Two years ago the drain in the middle of the downstairs floor backed up. Sewage and everything all over the floor. The downstairs is finished, tiled floors etc. I cleaned it up, put a backflow preventer in, had the drains augered that seemed to fix the problem.

At the time they put a camera in and said the problem was a "P-Trap" under the foundation of the house, these contractors said they had to dig it up and remove it. I couldn't afford it then and after augering it seemed to work fine so I left it at that.

Two years have passed, and now the shower drain won't work, bubbles come up from the toilet when the shower is running (which isn't draining) and filling up, the sink also doesn't drain. When I plunge the toilet water comes up the shower drain along with what appears to be toilet paper, and bits of sewage. I used this pump I had to empty the shower lastnight because it was filling up considerably with sewage water.

I've tried Sodrox, Drano and it doesn't seem to be working. When I plunge the toilet, sewage comes up the shower drain and continues to flow for awhile.

I had Roto-Rooter come last week. When he arrived the frikkin drains worked fine and he didn't want to do anything. The guy went in the main clean-out and got stuck, managed to get it out, put on a smaller auger, same thing got stuck again, managed to get it out. He wanted to put a camera in for another $200 but I said no because the guys we had last time did that already so he said it wasn't warrantied and left.

I borrowed a snake from a friend, put it down the shower drain pretty far and it seems to hit something. I spin the thing for awhile and nothing happens. I tried pushing it in and out repeatedly, spinning and it won't go any further yet nothing really seems to be affected. Drain won't work.

So my question is, will I have to tear up the basement and pull all the piping out ? That's what the original contractors wanted to do for like 10k, my plumber friend said he'd do it at cost plust whatever else I'd give him... thing is I'm not too keen on ripping up the finished basement. If I have to that's what I'll do.

Has any one pulled the toilet and snaked from there? Tom