Our main sewer line is clogged we tried augers and enzymes and it still won't unclog, any suggestions?

Question

When we flush our toilets, the water comes back up through a shower. We have tried an Auger, a snake, and enzymes, but nothing has worked. We think the clog is definitely in the main line. Is there any product that would work better for cleaning Main Sewer lines?

Answer 1

Call the roto-rooter and have them snake your main line to the city's line.

In most cities, you are responsible for your line up to the city's. The cost of snaking will run from $50 to $150 depending on length of run.

Make sure the run the entire length. Take a tape measure and guess-timate where the line runs, and measure to where you think the city's line is.

While they are snaking the line, when they think they cleared it, ask them how far they ran it. If they give you a number short of the measured length, tell them to keep going.

Often you may have more than one clog, and they will clear the short one and stop. Make them clean the whole line and make sure they warranty their work for at least a week if not a month.

Now, if the line clogs several times within two months and they have run the whole line, then you have a line that needs replacing, but I wouldn't contemplate that until I've had it snaked several times.

Now, in reference to Tippies Mom above, often to avoid paying for another sewer tap, owners will combine two lines into one, and split the tap fees. You will have to determine who is using whose sewer. If you are using the neighbors, which is most likely the case, you will have to run your own line and pay for the tap. The last time I did this it cost $1000 not including the tap fee.

Usually most clogs occur either close to the house because there is a yard trap (old house) or where the sewer enters the city's line. For some reason, things snag there.

Good Luck.

Answer 2

Clogged Sewer Line

Answer 3

I have been having this problem since moving into my home about 2 years ago. After snaking every drain in the house and out through the outdoor cleanouts, we were at a loss as to what was causing the problem and where it was located, as all the drains were snaked and cleaned, still, backing up was an issue. I called the town, which arrived promptly 20 minutes later and they snaked from my house into the main, finding a clogged pipe (with those disposable baby wipe things) being the culprit. Seems my neighbor and some of the visitors to my home were using them and throwing them into the toliet and they were getting snagged on a pipe about 100 feet out from my home. After 3 episodes of this, each coming back to these stupid baby wipes, I have banned them from my house and it appears, my neighbor is still using them, because they keep getting fished out as the reason for the additional calls to the city to come and snake the main. Since my town doesn't charge for clogs past my cleanouts, its really no big deal, just an annoyance, I would suggest having your local town sewer guys come out and take a look. Since my last cleanout was just a week ago, they have promised to get to the bottom of why the baby wipes (since they aren't mine) are getting caught and the city will be sending a crew to insert a camera and discover what the reason for this is. One of the crew said this is to see if there is something that can be done to remove what the wipes are catching on and to therefore minimize the calls to come and do these cleanouts. Try seeing if your city is as agreeable as mine, and will snake out past your cleanouts for free. If so, hot dog! If not, be persistant, sometimes it takes more than one call to get the yes to the answer. After all, as a homeowner, you are responsible usually just to your cleanout or to the property line. If this is the case where you live, then that is the course of action you want to follow! I now know not to wait till the drains start backing up into the house, I call when I here the drains rattling when I flush or the washer is draining (I know the signs leading up to the disaster now!) And I now call promptly. Hope this helps you! Good luck!

Answer 4

Sewer Auger

Answer 5

If you are on a city water/sewer system, the clog could very well be at other end of the sewage system instead of yours. I would call tomorrow and ask them to come and check it out. This happened to a friends of mine- caused the house to flood and the city had to reimbursh them and paid for new flooring and carpeting.
If you have a sewage tank, then the field lines may very well be damage whether by time, or tree roots growing into them.
If neither of these two mentioned above are the problem. You might have to call a 'rotor router' company to come and blow out the lines.

Answer 6

If you have done all those things you need to call a plumber and have your main line scoped. If you live in an old house it may be a clay tile main sewer which is notorious for tree roots getting into them causing this problem. If you dump cooking grease down the drain it settles and causes sagging in the lines causeing backups. Have it scoped. its the only sure fire way to fix it at this point.

Answer 7

Look for your cleanout cap on the main sewer line. This is usually below the bathroom. Run the snake or auger both ways through the cleanout this might help. You may need to get a power auger to plunge through hard blockages.

Answer 8

if your house has orangeburge, or clay tile, or cast iron for a main sewer line---any of those could be collasped---or tree roots--try takinging up the commode and running your snake from the shower to the commode--they tie in--after you pull the commode run the snake through that hole and if that don't fix it , then most likely your main line is broke down--now it's time to dig and replace with pvc

Answer 9

Rock Salt works great. Just put two to three cups of rock salt in each toilet. You may have to do this again but generally within a twelve hour period the salt will safely dissolve your clog. You purchase rock salt practically anywhere (Walmart, Hardware, etc.)

Answer 10

If you've run an snake through the main line all the way through then it should drain. If you can't get a snake all the way through you haven't cleared the blockage.