Homeowners alert re sewer backup

[kittygilchrist]

This is my experience told in hope that your home will not be flooded due to a sewage backup. It was my lucky day yesterday that mine was not, but it happened at my former home so I've got the T shirt and responded to small water backups, not waiting for a total stoppage.

Getting ready for my party, I'm washing laundry, running the dishwasher, I use the disposal and the water is backing up. I think, well it's just overloaded from the dishwasher draining into it..I clean a shower and the water backs up slightly.
Having had a home flood in the past from a backup, I turn off the appliances and do not use toilets or run water.

I call the number on the front page of TV's sheet of emergency numbers call "Water...emergencies." It was the best match. it's a weekend so I have to call the on call Community Watch folks, who say they'll send out one of their scouts. I'm thinking, they didn't ask me if I had a flood or give any advice about stopping the use of water...

CW calls back and says they're also sending the utility co., who arrive in about 30 minutes, examine their lines out from the house, tell me it's a problem with the sewage lines in the house, not theirs. CW gets this news and calls are made to the plumber who plumbed the house (under warranty), who will be around when they can but they are not in TV, they are in Dunnellon.

45 minutes after my call, the Watch guy comes, who offers nothing about sewage problems. 4 hours after the initial call, the plumber arrives. Jason with Mike Scott, and he's sharp as a tack, does diagnostics with running the water, can't get the problem to repeat, says he's running his snake anyway, and finds GROUT or perhaps concrete in the lines that run under the house. It's a new build so it got in the lines probably during construction

I complained to CW that my house would be flooded by the time there was a response if I had a true backup and they told me I should have called the plumber instead of them (not what their emergency sheet says) (so it might have taken only 3 hours!)

I read the fine print on the rest of the Emergency document provided by TV. Says for homes under warranty you can call their emergency number only if you have a total sewage backup.

So I no longer have a clue who you should actually call if a partial blockage happens but I can tell you a few things to help avoid a flood:



pay attention to a backed up toilet, it can signal or set off a backup
pay attention to slow drains
if your home is new or any evidence of slow drains, don't run laundry and dishwasher together and leave the house
know where the water shut off is and how to use it
know that if you have a new home, someone else had a problem with construction related debris in the line..
get a shop vac and know how to use it
know that if you have large trees with roots close to your sewer lines the roots can invade the pipe connections seeking water.

I will find out Monday who SHOULD be called. A partially stopped up sewage system is a pending flood. If I had not gotten service that morning, I would have had to call off a party at my home last night and used the portapotty down the street for 2 days.
Kitty, slightly miffed

[Bogie Shooter]

Aw, the joys of home ownership.

[Trayderjoe]

45 minutes after my call, the Watch guy comes, who offers nothing about sewage problems. 4 hours after the initial call, the plumber arrives. Jason with Mike Scott, and he's sharp as a tack, does diagnostics with running the water, can't get the problem to repeat, says he's running his snake anyway, and finds GROUT or perhaps concrete in the lines that run under the house. It's a new build so it got in the lines probably during construction


know that if you have a new home, someone else had a problem with construction related debris in the line..

Kitty, slightly miffed

Make that at least 2 people who found construction debris in their line. We had an issue as well, called in the plumber and he found some construction debris in the line. Unfortunately this was AFTER the home warranty expired and so we were "stuck" (pardon the pun). We didn't live in the home full time, so the problem did not manifest itself right away. In hind sight, after purchasing a new build, and hearing that others may have the same issue, I would consider having an independent plumber scope out the lines before my warranty expired if not as soon as possible after the close.

Good luck Kitty!

[StarbuckSammy]

Thanks for the excellent and informative posting. Keep us posted.

[DianeM]

This news does not thrill me since I'm moving into a brand new house in Gilchrist as well. Sounds awful but thank goodness you were able to catch it.

[janmcn]

The same thing happened a few days after I moved into my second new home in TV. First one toilet stopped flushing, then the second toilet stopped, and it was a Sunday. When I called TV, a woman said I'll try to get hold of a plumber. She did, and he came and cleaned out the construction debris from the sewer line.

Fortunately, I had a brand new home across the street that was unlocked so I could use their facility until mine was repaired.

[bike42]

Here's another tip from sad experience -- do NOT grind up a lot of orange and grapefruit rinds in your disposal.

