Where'm I gonna live?

[BigV]

Originally Posted by glatt

Does the toilet flush into the kitchen sink too?

Sounds like there might be roots growing into the sewer pipe outside. A good plumber will be able to identify the problem. It may require a visit from roto-rooter.

I thought of this too, and it was the source of the trouble for my house when I had some sewage backup. Fucking gross beyond words, not to mention seriously unsanitary. The answer was to bring in one of those BFG commercial rooters the size of a generator with mileage markers on the snake that went up to triple digits. He galumphed that monster down my basement stairs and setup at my main cleanout, just inches from the floor drain in the basement on the main waste stack. He fired it up and fed the snake down the pipe. rrrrRRRRRrrrrrrRRRRRrrrrrRRRRR... he kept this up for a while, frequently withdrawing the snake for inspection/etc. He brought it up and there was some foul witches' hair in a giant gross mass. Not hair, *roots*. Very fine, very many, growing through the concrete pipe laid down at construction time (70 plus years ago). He was waaaay waaaaaaaay past where my longest snake could ever have reached, and his cutting head was sized for the six inch pipe.

There was a happy ending (not that kind) and I haven't had any sewer backup problems since--zero.

UT mentioned a greywater holding tank, that sounds like he's on a septic system, something I know less about since my main experience is on city sewers. But he absolutely has, at a minimum, a problem with his sewer/septic line drains. This, in my opinion, is the responsibility of the property owner to fix.

[Undertoad]

No it's on the public water, I was thinking that *I* could do a greywater solution as a temporary fix to my laundry.

I hope that the toilet didn't flush into the kitchen sink, it's a 1.6 gallon and the place does slowly drain.... ermagherd I'm gonna have to test that though

[Clodfobble]

Originally Posted by glatt

Sounds like there might be roots growing into the sewer pipe outside.

This is what I was about to say before glatt kindly said it first. If the whole house is draining slowly, the main sewer pipe needs professional (de)rooting.

[Undertoad]

Well it is in fact raw sewage draining into my kitchen sink and my basement, and the management company's plumber did not call me today.

[Nirvana]

Can the health dept help you? That is disgusting!

[Spexxvet]

Raw sewage is much better for you than that processed shit.

[Undertoad]

This is a vent to outgoing pipe. The plumber found that the system is 100% blocked and the blockage appears to be concrete or something exactly like it.

Will the farmhouse be condemned? I'm suggesting they deliver me a chemical toilet and I can shower at a friend's every two days.

[Chocolatl]

Yikes! Who pours concrete in to the pipes? And how did the landlord not know about this?

[ZenGum]

WTF?

Did the previous tenant leave on Bad Terms? 'cause as a way to screw your landlord, concrete in the sewer drain is a kicker.

[jimhelm]

So, move.

Start now.

[glatt]

No need to move if they fix it. It will be expensive for the landlord, but the landlord doesn't really have a choice. Get a backhoe in there, dig a trench, and drop a new line in. Could be done in a day if they can line someone up that fast.

[ZenGum]

This looks like a job for ....


SHITMEN!!!!

[Lamplighter]

Like I said... put it in writing and mail it 1st class.

State and HUD regs deal with this, and if the place is un-liveable,
the landlord just might be financially responsible for moving you into,
and paying your rent for, another place.

Seriously... heat, water, sewage are essential services... everywhere in the US.

[Stormieweather]

<< Real Estate Pro here. Put the problem(s) in writing, take photos, and mail it certified, return receipt requested. Ask for immediate resolution. Check online for legal notice periods for tenants and landlords (they vary by state). Give him that period of time before you start threatening legal stuff.

Before I got to this last picture, I was guessing blocked sewer vent. If that sucker is blocked, for whatever reason (and I also mean the one out the roof), it can fubar your entire drainage system. I had a 90 year old house (lots of DIY repairs by previous owners) and the underground sewer pipes were full of roots and they sort of neglected to put in an air vent for the added on bathroom downstairs. Oh the heartache, backache and headache figuring that out gave me. The picture and your plumber confirmed my thoughts.

[Griff]

Originally Posted by ZenGum

WTF?

Did the previous tenant leave on Bad Terms? 'cause as a way to screw your landlord, concrete in the sewer drain is a kicker.

Gotta be what happened.