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JoelCol05 · Mar 1, 2008, 07:18 AM

Okay, I don't know how common of a problem this is but I need to give it a shot before I call a plumber, because I simply don't have the money to hire one at the time. I've got a 2 story house with one bathroom on each floor. When the upstairs toilet is flushed, stuff is coming up the downstairs toilet. Also, when the downstairs toilet is flushed, some of the time it won't go down, or it will go down very slowly, and it leaks. On a side note, the shower also backs up, and there would sometimes be a good 3 inches or so of standing water in the tub after I'm done taking a shower. I've tried drano and such to no avail :confused: . Much help is needed and appreciated! Oh, and in case it helps, the house is with septic. Not sewer.

speedball1 · Mar 1, 2008, 01:20 PM

The first thing I would do is attempt to isolate the problem. House clog or septic tank suspect would be the septic tank. When was it last checed on? To check it yourself open up the house clean out. Is the pipe full of water/ No? Then flush and look again. If you see standingwater the tank needs attention. However, If the clean out's dry the clog's in the house drainage system and will have to be snaked from a roof vent or a tolilet pulled and snaked from there. Good luck, Tom

JoelCol05 · Mar 11, 2008, 12:24 PM

What does the house clean out look like? Is it just a pipe sticking straight up out of the ground next to the house? Because that's all I see. I think.

massplumber2008 · Mar 11, 2008, 01:25 PM

Joel:

Sounds like you found the cleanout. The main house cleanout is usually a 4 inch cap... remove that cap and see if you hear gurgling sounds or if you see water back up when you flush the toilet (flush a lot of times)... until backs up at inside plumbing OR until gurgles/backs up near cleanout. That should tell you if clog inside house (at drain pipe common to BOTH bathrooms) or outside between house and septic tank.

If issue between house (outside cleanout) and septic, could be septic tank needs to cleaned or could be a clog in pipe or at the inlet to tank. Answer the question Tom (speedball1) asked: When was tank last pumped?

If inside the house and both bathrooms involved you want to look for the drain pipe that is common to both bathrooms... want to look for cleanout near this common connection... OR may need to lift the nearest toilet to the clog and snake the drain line from there. DRANOs NOT GOING TO DO IT FOR YOU THIS TIME! ;)

Rent a 5/8" power snake from rental store and snake drain either way. Drain the pipes slowly if removing any cleanouts from inside, and wear leather gloves ($4.00) and eye protection if you can... *safety first*.

If between cleanout and tank... again just note the last time septic was pumped.. if you think it is even possible that it is overdue.. then get pumped and see from there.

Hope that helped (Let us know and don't forget to answer the septic question)... MARK.

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JoelCol05 · Mar 30, 2008, 01:26 PM

OK, I took out the bottom toilet, and used the 5/8 snake, and got a ton of clog out. As I was getting the clog out, I saw water going down the pipe so I know it helped. Now I put the toilet back in even better than before, and now it's all weird still. When you flush the upstairs toilet, it's still bubbling through the downstairs toilet, and stuff is coming up through the shower too. And when you flush the downstairs toilet, it doesn't go down at all when the tank is filling back up, but when it's done, the water slowly goes down... this is the weirdest thing I've ever seen...

massplumber2008 · Mar 30, 2008, 01:41 PM

Joel... you got some of the clog... but not all of it. Got to go back in and clear the rest of it out.

What have you been pulling back on snake?

JoelCol05 · Mar 30, 2008, 05:23 PM

Pretty sure I got a panty liner or 2... but it's all caked together nasty like. Then I went up to the roof and snaked the vent from there but that didn't do anything either... I just can't find this freakin clog.

massplumber2008 · Mar 31, 2008, 04:40 AM

Joel... see if you can flood the system when you are working that snake from inside the house... the idea here is to keep water in the line so you can see it bob up/down, back/forth as you run into the clog.

For example, water is inline... you can see it up to top of pipe you are working on and suddenly you see the water react (bob).. or even release (drains away in great rush). YOU mark snake there... and continue to work that area vigorously.. back/forth, back/forth... then pull snake out and see what is on end if anything. Then go back in again and at same spot you marked on snake (I tie a little teflon tape around snake so I can identify spot of interest) work that area again... then go further.. work that area...

See, that is the trick with snaking... working the snake in and out many times until you are sure drain line cleared. Heck, cable can just keep jumping over blockage so you really got to work it to make it work for you.

If that does not do it then may be time to call a pro.. or may even need to call in for a camera inspection to see if pipe is collapsed or similar (that is expensive though). That is worst case.

Hey, sounds like you are getting there... always more involved then people think. I have been drain cleaning for years and I am always surprised at how many time I need to go in and out until I finally clear blockage complete.

Good luck, Joel. Mark

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