[sandybill2]

we bought our house in 2007---4th owner---first one to live here full time. I noticed that when I did laundry---gurgling going on into the shower in master bathroom. I used the guest bathroom as I liked a tub bath. Well, after a few weeks of gurgling, etc., we knew we had a problem. My husband----being one of those who liked to try to fix it himself----went outside---found the outside trap--that went to the street---he opened it---well HELLO----"stuff" blew out --" he dug down----uncovered the pipe that was supposed to take this "stuff" out to the road----found that the pipe had been sheared off---the hole top section was gone and roots had grown down into it----had to have been done when the irrigation was put in----he repaired it ----everything has worked fine since. BUT you can't tell me that the ones that put in irrigation----did not realize that the entire top of the sewer pipe was sheared off-------

[Mikeod]

We had a similar problem shortly after moving into our home in 2006. Gurgling in the shower when the toilet was flushed. We got a plumber to come out and clear the line. He said it happens either from drywall finishers dispose of extra joint compound down the toilet or tilers dispose of extra grout or adhesive. He also noted that painters had apparently stood on our toilets when doing the walls around them as they were scratched badly. All fixed under warranty.

I agree that it would be prudent to watch for any signs of impaired drains and call warranty or a plumber ASAP.

[tommy steam]

Grout in a line can be caused by the tile guy cleaning his tools in the bathtub after he has done his tile job. Other junk in the lines is usually caused by a careless Plummer not making sure the line is clear before installing them. Sometimes a disgruntled worker puts things into the pipes, it does happen. The superintendents of these jobs should remind the workers from time to time, to take the proper precautions when installing the piping.

[kittygilchrist]

I emphasize that the plumber didn't see the backup, but he ran the snake just on my word it had happened....had he not taken my word for it and done a fine job...but he did.

[kittygilchrist]

one more thing. You can test your system for a clear line by running the dishwasher and washer and all the inside faucets and flushing toilets repeatedly. gurgling is a bad sign..not sure why..

[Happinow]

Here's another tip from sad experience -- do NOT grind up a lot of orange and grapefruit rinds in your disposal.

Oh no!! I was reading line on how to care for a garbage disposal and on the "to do" list was grind up skins from oranges and citrus fruits! So, I've been doing that. It makes the disposal smell better. I'm not sure I will use mine much because it seems disposals are a lot of trouble and break easily. I lived without one in all of my other homes and I can live without using the one I have.

[patfla06]

Thanks for the great info!
It's good you were so alert to what was going on.

Sorry you had it happen to you.

[CFrance]

I've never had a problem running citrus rinds down a disposal in prior homes, but I do notice that the disposal in our 2-yr-old TV home is very weak--won't even grind up small radishes unless I cut them up. So I'm careful with the size and quantity of citrus rinds I introduce at one time, and add ice cubes at the same time.

Thanks for the warning, Kitty.

[wendyquat]

Aw, the joys of home ownership.

And so many have not one, but two! Personally I can't imagine keeping up with the day to day concerns of more than one house!

[mulligan]

Y'all should also keep in mind that if you don't have flood insurance, sewer backups are generally not covered by homeowners policies.

[getdul981]

Here's another tip from sad experience -- do NOT grind up a lot of orange and grapefruit rinds in your disposal.

You can, b ut use LOTS of water and go SLOW. Don't force too much in at any time.

[kittygilchrist]

Y'all should also keep in mind that if you don't have flood insurance, sewer backups are generally not covered by homeowners policies.

excellent point, Mulligan. I had a rider on my before TV policy. have to check my current one. thanks,
Kitty

[graciegirl]

Construction junk in the lines appears to be something that happens to a few of us with our new homes. It happened to us on our second home. It was quickly fixed. The symptoms were the same and so was the fix.

[batman911]

Y'all should also keep in mind that if you don't have flood insurance, sewer backups are generally not covered by homeowners policies.

Not so sure about that. I was told, by our home insurance agent, that flood insurance is for outside sources of flooding. Plumbing issues are covered. Better check with your agent to be sure.

[mulligan]

Flood is by insurance companies' definition, rising water. If it doesn't blow in through a window, or leak in through the roof, it's a flood.

