Without warning (usually they slow drain first, but not this time) our upstairs bathroom (sink and tub) stopped draining as well as the kitchen (double sink and water backing up into dishwasher). The downstairs bathroom (sink) is fine and both of the toilets seem to be fine. We got the upstairs bathroom to drain last night, but then this morning our whole kitchen was soaked in water (including carpeting!) and smelled like the drain stuff we used. It looks like the upstairs had drained out the kitchen sink (the counter was all wet as well). We haven't tried a snake yet, but the drain cleaner didn't work downstairs at all. Any ideas???
We are on well water and a septic tank. Don't know when the last time the tank was cleaned, but it won't be possible until the ground thaws! (Another month or so!!)
2007-02-13 02:19:52 · 4 answers · asked by finding_my_dream 3 in Home & Garden ➔ Maintenance & Repairs
We rent this house. It is an 1800's stone farm house.
2007-02-13 02:20:52 · update #1
Actually it is in our lease that we have to take care of stuff like that if it is possibly caused by us.
2007-02-13 03:18:51 · update #2
Obviously, the plumbing was added some time after the 1800's, so there's no telling what it looks like.
From your description, it would appear that the upstairs bath fixtures, except for the toilet, drain into the same pipe as the lower floor fixtures, except for that toilet.
If you cleared the upstairs line as far as the kitchen, the next step is to remove the kitchen sink P-trap and snake that line out until you clear the blockage.
Unfortunately, there's no way to rearrange the letters in "sewer" to spell "fun", so eithr buy or rent a snake, grit your teeth, and git 'er done!
2007-02-13 05:16:23 · answer #1 · answered by Hank 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I have had this problem, once called a pricey plumber, next time...went to hardware store..got a plastic covered snake that you attach to a drill (about 20$..if you have a drill) Worked like a charm. I would not bother with the flat metal tape like snakes because they are nasty, get stuck, and can hurt your hands. I know nothing about septic tanks...only clogs.
If you have more than one drain stopping at the same time, they most likely are caused by the same clog...try to find the drain closest to the main drain...and work that one...it will probably clear the others.
2007-02-13 03:24:01 · answer #2 · answered by Jennifer B 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
There should be a trap before the drain pipe goes out of the house into the septic. I would chect that trap and try to clean out that pipe first. If it is the septic, you will have to call a septic comapny and they should be able to thaw the ground enough to open up the tank. It's a very small cover that needs to be opened about 2', so it should be aproblem, but I would check the trap and the lower pipes first.
2007-02-13 03:39:05 · answer #3 · answered by badneighborvt 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Most of the time your landlord is responsible for repairs like this. Sounds like you need a snake and quick. They're available for rent at lots of hardware stores, and the people who rent them to you should be able to tell you how to use it.
2007-02-13 02:40:25 · answer #4 · answered by ms_lovelace2 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