I saw an earlier (https://www.askmehelpdesk.com/plumbing/toilet-backing-up-into-shower-11545.html) question about icky toilet flush water backing up into the shower & tub. As with this earlier poster, I am B-R-O-K-E and can't afford a pro right now. Going to hafta tackle this one on my own.

I understand checking the clean out (mine is not on the street side, but on the side of the house). I'm missing my cap and have an inverted coffee can over it. I moved the coffee can & there is a vertical pipe that leads down to the horizontal pipe. The vertical pipe is about 12-15" long. There is sewage gunk all on the edges of it, leading me to believe that it is probably backing up when my bathroom upstairs is backing up. There is water trickling down the horizontal pipe as I look in; not sure what that means about where the clog is. I understand that I may have to rent a sewer machine (Ridgid K-60 was recommended), and I think I can do this!

A bit of history: The toilet has had trouble flushing for the past couple of days. It backs up right to the rim. Several hours later, it's gone back down & all is well. The water in the toilet at that point is usually brown. When hubby and I took back-to-back showers yesterday, the shower pan was FULL by the time I finished my shower. This morning, upon flushing the toilet & trying to plunge it to make it go down, the water that backed up into the tub & shower was brown & BLECHY!

I'm on city sewer. Never had this problem before. House is approximately 8 years old. Pipes are PVC. No sump pump in house. There is a second toilet upstairs, and it is doing the same thing. I don't know at this time if this problem is affecting the kitchen sink or downstairs toilet.

What I want to know is: Is there any way I can try to clean this problem with a snake from inside the house? What was the 'vent on the roof' discussed in the previous question? I don't know if I have one of those or not.

Thanks for any help!
Tiffany

Tif, if I understand you right, you will need to snake from the clean-out to the street. Just make sure the snake turns toward the main sewer in the street, that's where you stoppage is. Good luck and let me know how it goes.

Tiffany,

First thing to do is confirm that the main drain line is clogged up. Here, flush a few toilets and then drain a full, washing machine right afterward... does the drain back up at that cleanout (with coffee can on it)? If so, shut off the washing machine... ;)

If the drain backed up you can rent a sewer snake and purchase some leather gloves and safety goggles and snake the drain from the cleanout... you may need to go out pretty far... depends on if you have a clogged pipe or if roots have gotten into the drain pipe.

If you guys attempt this yourself, be clear that these snake machines can create a great amount of torque and you will need to be careful as you do the work.

Also, note that you could rent the snake and purchase the gloves/goggles and spend hours trying to unclog the drain only to find that you can't clear the drain and still need to call in a professional... so just keep that in the back of your mind... just in case. Hopefully, it'll be a breeze.

Glad to discuss more, OK?

Mark

Thank you both for your prompt answers! I called a friend of mine who's familiar with the house (he was our fix-it guy when his girlfriend lived here for two years) and he said the same thing happened winter two years ago, said the pipe is probably frozen! It's been REALLY cold here past several days, and he thinks the cold air coming in the stack has probably frozen the pipes where they join up. It's supposed to be 47 degrees here tomorrow, so hopefully this problem will fix itself!

If not, though, I'm with you MassPlumber, I may be better off just to call in a pro!

I'll keep you-all posted on the situation. Thank you for your quick answers; this place ROCKS!

On another note, I wonder if I shouldn't buy a cap & replace the coffee can with it. Is that sewage-going-out system supposed to be pressurized? I know it's not vis-à-vis my rusty coffee can ;-)

Thanks, Tif

A cap/plug is a great idea... :) Sewer gasses aren't under pressure, but they are unhealthy.