[jjm7]

Hello,
I am the new owner of a 24 year old house outside of Atlanta, GA, and I am having drainage problems with my main sewer line. I am trying to determine a course of action to diagnose and resolve my problem, and could use some advice. To try and keep the size of this post down (since I have a lot of info) I'll compose a bulleted list of what I know, followed by a list of questions.

WHAT I KNOW / WHAT HAS HAPPENED:
- Waste water from entire house (downstairs washing machine, upstairs showers) backing up into downstairs bathroom.
- I have no idea where (if at all) my sewer clean-outs are. My understanding is that there should at least be one near property line at street, but have been unable to locate it and previous owner didn't know either. Many of my neighbors do not know if they have a clean-out.
- Plumber used auger to snake the line from downstairs toilet drain (yuck, what a mess!). He snaked out about 85 ft. and thinks he was at the tap, but didn't punch all the way through the tap, as it seems he was worried about getting the auger head caught up. The auger head did bring back one small root.
- It seemed like he broke up a clog, as we both heard water draining. After the plumber left, the first load of wash (well, I did run two rinse cycles, cleaning towels that had been used to get the water up) backed up into the bathroom again.
- All I have to go on as far as locating the sewer line is a map from the county showing my stub in relation to my property line. According to the person I spoke with, they do not send someone out to mark the location of the tap on the curb. This map I have would seem to suggest that the tap is under the driveway, but that seems odd to me. I also don't know exactly which path my line would take from the tap to my house.

QUESTIONS:
- If I truly don't have a clean-out (is that likely for a 24 year old house?), I think I should have one installed. To do this, I could save money and dig down to the line myself (and possibly try to install the clean-out myself), but I'm not really certain where to dig.
- I could have a plumber camera the line from the inside bathroom. I suppose this could serve the dual purpose of trying to find the problem as well as helping locate the line and possibly any hidden clean-outs.
- The advice I'm getting from plumbers right now varies from digging up the yard and replacing the entire sewer for $4K, to suggesting that I try to locate the line myself and either install (or have installed) the clean-out, then try to diagnose the problem from there.

Any advice or suggestions as to a course of action would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks, Josh.

[speedball1]

Hi Josh,

Sounds like you have roots in your sewer that the plumber didn't get when he snaked your line.
By code we are required to install a cleanout not over 18" away from the house foundation and bring it up to grade. It's inconceivable that a house built in 1982 should not have one. Unfortunately, over time, they get buried and forgotten. When that happens we take a pointed rod called a probe and go searching for it. Look for it! It's there! The building department should have records showing exactly where the city raiser connects to your sewer line. This, too,is required by code. Most blockages from roots will be located at the city raiser at the joint.I may be able to give you some relief on the root problem.
For immediate relief and to kill the existing roots and prevent further growth you can purchase RootX or Robics Foaming Root Killer that contain Dichlobrnic.
A less expensive way would be to call around to garden supply stores and ask for fine grain Copper Sulphate. Put a 1/2 pound in your toilet and flush it down. Repeat in 6 months.
Bottom line? Locate the house cleanout, clear the sewer line and locate the break in the line where roots enter and repair it.
Good luck, Tom

[jjm7]

Tom,
Thanks a lot for the information.

"It's inconceivable that a house built in 1982 should not have one."
This is the crucial information I was wanting. At least I know that I'm not on a wild goose chase, poking through my yard. I know that my sewer line connects to the main under the street, so I assume the front of my house, 1-2 feet away from the foundation is the logical place to start probing.

"The building department should have records showing exactly where the city raiser connects to your sewer line."
I have a map that I got from the county water/sewer dept. This map shows the lots in my subdivision, and I see a line representing the city raiser spurring off from the main sewer line towards my property. In fact, I even took the manhole cover off in the center of my cul-de-sac, and I can see the raiser that goes towards my house. Interestingly, it doesn't seem to go in the same direction as indicated by the map I have, which makes me question the accuracy of this map. Should I be looking for a more detailed map from the "building department", instead of relying on what I have from the county utility?

One last question. You mentioned flushing the Copper Sulphate down the toilet, but not the RootX or Robics. Can that stuff go down the toilet, or should that go down the cleanout (once I find it).

Thanks again, Josh

[jjm7]

Any suggestions on where one can walk into a store and purchase a probe? I have been looking online all day and, though I haven't actually stepped foot in a Home Depot or Lowe's, I am unable to find one on their websites. Online searches seem to only find the product (sometimes called "tile probes", sometimes "soil probes") sold by wholesalers (e.g. Grainger) or industrial supply companies. Can they be found at hardware stores?
Thanks, Josh

[speedball1]

:"One last question. You mentioned flushing the Copper Sulphate down the toilet, but not the RootX or Robics. Can that stuff go down the toilet, or should that go down the cleanout (once I find it)."

Clean-out/ toilet, it all goes to the same place. Good luck, Tom

[speedball1]

Any suggestions on where one can walk into a store and purchase a probe? I have been looking online all day and, though I haven't actually stepped foot in a Home Depot or Lowes, I am unable to find one on their websites. Online searches seem to only find the product (sometimes called "tile probes", sometimes "soil probes") sold by wholesalers (e.g. Grainger) or industrial supply companies. Can they be found at hardware stores?
Thanks, Josh

Hey Josh.

You don't buy a probe/sounding rod. You make your own out of a 1/4 or 5/16ths steel rod about 4 1/2' long and sharpen a point on one end. Then you can heat the unshapened end and bend it into a handle for a better grip. Good luck, Tom