why is our sewer backing up?

Question

we had this prob last year seems to b a yearly prob

Answer 1

Something is either plugged or full. If it's a city sewer, it may be overloaded with rain or melting snow, and it can't handle all the water coming in to it. Or there's an obstruction that keeps it from functioning at full capacity. Either way, call the city and ask that they come look into it. Check with your neighbors - if they're having the same problem, that may make it easier for the city to figure out where the problem lies, or get them out faster because more people are affected.

If it's a private septic system, you still may have a plug. Tree roots can grow into lines, or someone may have flushed something that lodged in the line. A neighbor found his missing pager that way. If you haven't had the septic tank pumped out in at least 4-5 years, it might be full. That should be taken care of periodically, or you run the risk of the drainfield getting filled with grease, sediments, etc. That would mean that it would have to be dug up and replaced, and that's a WHOLE LOT more expensive than just pumping the tank periodically. The last time I had my tank pumped, it cost about $150. A drain field will cost maybe 30 times that much. You do the math.

Answer 2

If it is yearly then it is most likely tree roots. I had a clog at my old apartment that was tree roots combined with a paper towel. The plumber said anyone with a wooded lot or trees anywhere near their underground pipes should probably get their drain professionally snaked by a reputable plumber all the way to the street every year or few years before they have a backup and avoid the resulting mess.

Answer 3

we had sewere problems that came and went. Turned out the pipe from the house to the street had shifted due the the earth shifting. A 'belly' was created in the pipe. Sewage would back up into the house. We would have it flushed out but until the pipe was dug up and repaired it was not truly fixed. Call your city sewer or utilities company. They fixed ours and paid for some of it.

Answer 4

How old is your home?

We recently had a similar problem. Turns out that between the age of the house (about 75 years) and the fact that the ceramic pipes had never been replaced, that the source of the problem was (ahm) feminine hygiene products.

If we hadn't had a connection to a good plumber, it would have cost us an arm and a leg to get that fixed.

Answer 5

why don't you just replace the the sewer pipe. it properly collapse. if you are having problems every year. just have it replace. my husband and son replace the sewer line to the house.

Answer 6

cuz its clogged ?????
if its yearly then it might be tree roots.
of course make sure no one is flushing paper towels, feminine hygience products etc

Answer 7

Stop eating soo much cheese!