I hate plumbing!

**mek42** · 05-15-2010, 09:58 PM

Our house sewer line is backing up at the washing machine drain. It is just slow, not plugged. I'm debating between taking the snake to it or just calling it in and using our baby EF. There's toilet paper debris around the washing machine drain. Thinking about all of the, ahem, stuff that might be built up following wherever the restriction must be makes me think I should just call in for service.

Mostly venting, but suggestions are always welcome,

**mek42** · 05-15-2010, 10:53 PM

Put on some nitrile gloves and went down with the snake. Didn't get very far before deciding to call it in. Surprised I'm not more nauseous.

I'll leave it at that. Guess this is why we start with a baby EF.

**MomToTwoBoys** · 05-16-2010, 02:03 PM

Yeah, a backed up sewer line is something I wouldn't be able to do on my own. That's just way too much to handle.

It shouldn't cost a whole lot to have it cleared by a professional.

**Libby** · 05-16-2010, 02:06 PM

Most reputable companies will give a free estimate and use a snake cam to see what and where the blockage is...I hope you found a decent plumber.

I am a former backed up sewer line (ie poo-fountain as someone else called it) victim.

**Luckybustert** · 05-16-2010, 02:09 PM

I see this as a very good use of the baby EF.....I don't do poo!

**monkeywrangler71** · 05-16-2010, 02:25 PM

It's always good to know your limits. Professionals are there for a reason, and I would definitely be calling one in for this job.

**Darlene** · 05-16-2010, 02:40 PM

Raising hand and I'm with ya as in: been there, done that. Happy drains to you my friend.

**chevy_chick95** · 05-16-2010, 04:06 PM

blah... that is just no fun! I hope you find a cheap reliable plumber to clear it up for you

**mndtrp** · 05-16-2010, 09:48 PM

When I moved into a house in college, the sewer line had a lot of roots taking up space. The toilet and shower would work fine, but the washing machine would back up something fierce. Unfortunately, the washing machine was located in one of the bedroom closets, for some strange reason. We put the drain pipe out the bedroom window, which worked as needed, until winter. The roommate in that bedroom didn't like the cold, so he would put the pipe in the room, and close the window. Being in college, and doing what college kids do, we weren't always in the clearest state of mind to put that pipe back out the window when doing laundry.

After a few weeks of flooding everything in his bedroom, we finally called in a plumber. There's a point when being cheap, and lazy, crosses a line. Waking up in winter to a quarter inch of water is that line.

**mek42** · 05-17-2010, 09:18 AM

A drain cleaner guy is either at the house or should be there soon right now. For just a power snake, it should be under $200. We did do without indoor plumbing yesterday in order to avoid an off hours emergency charge. My annual rifle club membership just paid for itself.

I discussed this issue at FPU last night and came to the conclusion that while the situation sucks, it isn't a big deal because we have the baby EF. Six months ago, however, we would have been seriously discussing how we can do without indoor plumbing for a whole week until next payday. I think it is better to have the choice to just get it done now and go back to BS1 for a few weeks.

**mek42** · 05-17-2010, 10:51 AM

Tree root. $200. We had a $10 coupon, but my wife then gave him the $10 as a tip. The tree root was ~80' (~25 m) from the washing machine drain. Real nasty bear of a job. Glad I didn't waste more than 5 minutes of my time deciding to hire it out.

I had taken out $300 from e-fund at the ATM yesterday. Somehow we forgot to renew dog licenses, so told my wife to do that then try to replace left over cash to e-fund (just in my name at the moment) or if there's a drama to just put it in her checking and apply it to the next Target of the debt snowball (pun intended

).