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    jarnason's Avatar
    jarnason Posts: 2, Reputation: 1
    New Member
     
    #1

    Oct 27, 2005, 10:20 AM
    Basement Floor Drain Back Up
    House is a one storey with finished basement (older) it has a floor drain in front of the washer/dryer , and it has been backing up. Two months ago we had some issues with the drain in which the water level was almost to the top of the drain(floor level)and during washing clothes soap bubbles would emerge through the floor drain . The water level seemed to lower over time(24hour) so I didn't think much of it. It wasn't until we had a slight sewer smell coming from the drain that we called in the plumber. I forgot to mention we are on a sewer field and holding tank system . The plumber came and snaked out the sewer pipe leading to the tank outside and it was clear, he then a small plunger to plunge the floor drain and that very quickly seemed to resolve the backup problem as the water level in the floordrain went down . There was defintley a sewage content in the floor drain , and a fair amount of sludge caking the pipe walls. The plumber then ran the washer and everything was flowing good. Now to months later we are running into the same problem the level in the drain is back up the water is merky but it seems not to be sewage .

    Plumber said: The pipes conecting the floor drain are older may need to be dug up. Could this be possible ? Could it be the Sewage pump ?

    Iam lost because he made it look so easy when he used a plunger ,was it just a quick fix and I should try it myself??

    Any suggestion would be much appeciated THANKS!!
    speedball1's Avatar
    speedball1 Posts: 29,301, Reputation: 1939
    Eternal Plumber
     
    #2

    Oct 27, 2005, 11:06 AM
    Your plumber missed the boat when he didn't go up on the roof and snake out the washer vent. I never even carried a plumger on my repair truck. A plunger may remove enough of the clog so that it will drain but it won't scour and clean the pipe so that the clog will just start to build back up again.
    Go down and rent a K-50 sewer machine or equivalent. Locate the washer vent,( the floor drain doesn'tv have one) and drop the cable down until it hits the base of the vent and about 25' more. Then cycle the washer to flush out what's left. My bets the pipes are OK and the plumber was just looking for a excuse to charge you more money. Good luck, Tom
    jarnason's Avatar
    jarnason Posts: 2, Reputation: 1
    New Member
     
    #3

    Oct 27, 2005, 12:01 PM
    Thanks speedball
    I will keep you posted
    smitchell2002's Avatar
    smitchell2002 Posts: 2, Reputation: 1
    New Member
     
    #4

    May 30, 2011, 07:00 PM
    Help

    I built a ranch style home in 1992,the basement is finished with a toilet, shower and sink (bathroom) in basement directly in front of the bathroom is a floor drain. After a severe rain storm the drain backed up with water and sewage. The shower and toilet were full of black gunk also. How can I prevent this from happening again

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