Sewer blaster
Member
Hello all.
I’ve got a plumbing problem that I’ve not been able to solve. This seemed a good place to post it, in hopes of a fix.
Before thanksgiving 2019, we began experiencing a clean water flood around the basement toilet, with intermittent accompaniment of sewage backup at the basement shower.
The first plumber spent 2 hours in the basement doing something. I was at work. I was billed for a replacement wax ring and main sewer drain clearing. From this point on, we began experiencing sewage smell in the house, and all previous problems still exist.
The second plumber spent 3 hours running a snake in the main drain, and it did seem like he fixed it. But three days later, the clean water was on the floor, and the shower had sewage residue in it again. The sewage smell is still present as well.
I’ve finally witnessed the actual flooding event. When it occurs, clean water blasts out at the base of the toilet, as if it’s pressurized. It doesn’t happen everyday. It doesn’t happen in concert with any other major water event in the house, except maybe washing towels. Not clothes mind you...only towels.
Only sometimes does the clean water blast also come with sewage backup in the shower drain. But we never get sewage backup unless the toilet has blasted its water first. I hope I’m being clear. This clean water blast does not affect the water level in the bowl either.
Additionally, two days ago, someone in the house used the toilet for solids, which caused the basement toilet to gurgle, but there was no flood, or backup.
The shower on the main level doesn’t drain correctly anymore either, (also since before thanksgiving) but the basement shower drains fine. And one toilet on the main level has begun double flushing. I also suspect the the flapper on the basement toilet may be leaking, but haven’t proved it.
The house has two vents, and two clean outs. The main stack is 4” diameter copper and the other is 1” cast iron. The smaller line may be attached to the clothes washing machine, and kitchen drain lines. The larger vent is tied to two toilets, 2 showers, and two sinks.
Finally the second plumber said he hit a blockage at 109 feet from the cleanout. He said it would happen again, but didn’t expect it to happen soon.
There have been days when nobody was home all day, and we come home to a flood. We’ve also had days when we did multiple loads of laundry and had no flooding.
Any thoughts? While I believe the cost of a plumber is justified, I can’t afford to spend more money for them to come and do the same thing a third time, for a three day fix.
I’ve got a plumbing problem that I’ve not been able to solve. This seemed a good place to post it, in hopes of a fix.
Before thanksgiving 2019, we began experiencing a clean water flood around the basement toilet, with intermittent accompaniment of sewage backup at the basement shower.
The first plumber spent 2 hours in the basement doing something. I was at work. I was billed for a replacement wax ring and main sewer drain clearing. From this point on, we began experiencing sewage smell in the house, and all previous problems still exist.
The second plumber spent 3 hours running a snake in the main drain, and it did seem like he fixed it. But three days later, the clean water was on the floor, and the shower had sewage residue in it again. The sewage smell is still present as well.
I’ve finally witnessed the actual flooding event. When it occurs, clean water blasts out at the base of the toilet, as if it’s pressurized. It doesn’t happen everyday. It doesn’t happen in concert with any other major water event in the house, except maybe washing towels. Not clothes mind you...only towels.
Only sometimes does the clean water blast also come with sewage backup in the shower drain. But we never get sewage backup unless the toilet has blasted its water first. I hope I’m being clear. This clean water blast does not affect the water level in the bowl either.
Additionally, two days ago, someone in the house used the toilet for solids, which caused the basement toilet to gurgle, but there was no flood, or backup.
The shower on the main level doesn’t drain correctly anymore either, (also since before thanksgiving) but the basement shower drains fine. And one toilet on the main level has begun double flushing. I also suspect the the flapper on the basement toilet may be leaking, but haven’t proved it.
The house has two vents, and two clean outs. The main stack is 4” diameter copper and the other is 1” cast iron. The smaller line may be attached to the clothes washing machine, and kitchen drain lines. The larger vent is tied to two toilets, 2 showers, and two sinks.
Finally the second plumber said he hit a blockage at 109 feet from the cleanout. He said it would happen again, but didn’t expect it to happen soon.
There have been days when nobody was home all day, and we come home to a flood. We’ve also had days when we did multiple loads of laundry and had no flooding.
Any thoughts? While I believe the cost of a plumber is justified, I can’t afford to spend more money for them to come and do the same thing a third time, for a three day fix.
