I am on a city water line and I just came home to a flooded guest bathroom. There was nasty stuff in the bathtub of both the master and the guest bathroom. I flushed the tiloet in the bathroom where the flood was and water started leakin out of where the toilet is attached to the floor. The master bathroom toilet was low so I flushed it and it just backed up to the point where ir almost overflowed. I have plunged and is no help. Before I try and snake it (which I have never done), I want to ask if this is the appropriate next step or if I should call a plumber. If I should snake it, can I do it through the toilet itself or do I have to remove it?
HELP!

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Originally Posted by amytee

I am on a city water line and I just came home to a flooded guest bathroom. There was nasty stuff in the bathtub of both the master and the guest bathroom. I flushed the tiloet in the bathroom where the flood was and water started leakin out of where the toilet is attached to the floor. The master bathroom toilet was low so I flushed it and it just backed up to the point where ir almost overflowed. I have plunged and is no help. Before I try and snake it (which I have never done), I want to ask if this is the appropriate next step or if I should call a plumber. If I should snake it, can I do it through the toilet itself or do I have to remove it?
HELP!!

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I would call a plumber so this problem does not happen again.

Unless you know something about where your sewer line is located, and unless you know if you have a clean out or not I would call a plumber. Some areas of the states it is reasonable to get your sewer cleaned out. I just say an add from one of the Big sewer cleaning companies that said "Drains cleaned $49.50, that seem low to me but I would sure call and ask for a price before I did it myself.
You have to take up the commode if you plan to take that approach, if you go down from the roof, that is not always the best way to go at it. I think a machine big enough to do the job you want to do is going to cost you at least $50 in rent. Good Luck either way.

"If I should snake it, can I do it through the toilet itself or do I have to remove it?"

To snake from there toilet you will have to remove it. In addition to the hassle of removing the toilet this creates a mess in the bathroom when you pull the cable out of the drain line. We snake from the lavatory roof vent if at all possible. Of course, as Letmetellu and I have discussed, you have to consider the area in question. I live in Florida where most homes are one story on a slab where it's easy to snake fr5om a roof vent. A two or three story home might present a problem to snake from a roof vent. In respect to cleanouts. Our code mandates that we install a cleanout 18" off the foundation and brought up to grade. Good luck, Tom