View Full Version : Sewer backup in basement
missesc3035
Feb 23, 2010, 08:51 AM
I went down to my basement and it was flooded not a lot a lot but enough and there was human feces in the water it is coming from the grated drain in the floor. My grandpa was a master plumber so I learned some but in Florida it doesn't snow or freez that often and there are septic tanks not sewers. I know nothing about sewers and need some help I am going to go buy an auger and try that but I would still like input. Also there are no trees in my yard or that close to it so I don't think there's tree roots blocking the line. My 2 yr old baby has had a habit of putting things down the drain or flushing things down the toilet. Also my husband cuts his hair over our bathroom sink as well as putting grease down the kitchen sink even though I yell at him every time help what do I do if the auger doesn't work. And what steps can I take to prevent this again.
creahands
Feb 23, 2010, 02:36 PM
When was the last time u had septic cleaned?
Chuck
speedball1
Feb 23, 2010, 02:48 PM
Are you on a sewer or septic tank? I'm from Sarasota where we went from septic tanks to city sewer in 1974.
Do you know where your outsiude clean out is? If so, open it up and tell me if you see standing water. Back to you, Tom
missesc3035
Feb 23, 2010, 02:55 PM
Are you on a sewer or septic tank? I'm from Sarasota where we went from septic tanks to city sewer in 1974.
Do you know where your outsiude clean out is? if so, open it up and tell me if you see standing water. Back to you, Tom
I am in toledo Ohio and its sewer I am going to go look now I bought a drain auger and couldn't get past 12 inches down in the basement through the sewer drain. Ill go look out side oh I also asked my neighbors and no one else has a problem let me go check to see if I find it.
Are you on a sewer or septic tank? I'm from Sarasota where we went from septic tanks to city sewer in 1974.
Do you know where your outsiude clean out is? if so, open it up and tell me if you see standing water. Back to you, Tom
I walked around the whole perrimeter and can't find one. My house was built in 1897 so its pretty old. Any further help you could give me would be appreciated. WOW new info for me to know I grew up in lakeland Florida and always thought it was only septic tanks down there when I moved up here last year I thought sewer would be a blessing but first the sewer water charges now this at least if it was a septic id know a little more of what to do! Yikes !
speedball1
Feb 23, 2010, 03:06 PM
It's important to localize the blockage.
Your house cleanout will be found on the street side of your house. You may have to probe for it and the years may have covered it with soil.
I bought a drain auger and couldn't get past 12 inches down in the basement through the sewer drain. What type of auger and where did you try to snake it from that you couldn't get through?
Back to you, Tom
missesc3035
Feb 23, 2010, 08:47 PM
It's important to localize the blockage.
Your house cleanout will be found on the street side of your house. You may have to probe for it and the years may have covered it with soil.
What type of auger and where did you try to snake it from that you couldn't get through?
Back to you, Tom
I think I found it coming of a huge pipe that everything ties into. But it is so rusted I can't open it. It's a heavy duty drain tape 1/2 by 40 ft. I poured a half of a big bottle of draino gel waited 30 minutes then poured hot water in it then the other half in and waited 45 minutes and more hot water. Nothing so I tried to plunge it again and it seems like I can hear some kind of noise it that big pipe next to me.but only after I've plunged it seems all the water out of the hole and back on the floor. I just don't know what to do. Do you thiknk it would hurt if I pulled the toilet up and tried to use the drain tape to go down that way? Thank you for you're continued help. When I said I think I found it I mean the house clean out
Would it be in a basement.
Also my washer kitchen sinks drain fast but my toilet barley flushes and bathroom sink drains slowly but bathtub is fine.
speedball1
Feb 24, 2010, 07:55 AM
Open up the house clean out and flush a toilet or cycle the washer and check for standing water. Lem know what you find. Tom
missesc3035
Feb 24, 2010, 08:36 PM
Open up the house clean out and flush a toilet or cycle the washer and check for standing water. Lem know what you find. tom
Thanks for all your help I gave up and called a plumber to come out it cost 120.00 he had to snake 104 feet to get the clog. But thank you for all your help
speedball1
Feb 25, 2010, 06:40 AM
What did the clog consist of? If he brought back roots I can help you with that. Glad you gut fixed up. Tom