Outside drain clog moving but still clogged

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BeaKay

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Ok, so I'm a first time home owner, disabled by a back injury and sick for 6 years with pain...Which is why I seem kind of clueless (I'm just mainly too sick to be on top of my game). Yesterday morning, I discovered that the cap thingy in the yard that the RE agent couldn't tell me about must be some kind of overflow valve, because it was surrounded by water and bits of t.p. Since it was an outside drain and I've never had to even think about that kind of thing (none of them were ever visible in the CA houses I lived in), and, having been turned down for Disability in Sept, run out of money in Oct, listed my house for sale two days ago, and not having funds to hire someone, I pondered it for a day (again - sick and mentally slow, lol) before deciding to try pouring something from the house down the tub drain to see if it would dissolve the clog (which I'm sure was due to too much of a new kind of t.p.; it hasn't rained and there are no trees in the yard or within 20 feet). I used baking soda plus vinegar, then later, some probiotic house cleaner, to see if it would eat up the clog, overnight. Again, no funds really for the Instant Power stuff, unless I spend my last $20 on it.

This morning, I went out to check, and saw that, although it seemed drier around the overflow near the house, the other thing sticking up much farther towards the back of the property which I now assume is another overflow, has water around it.

Is it likely that the clog has moved along? Would that be a good sign and should I repeat? The lot is pretty long and the two overflows are about 70 feet or more apart. Should I splurge and try the Instant Power stuff in the farther one, if I can get the cap off, or try to borrow a snake from a neighbor?
 

Reach4

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Ask your neighbor if you have a septic tank, and if you do, get it pumped now. Don't use your garbage disposal/disposer until things are fixed. Avoid showers. Even avoid using the toilet at home. This is important enough to get a loan for. Spend $200 now or $5000 later (or have at least $5000 knocked off of the selling price of the house). Your city may help out with this. Maybe you could get the work done, perhaps at an increase in price, by telling the septic servicer the truth and let him put a lien on the house. He gets paid out of the closing funds.

If you have city sewers, get your sewer rodded professionally. Ask your neighbors for a referal if they have experience. Usually you are better off with an independent drain cleaning specialist or plumber than with with a franchise with a big ad budget. Don't be hesitant to leave a message on the phone. It may be more efficient for a small contractor to not have an office staff.

Forget the chemical solutions.

I am not a pro.
 
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Smooky

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The thing in the yard sounds like a “Sewer Popper Cleanout Relief Valve”. It is designed to open up if there is a clog or back-up in the main line.
http://www.lowes.com/pd_645485-85223-S62304_0__?productId=50266889&store_code=488&cm_mmc=SCE_PLA-_-RoughPlumbingElectrical-_-OutdoorDrainAndFittings-_-50266889:JSC&CAWELAID=&kpid=50266889&CAWELAID=320011480004353360&k_clickID=ed7209f1-694c-437e-be47-7c93ecc39b56

http://www.lockeplumbing.com/detail.asp?c=Septic%20System%20Items&s=%20&s2=&sku=JON-S62-304&r1=&r2=&r3=

index.php
 

BeaKay

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Thanks, Reach4 and Smooky.

It's sewer.

The things in the yard don't pop up; I unscrewed them and there are definitely clogs backed up, down there. Or, a clog. I'm beginning to wonder if it's a city thing, since the farthest one is only about 15 feet from the back fence. But, I did email the agent who is going to ask her broker for ideas. And, I will reach out to see if any of the plumbers will take payment at closing via a lien. That's a great idea. This is a depressed area, so contractors are often looking for work.

Also, the neighbor, who didn't have a snake, pointed out that there is a new puddle at the front of the house where the old owners had to fix a leak. Could a leak at the front and clog in the back be connected? They happened at the same time.
 

Reach4

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Calling the city is a great idea. Even though it is not their job, they might run something through that access to the city sewer. I know somebody who did that successfully a couple of times.
 

BeaKay

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I can try that too, Reach4; no one has responded to me today, so I guess I'm stuck until Monday. Fun times. I've read some reviews of that Instant Power stuff, which is lye and potash, saying that, even after snaking failed, it cleared main clogs. Other than that it would cost half of my money to try it, is there a reason you recommend against it?
 

Reach4

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I'm stuck until Monday. Fun times. I've read some reviews of that Instant Power stuff, which is lye and potash, saying that, even after snaking failed, it cleared main clogs. Other than that it would cost half of my money to try it, is there a reason you recommend against it?

You might have seen reviews that it worked on a sink drain clog, but I doubt that you find legitimate reviews that it worked on house main sewer.

Try the city, and click Inbox above.
 

BeaKay

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Actually, there are several legit-sounding (just not sparsely detailed or fake sounding, but there's no way to really know) reviews of folks clearing the main line with it. And, it does have a money back guarantee. But, that's moot since the drain isn't even clear at the top for me to pour a anything in. I'm feeling more certain that it is a city issue, since the farthest clog is so close to the property line. And, there are some trees in the access area behind the property which could have interfered with their pipes.

I realized that, recently, I pulled my car up to the side of the house with the broken pipe to take something heavy in on that side, where there is no parking pad. So, I must have broken the pipe, which means the two problems are unrelated. The semi-rural, kind of odd construction of things around here has me a bit like a fish out of water. I've never been able to drive over a pipe anywhere I've lived, before! I realized that because, the neighbors, who park all of their cars on the "wrong" side of the house (the side with the shut off valve, just like the side I parked on) told me they had a pipe break, too....right where they park. Then, a light came on in my head.
 

BeaKay

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Thanks for your responses. The realtor finally got a plumber out here at 11 pm. day 5, to fix the blog. Now, I'm focused on the leak from the water main towards the house. The neighbor, kind of handiman-ish, is willing to do it and wait to be paid until the house sells. He dug up the leak yesterday and said that it's galvanized and he needs to buy a new pipe, about $15. It's hard to admit, but that is actually more cash than I have to spend on it. Is there a way to replace it with a plastic length of pipe, instead? Or patch it with a non-toxic epoxy? .....Something super cheap?
 

BeaKay

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Hi again, Smooky. Ok, I mentioned something kind of like that to him, but he said he has to dry it out and see if it's a long crack, or what. We'll see. But, I've saved the pics of those products you linked to show him, in case it's just a localized hole or something. Thanks, again.
 
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