[kiranc]

The home is a 1953 rambler 1 level with 3.5 crawl. The front of the house is where the water main is and the laundry room is closest to the front. Following the laundry room is the kitchen then the single bathroom. The out going water from the bathroom goes down into the ground (as I saw in the crawl). The water from the laundry room and bathroom sink join and go directly down in the ground as well.
When the backup occurred the kitchen sink and washing machine both backed up (water mostly at the washing machine). Now, I am trying to figure out if this is a partial clog in the main line to the sewer or if this is just because our piping system can not handle this much water. I did notice the water coming up in the sink looked dirty - possibly somewhat linty looking.

Thanks for any expert help. This site is so helpful!

[joypulv]

Washers are often the first to back up because they are dumping high volume very rapidly. You can snake the lines and don't run water when the washer is draining, and if that doesn't work, call a rotor rooter company or plumber (Rotor Rooter went from cheap and easy, to expensive and complicated forms to fill out, somewhere between the 80s and 90s). Get a drain sock for $2 to put on the drain hose and keep lint from clogging your lines.

[kiranc]

Thanks so much. I found a local rooting company. I am confused about how the rooting will work though since the blockage is probably farther from the washer and kitchen sink towards the main. Can they snake the line from where the washer dumps its water? I think the pipes are smaller at the washer than where it connects to the main and where the problem likely exists. Thanks for the tip on the prevention. I will definitely get a drain sock! Also, is there usually an access point or cap in the crawl that would help me or the rooter company isolate where the problem is? Thanks again JoyPulv