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Got sewer issues?
01/20/2012 8:13 AM by John M
A reader at 26th and Broad has a question:
Has anyone else had any sewer back-ups recently, particularly Wednesday, January 18 or Thursday, January 19? We have had sewer back-ups in English basement areas at 26th and Broad, and so far the city says it is not their problem. However, they’ve had the 2500 block of East Grace Street torn up for sewer problems for three weeks now, and I am wondering if this is related, as it is in the 2500 block of East Broad. Has anyone else in the immediate vicinity had any problems – especially if you have an English basement apartment, or even just a drain in your basement? It might be a coincidence, but I’m curious to hear if anyone else has had problems in the last few days. Thanks!
There should be a valve between your drainage and the city that prevents water/waste to travel backwards into your house. If that valve failed, it is considered to be your problem. Or so my constant viewing of This Old House would indicate
I know of 3 victims at 26th and E. Broad…all English Basement units.
Find out where your sanitary line drain clean-out is located on the exterior of your house. Remove the cap and snake it out toward the street. If you hit nothing the clog is on your house…
JD #2, thanks -but are they in the Belfry? That’s where the problem is. If you know of any OTHERS, please post. I’d like to hear about them. I’m suspicious about the city working on the sewer lines on Grace St., and would like to hear of others as that might establish a connection.
Badger #1 and Pierce #3 – first off, the city showed up and said it wasn’t their problem. On top of that we’ve got a plumber who has done the snake bit, and is probably going to do a camera next to locate the problem. Many thanks to all three of you for posting (and if someone posts that they know of another backup in the immediate vicinity that the city is taking responsibility for, I will buy the person who tells me about it a beer!)
Pierce also thanks for the explanation, now I understand a bit more graphically about what the plumber did with the snake.
We have the same problem in our English basement- corner of 26th & E. Franklin.
Heather I really want to talk to you. I have to wonder if it is related. PLEASE send an email to John Murden – I’m going to do same – and tell him how you and I can talk to each other! Many thanks! Email to murden@gmail.com I think is the way to reach him – I’m going to tell him my email and home phone number, and ask him to pass it to you.
From what I heard this afternoon, The Belfry’s problem may be a result of a clog in a city sewer line…
crd, the DPU should have offered to do the camera for you on the spot. If they didn’t find anything on the city side they would charge you a fee. If they did, it’s their responsibility to fix the sewer.
When I finished my house renovation we began using the plumbing. Within a week the sewer backed up. The City came out, ran the camera, snaked the sewer pipe, The camera showed that the back up was on their side and replaced the line all the way to the street.
Call them out again with the information you’ve gathered.
chpn fan, thanks for the information. Apparently the city is already going to come here on Monday, I don’t have all the details but maybe this means they are at fault after all.