[Barefoot]

Here's another tip from sad experience -- do NOT grind up a lot of orange and grapefruit rinds in your disposal.

Another tip from sad experience ... Your garbage disposal does NOT like artichoke leaves!

[Parker]

A plumber once told me the number one reason for kitchen sink calls is due to potato peels down the disposal. So now I always put them in the trash.

[CFrance]

Another tip from sad experience ... Your garbage disposal does NOT like artichoke leaves!

or radishes...

[asianthree]

sewer back up is not related to flood damage

[Swampy]

Also, don't try to dispose of your alligator hide down the disposal.

Swampy

[kittygilchrist]

Also, don't try to dispose of your alligator hide down the disposal.

Swampy

Swampy, ya'll from around here? Don't put squirrel bones in it either, nevermind that the manual says to grind small bones.
Kitty:mmmm: limb bacon fricassee

[graciegirl]

Also, don't try to dispose of your alligator hide down the disposal.

Swampy

I take a man seriously about floods, and water back ups if he is called Swampy.

[kittygilchrist]

back to the topic, much as I love diversion...
the VCDD folks apparently followed protocol in fielding my call and sending someone out without expertise in a problem that could lead to an inside flood. Seems there are huge gaps between the issued "Emergency Numbers" sheets provided by TV for newbies, which I used and the reality of true emergencies.
For ex: on that same sheet of emergency numbers by TV, cable and trash are listed...
IM not so humble opinion,
TV's emergency numbers sheet is mostly irrelevant.
VCDD employees should not go out for plumbing, domestic violence, etc, and the frontline needs to know what to ask.

[rubicon]

Y'all should also keep in mind that if you don't have flood insurance, sewer backups are generally not covered by homeowners policies.

Sewer backups are covered unde most policies. Backups resulting from flood are usually not....but such cases are often argued

[rubicon]

It seems that the garbage disposals installed by builders are well......garbage

It would also seem that such many homes are, subjected to the bad habits o sub contractors resulting in blocked line, that they would have a procedure to check such issues before placing the home in the hands of a homeowner.

[KeepingItReal]

...

[kittygilchrist]

yepper. thanks...I'm reading the fine print. If the house floods from sewage, you are in deep s&*t for coverage...additionally my former policy had a rider distinguishing sewer back up from drains...

[JP]

I had my sewer back up a couple of times at different houses "up north". I also lived at the bottom of the hill where my sewer line was usually the first line in from the blockage which was usually at the bottom of the hill. In TV, I bought a house up on a hill(200' above sea level!) to hopefully eliminate sewer backups and so I can have easier beach access as global warming occurs and the sea levels rise. Ha

[The Buckeyes]

Well here it is Memorial Day and we have a water backup in the shower. We just closed on the home on Friday so you can understand the frustration. Called the emergency number in the warranty dept and the woman who answered directed me to the number I had to call for the plumber. Called Mike Scott Plumbing at 3;30 pm and by 4:30 Bill was out and fixed the problem. As with new construction something was impeding the flow in the drain. Bill said his snake knotted up on it the first time and then broke thru on the second shot. Said whatever it was it was big. I can't say enough good things about Mike Scott Plumbing. I come from the Cleveland Ohio area and to get this type of service is unheard of, especially on a holiday. Glad we decided to Retire in The Villages.

:bigbow:

[Twinspin60]

Well here it is Memorial Day and we have a water backup in the shower. We just closed on the home on Friday so you can understand the frustration. Called the emergency number in the warranty dept and the woman who answered directed me to the number I had to call for the plumber. Called Mike Scott Plumbing at 3;30 pm and by 4:30 Bill was out and fixed the problem. As with new construction something was impeding the flow in the drain. Bill said his snake knotted up on it the first time and then broke thru on the second shot. Said whatever it was it was big. I can't say enough good things about Mike Scott Plumbing. I come from the Cleveland Ohio area and to get this type of service is unheard of, especially on a holiday. Glad we decided to Retire in The Villages.

:bigbow:

That stinks but glad the problems was fixed. Congrats on your closing. Where in Cleveland are you from? We're from Parma-I was born in Oberlin and my husband in Fairview Park.. We live in Gilchrest--how about you?--are we neighbors?

[simpkinp]

Mike Scott plumbing has saved me several times. Good contractor with excellent service.