My family and I have lived in a two story, 2 bathroom house for over a year. We have had no problems for most of that time. Then, about 2 months ago, some strange things started happening concerning appliances that use water. The toilet started bubbling when the washing machine would drain, the tub drain was very slow and there was a BAD smell coming from the laundry room closet. This was apparently a half bath before we moved in, but was converted to a closet. So a month ago, while the rinse water was draining from the washing machine, water overflowed from the old toilet hole(it is covered with wood)in the laundry closet, sewage backed up into the tub and the toilet in that bathroom overflowed. I called a plumber, and he checked the main line and said it was clogged with "black gunk". He used a tool to clear it and wrote on the receipt that everything was working great and he saw no other problems. Two weeks later, same things happened. Called plumber again, he came back and said that he had only cleared the line from the house to a "sharp bend" in the pipe in the middle of my yard. He told me he cleared this time from the sharp bend to the road. He also said that this would keep happening(he did not say that the first time) and that he would have to charge if I called him back out. He said the sharp bend will make it impossible to keep clear. We lived here a year and only had problems recently! Is it true that this will continue? Is there more that he should be doing? What do I need to be doing or asking him?

Your plumber's blowing smoke up your skirt. When you're called to snake out a sewer you snake out a sewer. You don't just quit half way througfh and tell you there will be a extra charge to finish the job he was hired to do. This is outrageous behavior on his part and I would report this to the Better Business Buraeu If he owns the company and his boss if he don't. Good luck and please let me know the outcome. Tom

Yes, you are not getting professional service. Call the sewer company with the biggest add Yellow Pages. They have top-of-the-line equipment and will be able to snake it all the way to the street.

Since you are experiencing main line blockages, you will need exterior Clean Out. I hope you have one. If not, have one installed within 24" of your foundation, where sewer leaves your house.

Quote: "...This was apparently a half bath before we moved in, but was converted to a closet. So a month ago, while the rinse water was draining from the washing machine, water overflowed from the old toilet hole(it is covered with wood)in the laundry closet, sewage backed up into the tub and the toilet in that bathroom overflowed... " Quote

Now this statement worries me. Let's see if I understand you correctly: You had old 1/2 bathroom that was turned into a closet, toilet hole was not plugged, covered with wood floor, and now, when you have sewer line blockage, sewer comes up through that hole, from under the wood?? If that's the case than it is very wrong. If you discontinue 1/2 bath all drains have to be plugged and sealed. You should never have any leaks from those drains.

In addition, you must be getting sewer gas through those holes since they are now nothing else but another sewer vents. It is health hazard, too...

Roto Rooter is the company I used for clearing the drains.
I don't really know anything about the former half bath. I bought the house a year ago and was not aware the closet had originally been a bath. I am really just guessing now, but you can tell when you look closely in there that that is what it was. The inspector for the sale never mentioned it either, nor did the sellers.
Should I call Roto Rooter and have them come back? Should I have to pay again?
Thanks!

Roto-Rooter gives 3 month warranty on their drain cleaning. Their technician did only 1/2 of job 1st time and 1/2 job second time. As Tom said, they should have snake it all the way to the street first time. Yes, I would call Roto-Rooter, complain a bit, and ask them to re-snake your sewer.

If they come over to re-snake, stand by the technician and watch what is he going to pull out of the drain. This way he cannot claim "roots in your sewer" if you stand right next to him and watch what he is pulling out of your sewer. If you see roots on tip of his snake, than you may have a problem.

We used to make good living some years back going after Roto-Rooter and Rescue Roter drain cleaning companies. They scared customers into replacing sewer lines and with estimates going into several thousands dollars per replacement. Most of the work was unnecessary. We picked up their contracts after customers called us to give them 2nd opinion. Even we charged 50% less then RR, we still made nice profit on the job.

Roto Rooter just came out and snaked out line again. Said he does not know what is causing back up.. nothing coming back up. Said he needed to use TV camera to see what problem is(100 dollars). If he leaves today without doing that, he will charge me next time he comes out to unclog drain and will charge for TV camera. What about the warranty? He said that since this is the 3rd recheck, they would charge for another one. Does that sound right? I watched him run the snake and nothing came back up.

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I called a plumber, and he checked the main line and said it was clogged with "black gunk". He used a tool to clear it and wrote on the receipt that everything was working great and he saw no other problems. Two weeks later, same things happened. Called plumber again, he came back and said that he had only cleared the line from the house to a "sharp bend" in the pipe in the middle of my yard. He told me he cleared this time from the sharp bend to the road. He also said that this would keep happening(he did not say that the first time) and that he would have to charge if I called him back out. He said the sharp bend will make it impossible to keep clear. Two weeks later, same things happened. Called plumber again, he came back and said that he had only cleared the line from the house to a "sharp bend" in the pipe in the middle of my yard. He told me he cleared this time from the sharp bend to the road.

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Something don't smell right ! Let's use a little logic here. You had a system that worked for two years but now you're going to have problems because of a "sharp bend" that he couldn't get his snake past on his first call? And then he came out and snaked from the "sharp bend" to the street. If he couldn't get past the bend on call number one did he dig it up and snake from the open line ? I don't think so. Which begs the question why wasn't it done right in the first place. Another thing I find curious is that plumbers don't put "sharp bends" in drainage lines. We use sweeps or two 45's to make a 90 degree turn. And why was there a 90 degree bend out in the yard between the house and the street anyhow? As a rule Rotor Rooter workers are not licensed plumbers so I would take their excuses with a grain of salt. I now question whether you have a bend out there at allo. This whole deal stinks to high heaven. I thinkyou're being played and I would sprnd the extra bucks to get a licensed plumber out there to give me a straight story. You sure ain't getting it from Rotor-Rooter. Good luck and please keep me in the loop on this. Tom

Thanks for your advice. I guess I will call a plumber. One more question... this may sound dumb but now that the Roto guy has snaked the line, the kitchen sink(that has a disposal)smells like dirt! A very strong smell of freshly turned dirt. Is that normal? Thanks!

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now that the Roto guy has snaked the line, the kitchen sink(that has a disposal)smells like dirt! A very strong smell of freshly turned dirt. Is that normal?

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No it's not normal but without knowing the drainage lay out I would be hard pressed to explain it. Please let me know what the plumber says. You might show him my postsa where I question the "sharp bend". Good luck and keep me informed. Tom

I agree with Tom: Roto-Rooter guys are too inexperienced to call the shots. It takes years of actually doing the job to trouble-shoot and understand the system. He is just smooth talking you into spending more money.