[richwestberg]

We recently bought a small three bedroom house and everything was fine for the first week and then the floor drain started to back up and gurgle. It started just gurgling, then the water level would rise a little and now when we run the shower or empty the sink it totally backs up and out of the floor drain.(It is black water)

I tried putting some sulfuric acid drain cleaner in the floor drain and it seemed to help a little but it still gurgles and the water still rises.

Any help would sure be appreciated

Thank You

Rich

[Clough]

I am wondering if the black stuff coming out smells?

Some information from the following site may be of use to you. I hope that it is.

Plumbing in the Home: Black stuff coming out of pipe

[tickle]

I had a problem similar to this in my basement. My house used to be on septic but when the town took it over and installed sewers, a connection had to be made from the front of the house to the sewer outlet in the house. This backed up one day but not with black water, with gray water and partially flooded my basement. I have a hole in my basement floor with a stopper that the plumber used a plumbing snake on (extra long) and dislodged the blockage and all was fine. This could be your problem, so I suggest you call a plumber and get that black water problem fixed, because black water is raw sewage which should not be coming back into your house.

[speedball1]

"I tried putting some sulfuric acid drain cleaner in the floor drain and it seemed to help a little"

I can not advise against using muratic acid, or any acid, in a enclosed area strongly enough. As a young boy I would take limed up toilet bowls out in the alley behind the shop and boil the lime out of them. Over half a century later my lungs still carry the scar tissue that the acid fumes caused. A few years ago I lost a good friend when he used a commercial drain cleaner containing sulfuric acid to clear a blockage in a unvented bathroom. Acid IS NOT A GOOD IDEA to use to clear mineral buildup or a blockage. Take it from one who's paid the price.
As for the backup, you have a blockage downstream of the floor drain and it will have to be snaked out. This can be addressed in one of several ways. You can snake from the floor drain itself or you can snake from the roof vent that's the nearest vent that's upstream from the floor drain. Good luck, Tom

[speedball1]

Re:Drain Cleaner

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Tom,

Thank you for your comments. I am going to try snaking and if that does not work I am going to call a professional.

You're welcome, Let me know if you need any assistance. Tom