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Featured Replies

This happened 3 months ago.  The plumber took all of 5 mins to fix it for X amount of money to fix it.

The main pipe between the house and the street is stopped up causing water to flow back out of our downstairs toilet when using water anywhere else in the house.  

I got the cap off in the front yard.  The clog was not bad enough to cause any type of pressure release when the cap was opened which tells me it could be a small issue.  Problem is that, of course, the snake I have is only about 5 feet long and the clog could be anywhere between our house and the street. FWIW, the sewer water level is about a foot below the top of the cap.

Would pouring a bottle of liquid Drano do anything?  Any other ideas?  

 

You could go rent or buy a longer snake from home Depot.
You can also buy cameras fairly cheap now to see what's going on

They have a balloon thing that screws onto your water hose that will expand to fill the pipe so water won't flow backwards and then use water pressure to clear the pipe out. May not work if it is just a restriction and not clogged.

Ask your neighbor, if he isn’t too busy installing a washing machine.

$26 from Amazon


General Pipe Cleaners R-25SM Spin Thru Drain Auger with 1/4-Inch by 25-Feet Cable




You might have a crack in your main line where the roots are growing through.  If that's the case.  Take all the suggestions above and shove them up your ass because that would feel better than what is about to happen.

Maybe you can purge it with a maximum flow of wastewater...turn on all your faucets & tub spouts, station a friend or family member at each commode, and do a synchronized flush. Maybe that will build enough pressure behind the clog to break it loose.

This may cause some flooding at the first floor commode you mentioned so be ready for that.

Disclaimer: I'm not a plumber and I'm not responsible for any damage, costs, or injuries directly or indirectly resulting from anything I've said in this post. But if you try it, please post a video.

 

 

Can you see down into the cleanout? If it’s full of shit then the blockage is down stream. No shit, upstream. Might help you aim the snake. 

If it is roots, they have a head that will cut through them, but it could turn into a big problem if/when the pipe gets fully crushed/destroyed. I’ve got a rent house that I’m just waiting for that to happen with. 

  • Author

Thanks for all the advice.  Gonna rent one of the 50-footers from Home Depot - $25.  I'm about 99% sure it's not a root issue.  When the plumber came out 3 months ago, the clog was a wad of paper towels.  We had guests at the time and I think the kid was flushing them for some reason.  There are no trees anywhere between our house and the street.

Wear rubber gloves, goggles, and a smock because that can get nasty pulling the snake back in.  Poo flinging spectacular.  A poo flinging war in which you are certainly the looser.  Shit-tastic.  Poo-rific.  Enjoy.

  • Author

Got it done.  Much easier than I thought because the clog was not root related.  Thx for all the help.

Did your bull leave condoms while you were gone? He should know you can’t flush those.

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