your system and see if it backs up out the cleanout... if so, then will need to rent a snake or call a sewer cleaning company (do not hesitate to call your local plumbing inspector and see what /who he recommends... see, in some towns they still clear the main sewer lines free of charge! ). If cannot find cleanout OR if line does not backup at the cleanouts mentioned then I would lift the toilet and again, flood the system and see if overflows out the toilet pipe.. if it does then you would start snaking the drain line here.

If you do this yourself be careful as a sewer snake big and powerful enough to clear a main sewer drain line could potentially hurt you if used improperly... just be careful and wear safety glasses and leather gloves!! Good luck and let us know how it works out or if you have any more questions!

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