The drain outside my basement door overflows and into my basement. It is nasty and smells of sewer gas. I have tried plunging, water pressure but nothing worked. I have used a plumber's plunger at the sewer drain that is outside my yard but it did nothing. It was dry. The cleanout pipe was also checked and was dry. I did notice that while plunging, the water in the basement water started bubbling. When using the water pressure, the dirty water started coming up through the same toilet. I never use this toilet, so I wouldn't think it would be clogged. When I use my washer, the released water comes up through this drain. The residue around the drain indicates matter from the third floor bathroom, which is always used. Where is the clog, between the drain and the sewer or between the basement toilet and the outside drain? Will snaking the drain work or should I snake the basement toilet?

Skip the plunger and that toilet. Your min drain line is clogged and needs rodding by a good sized snake 2" or larger. You may want to call 3 plumbers and get their bids on doing this work, I doubt you have the needed tools.

Bob nailed it. Do you have a cleanout on any of the vertical pipes min your basement? If so you can rent a sewer machine and snake the main from there. Good luck, Tom

I do have a cleanout outside the basement door. It is on a vertical pipe. I've opened it and nothing comes out. I've also fed a hose deeply in the cleanout and it did not clear the problem. The drain on the ground just backed up. I guess I'll have to call a plumber. I really wanted to resolve this myself in case it ever happened again. The only other thing I haven't done is snake the drain pipe.

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The only other thing I haven't done is snake the drain pipe.

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And that's what you should have done first. Put out about 25 feet of snake down that clean out. Good luck, Tom

Yeah Tom, I know. I actually went to Home Depot to purchase a snake but opted to ask the representative in the plumbing department what should be done. He is the one who told me to try the bladder first and the a main drain line cleaner. As you know, neither worked although I didn't use the bladder in the cleanout. Should I have? I didn't think so since it was dry. I wanted to try something less risky, I guess. You see, I am a female who likes fixing things, if I can. I do pretty well so long as I have know what I'm doing. I follow directions pretty well and am very careful. I did my homework as best I could. I'll go to get a snake tomorrow. Once a plumber told me to always check the cleanout first but what I don't understand (logically) is why the backup is from the drain on the ground if the clog is in the cleanout. I also ran water into the cleanout which still came up through the ground drain which made me think that the clog is between that drain and the sewer which is right outside my backyard fence. Hmm. Am I thinking incorrectly?