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    dknight's Avatar
    dknight Posts: 1, Reputation: 1
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    #1

    Mar 13, 2011, 05:50 AM
    Cause of plumbing backing up?
    Water is backing up into basement shower and basement toilet. We have not noticed any sewage but is soapy. We have several dogs and son is often washing items with lots of dog hair on them (blankets, ect). I put drain cleaner down about every three weeks and this seems to help for awhile. Do I need to do this more often or is there something stronger I could be using?
    Fr_Chuck's Avatar
    Fr_Chuck Posts: 81,301, Reputation: 7692
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    #2

    Mar 13, 2011, 05:54 AM

    You will find most professions seldom if ever advise to use a "drain cleaner" but if is local to those drains, there are several short "snake" devices that can be run into the drain to catch and pulll out the clog material.
    ballengerb1's Avatar
    ballengerb1 Posts: 27,378, Reputation: 2280
    Home Repair & Remodeling Expert
    		  
    #3

    Mar 13, 2011, 06:00 AM

    Your main drain line is clogged and the basement shower just happens to be your lowest point, first to flood. Find your clean out in the basement or just outside of the home. Once you find it come back and tell us BUT DO NOT OPEN THE CLEAN OUT JUST YET
    massplumber2008's Avatar
    massplumber2008 Posts: 12,832, Reputation: 1212
    Senior Plumbing Expert
    		  
    #4

    Mar 13, 2011, 06:39 AM

    Hi all...

    YUP! Like Ballenger said, the main drain line sounds to be partially clogged up. Here, a classic sign of a main drain blockage is going to be overflow into the lowest fixtures in the home... like your shower and toilet... ;)

    In many cases, the issue won't show up until great quantities of water are used from say, a tub or a washing machine draining out. This usually indicates that the "blockage" is near the foundation wall or even further out from the house.

    In these cases, the main drain line will need to be snaked out... chemicals will not work.

    To confirm all this I would suggest that you fill a tub to the top with water and then fill a washing machine to the top with water and then drain both at the same time while keeping an eye out at the shower and toilet. If bubbles form and water backs up, stop the water flow from the washing machine and the tub and either call a plumber in or go rent a large electrical drain cleaning machine and clear the main drain line. If you plan to snake the main drain purchase some leather gloves and safety goggles, OK?

    More questions? Let us know...

    Mark
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