Shower Drain Backing Up...

[URY914]

A Roto-rooter type services will also be able to run a camera down the line and see what the problem is. The shower is backing up because it is the lowest drain in the system. If there is a blockage it backs up to the shower first. Call a pro.

[KFC911]

Originally Posted by URY914

?...Call a pro.

This....I have a 25' snake, but if that doesn't fix it, then I make the call. NEVER seen a pro pour anything down a drain either....YMMV

[creaturecat]

Is there a clean-out somewhere?
If so, run a snake down it.
Have you already tried a plunger at the shower drain?

[Don Ro]

Originally Posted by creaturecat

Is there a clean-out somewhere?
If so, run a snake down it.
Have you already tried a plunger at the shower drain?

Just tried a plunger - LOL, it's 4:30 AM here 'n I'm up early trying to fix this deal.
Water hasn't budged after using the plunger.
Clean-put is just a few feet from the back of my house.
I'll look for my snake and do what I can prior to calling in a plumber.
I'd sure like to hammer this down on my own...kinda enrolled now.
You guys are teaching me about it all.
Thanks gents

[unclebilly]

A couple things...

As was mentioned, the blockage is likely between your house and the curb. The reason it comes up in your shower is due to technology developed in the last 2-3 years (Gravity)...

I have never been to your place but I'm pretty sure your shower drain is 2-3 feet lower than your sink drain. Because you have a blockage between your house and curb, the water from the sink flows downhill (this is how gravity works) and since it can't flow out to the sewer line as fast, flows back up your shower drain.

You are lucky you caught this and don't have a bath upstairs.

Likely the problem is roots getting into your sewer line.

A cheap alternative to getting the camera services out is to buy a 30' USB camera off of Amazon or eBay.

Something like this: DBPOWER 2Million Pixels 5M USB Waterproof HD 6LED Borescope Endoscope Inspection Tube Camera these are $22 for example.

We used one to sort out this exact problem at my dad's place 3 years ago. The roots from his grape vines had grown under the house and got into a 4" PVC coupling and were causing the blockage. Rotorooter had angered it out for him. We were able to use the USB camera to precisely find the trouble spot, cut the concrete slab in his garage, dig down the 2-1/2 feet, and repair the coupling with a Fernco and then fill in the hole with concrete.

[Don Ro]

You speak with straight tongue, billy.
Makes sense to me...it will get handled soon.
Thanks!

[unclebilly]

A plunger won't do anything, your house has a vent stack that vents the sewer line to the roof. When you plunge all you are doing is pushing against atmosphere up the vent stack. Not the blockage between the house and the curb.

[unclebilly]

The other thing is that getting the roots removed is only a temporary fix because in 6 months to a year, they will grow back.

[Don Ro]

The Borescope Endoscope you suggested sounds decent with a sane price.
Just a bit limp-dicked, however.
Have to come up with a guide wire of some sort if I go for this unit.
Thanks, again.
.
http://www.amazon.com/DBPOWER-Waterproof-Borescope-Endoscope-Inspection/dp/B016DEZI8U

[unclebilly]

We were able to slide that bore scope into the clean out at my dad's place without issue. You can have it connected as you run it in and twist the wire as needed to slide it in because you can see what is going on. We connected his to a laptop.

A speedometer cable might be good to stiffen up the wire if needed.

[VincentVega]

Around here you can rent the camera snake but its not $20. Great feature is the distance meter on the machine, then you can pinpoint exactly where the blockage is w/o handling the device.

[Don Ro]

"Great feature is the distance meter on the machine,..."
~~~~~
Do you mean on the borescope unit/program itself?
The unit/program will give distance?

[VincentVega]

yes, you'll see something like this



nothing like busting up concrete only to learn you are 2' off and need to do it again.

good luck

[unclebilly]

The cable doesn't stretch but is can helix as you push it in. The key is to watch the camera when you pull back. When the camera (end) starts to move put some tape on the cable at this point, this it the straight cable length to the camera.

Alternatively, tape a tape measure to the cable. This will give rigidity to push it in and a length measurement.

[Don Ro]

I have a 35' tape measure that I could cannibalize.
Tape may be too flimsy.
I do have some flat 1/8" wire that might do.
You guys are great...

[GH85Carrera]

Originally Posted by Jim Bremner

pour in 2, 2 liters of coke. let it sit over night and flush.

I thought coke was sold in kilos not liters. That is a lot of blow.

[mreid]

Put the camera on the end of your snake or a wire fish. It will be plenty rigid and much easier to control.

[john70t]

Sump at a lake cottage backed up.
Turned out to be 8ft of tree roots. PVC sections were not glued together.

Condo building backed up.
Poop water coming out of toilets on the first floor.
Turned out to be the cast iron main was peeling internally.

House backed up.
Turned out to be a couple hundred lbs of tp caught in a small bubble of orangeburg pipe.
Ran a 50ft snake in the wee hours, but the clog was a few feet past that.
Rotorooter un-jammed that and did a scope.

[J P Stein]

Tis the season......for plumbing problems, I guess.

My shower drain is leaking. It is in the overhead of the garage, above the textured drywall.......a fine mess. Soaked thru the sheet rock & dripped on my truck......I'm calling a pro.

[ted]

I would avoid the snake and get a plumber with a trailer type jetter.
The more powerful jetters are $20k+ and do a better job cleaning the inside of the pipe.
Then have him repeat every few years.
Sewer Jetters: Key Facts You Need to Know | Spartan Tool