From: Speedy Jim 
Newsgroups: misc.consumers.house
Subject: Re: Garbage Disposal Refuse Backing Up Into House
Date: Wed, 26 Nov 2003 09:12:28 -0500

Dave Skipper wrote:
> 
> Hi All
> 
> First time poster here and I'm a bit frazzled.  I'm hoping someone out
> there can give some advice on a remedy for this problem.  I'll do my
> best to describe it.  My story goes...
> 
> I noticed the carpets were wet in the lowest level of our house.  We
> have a bathroom and a laundry along with a floor drain in the laundry.
> There are four carpeted rooms along with a carpeted hallway leading to
> three of the rooms.
> 
> I thought my kids had put something in the toilet to overflow but that
> was not the problem.  Then I had noticed a floor drain in the laundry
> room had what looked like garbage disposal refuse that spewed out of the
> drain under enough pressure to blow the plastic cover off.
> 
> I think there is a blockage somewhere between the kitchen sink and this
> floor drain.  I had also noticed some refuse that had come up out of the
> shower stall drain too - but not nearly as much.  I had run the
> dishwasher twice today and had used the disposal quite often.  Could my
> line to the sewer be blocked?.
> 
> I think I need to call someone like Roto-Rooter(sp?) but I think I may
> be able to work on this problem myself.  Any help is greatly appreciated.

Make a few tests;
Fill kitchen sink bowl(s) and suddenly release into drain.
Have someone watch and listen at the floor/shower drain.

Repeat by flushing toilets up and down simultaneously.

I don't know the layout of the drain connections in your house,
but if you get backup under either test that should help
decide if/where there is a blockage.

If the toilets backup (or even gurgle) in the shower, sounds like
a clogged sewer/septic.

Running the clothes washer can be a good test too because it
discharges a large amount of water.

Jim