Ask Me Help Desk - Basement floor drain backs up

Basement floor drain backs up

Hello! We recently purchased our first home built in 1956. We have had a couple of plumbing issues arise so far.
First, the kitchen sink wouldn't drain. We took all the pipes off the wall (there was nothing in the trap) and ran the roto rooter thing (no plumbing experience obviously! ) down. It seems to have worked so far as the sink is draining.
Next, I did several loads of laundry (in the basement) the first couple of days and everything was fine. Then a few days ago after doing a load of laundry, the drain on the floor backed up and we guesstimate about a quart of water came out. It worries me because it is very close to the furnace unit. We tried putting the roto-rooter thing down the drain on the floor, but it's almost as if there is no opening! We can't get it to go anywhere! I think it might be a "P" trap I've heard about on this forum. When you look into the drain, you can see standing water. No sewage smell or anything. We do have a sump pump if that matters.
This morning my husband called me and said there was water out of the drain on the floor in the basement after he took a shower (which is upstairs). :confused: :eek:
I am in need of clean laundry! Please help!
THanks!

Quote:

Originally Posted by ganewton4

Hello! We recently purchased our first home built in 1956. We have had a couple of plumbing issues arise so far.
First, the kitchen sink wouldn't drain. We took all the pipes off the wall (there was nothing in the trap) and ran the roto rooter thing (no plumbing experience obviously!!) down. It seems to have worked so far as the sink is draining.
Next, I did several loads of laundry (in the basement) the first couple of days and everything was fine. Then a few days ago after doing a load of laundry, the drain on the floor backed up and we guesstimate about a quart of water came out. It worries me because it is very close to the furnace unit. We tried putting the roto-rooter thing down the drain on the floor, but it's almost as if there is no opening! We can't get it to go anywhere! I think it might be a "P" trap I've heard about on this forum. When you look into the drain, you can see standing water. No sewage smell or anything. We do have a sump pump if that matters.
This morning my husband called me and said there was water out of the drain on the floor in the basement after he took a shower (which is upstairs). :confused: :eek:
I am in need of clean laundry!! Please help!
THanks!

Are you on city sewer or a septic system?
You have a partial blockage downstream from the floor drain. Fiber from the washer combined with grease from the kitchen sink,( especially if you have a disposal unit) cakes together in the drain and builds up to form a partial blockage. To clear this problem you will have to snake out the washer vent from the roof. If you haven't a power sewer machine you can rent one at the RentAll place. Let the cable go all the way down to the bend at the base and then run out 20 feet more to be sure you clear it. Afterwards run a wash cycle on the washer to flush out any crud that remains. Good luck, Tom

Thank you soooo much for your quick response! Sounds like a weekend project for my husband and I! We will try and see what happens.
By the way, we are on city sewer. Will that make a difference with anything we need to do?
Thanks again for being so helpful! :)

Quote:

Originally Posted by ganewton4

Thank you soooo much for your quick response! Sounds like a weekend project for my husband and I! We will try and see what happens.
By the way, we are on city sewer. Will that make a difference with anything we need to do?
Thanks again for being so helpful! :)

Being on a city sewer won't change a thing. If you were on a septic tank a tank that needs to be pumped or a drain field would give you the same symptoms. Have fun, Tom

So I just talked to my husband and told him what you said. He is a little confused as to what he is supposed to be looking for on the roof. Cen you help?

Quote:

Originally Posted by ganewton4

So I just talked to my husband and told him what you said. He is a little confused as to what he is supposed to be looking for on the roof. Cen you help?

This should be a 2" vent directly above where the washer is located.

Thanks, I'll let you know what we find! :cool:

Well, bad news. The back up became worse, fast. So we needed action soon. We called a plumber. He came and got A TON of roots out of the main pipe to the street. Then today, they sent a camera into the pipe. Seems that at our sidewalk in front of the house, there is still the original clay pipe that is cracked where roots are getting in. He said we ned to get it fixed and gave us an estimate of $4000-5000!! Is that a little much? He said they'd have to dig a 7 foot trench in the yard to replace the pipe. What are your thoughts on this? :(

Get a second...

Quote:

Originally Posted by ganewton4

Well, bad news. The back up became worse, fast. So we needed action soon. We called a plumber. He came and got A TON of roots out of the main pipe to the street. Then today, they sent a camera into the pipe. Seems that at our sidewalk in front of the house, their is still the original clay pipe that is cracked where roots are getting in. He said we ned to get it fixed and gave us an estimate of $4000-5000!!! Is that a little much? He said they'd have to dig a 7 foot trench in the yard to replace the pipe. What are your thoughts on this? :(

... bid! The price seems high but don't know how much is being dug up/replaced? When you reply give some estimate as to the length of pipe being replaced so Speedball1 can provide useful feedback.

My husband guesstimates about 50 feet. From the basement to the street needs replaced. What's the deal with the "trenchlesss" digs I keep seeing?

These tend to...

Quote:

Originally Posted by ganewton4

My husband guesstimates about 50 feet. From the basement to the street needs replaced. Whats the deal with the "trenchlesss" digs I keep seeing?

... cut down on the amount of digging by drilling in a horizontal fashion rather than using a trencher which literally digs a trench. They make less of a mess but may cost more as not everyone uses this equipment. Better if you can hire some low cost labor to dig up the area around the pipe and then the only 'big' money is for the company replacing the pipe.

Quote:

Originally Posted by ganewton4

Well, bad news. The back up became worse, fast. So we needed action soon. We called a plumber. He came and got A TON of roots out of the main pipe to the street. Then today, they sent a camera into the pipe. Seems that at our sidewalk in front of the house, their is still the original clay pipe that is cracked where roots are getting in. He said we ned to get it fixed and gave us an estimate of $4000-5000!!! Is that a little much? He said they'd have to dig a 7 foot trench in the yard to replace the pipe. What are your thoughts on this? :(

Most root problems occur at the city raiser where the house sewer connects to the city main. If the house sewer's intact and the fault lies with the city raiser then it's their responsibility to repair it. If the 4 to 5000$ covers replacing 50 feet of sewer line then the price is outrageous. We're talking a two man job that would take a day at most to complete. If that's the kind of money plumbers make nowadays then I retired too damm early. Cheers, Tom

Some people pay up to 7000$ to replace cast iron and clay pipe,just make sur ethey r using sch 40 pipe and sure bands when they connect the pvc with the cast iron coming out of your house,but good luck,also your doing a good thing with replacing the old pipe with new,u won't have any roots problems

First things first! Let me help with the roots. If you wish to control roots RootX or Robics Foaming Root Killer that contain Dichlobrnic are two products you could try.
A less expensive way would be to call around to garden supply stores and ask for fine grain Copper Sulphate. Put a 1/2 pound in your toilet and flush it down. Repeat in 6 months.
Flickit was correct when he advised yoiuy to get at least three bids, As for figging up your front lawn to replace the sewer line have you checked the cost of relining the sewer instead of replacing it?

Good luck, Tom