Sewers
Waste water keeps coming back through my furnace overflow pipe!?
I have a sump pump system in the house I just bought. We wouldn't have bought this house if there were knowingly sewage problems. The home inspection report said everything was ok. Same when Sears came and installed the washing machine, ran a cycle, and everything was ok. For the last month we've been working on the house the plumbing has never given us any problems. Well, there were some plumbers digging new lines for a house being moved to the empty lot next door last Friday. On the Sunday after we found out now OUR plumbing is screwed up: Whenever I run the washing machine, the sump pump trap fills up, pumps it out, when it fills back up again quickly, it can't pump it out and it sprays out all over my unfinished bathroom in our basement! (our furnace is on the main floor, so the open pipe is right up next to the ceiling, and soaks my subfloor). It doesn't do this with running faucets or flushing the toilets. We called the city to be sure the main sewer line wasn't collapsed. It's fine. So, we had a plumber in here Monday to "jet" out whatever blockage may be causing the backup. He tested it, everything checked out fine. Now it's doing it again 2 days later. The plumber said he can almost guarantee it's because of tree roots. I don't think it's a coincidence that the neighbors did new lines and suddenly we're having problems when everything was fine for the last month. Does anyone know what this could be? (Just so we're clear, I will be using a tree root killer tonight before I go to bed. Also, I'm probably going to be calling the plumber back tomorrow to do a camera inspection). I don't think you can sue a home inspector in Nebraska. You're hiring him and taking his advice at your own discretion. Besides, all the other loads of laundry I did before the neighbors dug new pipes did not cause any problems.
Public Comments
- just call a licensed plumber and consider suing the "home inspector"
- I would also talk to the neighbors plumber....not in an accusational manner, but as an inquiry as to how they did what they did? And when they did what they did, did they happen to see your drain line when they were digging.? And then slowly come out with"well since the time you guys had dug, our system went for a $hitter. Now, if they are a reputable firm, they would have insurance to cover themselves should such a thing happen and they would have no problem wanting to dig up where they "know" (because they know for sure) where and what. It is them or the excavation guys(or both know exactly where and what. It may be that your house drain pipe may cut into the neighbors yard(and should not be there) All this will lead back to city hall and their inspectors and planning department. They okayed your drains and they got it marked where they are suppose to be. So it may be that your builder did not follow their plan.(or rerouted the drainage). It might be all your problem(be ready for that,,,,in otherwords you may need a ditch dug by the excavator to the sewer because your pipe is not where it is suppose to be. And there is dick all you can do about it. Can't sue anybody because the inspectors can say, we OK'd it. The builder must have moved it after we inspected. I have seen inspectors OK a sewer line for a builder and as soon as inspector left the builder pulled the pipe at the house and moved it to his next construction site for the inspector to OK that one, etc. So many homes were not connected to their drainage fields or sewer line. Home owner is stuck with the problem by the time the problem is discovered.
- Those people putting that house in the empty lot, more than likely, hit a drain from your house, while they were digging and busted it and I'm sure that they just filled in right over it without given it second thought or never even knew that they damaged anything.
