View Full Version : Unclog sewer line
dogtalker
May 28, 2013, 05:15 PM
Over the weekend sat,wife ran washingmachine,once it discharged,hear girgling in both our bathrooms,from the tiolets,tubs spilled some water,all laundry smell and lint.had some seepage from wall or around the tiolet,from the bathrroom nearest the backyard,not the front bathroom nearear the street.I got my hand snake and snaked every drain including a cleanout drain under the sink.That was blocked at the opening,the snake at some results.I even snaked the only roof vent the snake could fit-- over the backroom bathroom near the backyard.4 hrs later found a outside drain cleanout(3 foot vertical pipe,with 2 openings toward the house and street,the other opening opposite,going into my backyard.That was barely filed with water 1 inch maybe. Water not moving.Thought I won!! Tried the washer later same thing,less seepage cause backyard drain cracked.After 2 hrs I can flush both toilets,use the shower(outside drain sealed),with no problems at all,yes the water will come up the outside pipe near the top.Currently I'm just not running the Washer,I looked into the pipe,saw film of sludge,threw water in there(I gallen) the water actually flowed toward the back yard,IS THAT BY DESIGN/ and do I have a clog in the line or vent?
ballengerb1
May 28, 2013, 07:59 PM
" outside pipe near the top" having trouble understanding your situation, you are on city sewer right? What pipe is this that is filling? If you are on septic this may be over your head and a contractor with a backhoe is needed
dogtalker
May 29, 2013, 12:49 PM
" outside pipe near the top" having trouble understanding your situation, you are on city sewer right? What pipe is this that is filling? If you are on septic this may be over your head and a contractor with a backhoe is needed
It's a sewer line we pay a utility,our sewer line is running parraral our neighbors house All the houses in our section have a 5 in diameter pipe above the ground for drain cleanout.I hope its not a grapefruit trees root that causing this though been there in that area over 15yrs any sugestion?
speedball1
May 30, 2013, 07:54 AM
Over the weekend sat,wife ran washingmachine,once it discharged,hear girgling in both our bathrooms, This indicates a blocked roof vent.
.I even snaked the only roof vent the snake could fit-- Please explaine. How many roof vents do you have and what size> Did you snake the lavatory vents on both bathrooms?
That's the venting issue.
Did you snake the sewer line from that pipe that overflowed? Back to you. Tom
dogtalker
Jun 1, 2013, 08:34 AM
This indicates a blocked roof vent. Please explaine. How many roof vents do you have and what size> Did you snake the lavatory vents on both bathrooms?
That's the venting issue.
Did you snake the sewer line from that pipe that overflowed? Back to you. Tom
Have 3 roof vents,2 with a cover a shield,4 inch diameter,40 ft long? The othe vent is over the bathroom,1.5 inches wide,not shielded,12-15 ft long.I snaked that one came up empty. Rented 100ft electric eel and snaked all 100 ft from kitchen drain cleanout,came up empty.Snaked outside drainoutlit toward house and toward sewer(40 ft away-guess cause it's on the fenceline between properties)) met resistance at 47 ft. reeled in no luck.By now the water seemed to have gone down a foot.I changed the head to a pig tail and re-snaked from outsidedrainpipe cleanout to sewer,this time I another helper said they could hear it scraping in the below pipeline up to the fence line and I was out 80 ft.Reeled it in had rag ,shoelace,no roots (The sewer drain appears to just miss a 2 yrold 20 ft oak tree,a factor?) went to bed,this morning after a shower,tiolet,water rose up and over outside drain(I had it barely on)Iremember -3 to 4 days ago without snaking to the sewerI had slight running water(ac discharge) at that outside drain cleanout,water,etc was running toward the sewer from the house.but when I tested showers,tiolets,etc water came at top of outside cleanout I still think my clog is backyard!! Do I still use that electric eel going toward the sewer or do I try 100ft flat plumbers tape?
speedball1
Jun 1, 2013, 10:04 AM
The blockage will be found downstream from the outside cleanout. My best guess is that it's at the city raiser where the house sewer connects to the city. This joint's cemented in and over the years can open up allowing roots to enter. This connection will be found at the curb. Put on a auger tip and run the snake out ton the street and see if that doesn't get it. Thanks for all the information, It really helps. Tom
dogtalker
Jun 1, 2013, 01:27 PM
The blockage will be found downstream from the outside cleanout. My best guess is that it's at the city raiser where the house sewer connects to the city. This joint's cemented in and over the years can open up allowing roots to enter. This connection will be found at the curb. Put on a auger tip and run the snake out ton the street and see if that doesn't get it. Thanks for all the information, It really helps. Tom
Where do you say auger axcess would be,you're referring to a root auger,right?