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Plumbing problem; reverse course.?

What would cause sewage to reverse flow and come back out the toilet? No one was at home at the time so it's not like someone made a "deposit" and stopped up the thing and caused it to overflow.

My girlfriend said it looked like someones azz exploded in there.

Update:

Thanks guys. There has been some work in the neighborhood lately and I am the lowest house on the street.

Check valve huh, there goes my tax return.

4 Answers

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  • 1 decade ago
    Favorite Answer

    If you are on a pressurized sewer system rather than traditional gravity drained they may have been servicing the mainline & caused a backup. You may also be sharing a sewer trunk line with another residence before it dumps into the main utility line. Either way, the only way to prevent a recurrence is to install a "check" valve between your residence & the main service. A check valve is designed to allow flow out but not back in. Something like this would definitely need to be handled by a professional. If you live in an apartment or duplex they most likely have the mainline installed incorrectly. In any case if you rent, call the landlord. If you own, call a plumber. This is way above DIY.

    Source(s): Master Plumber w/ 12 years experience.
  • 1 decade ago

    I agree with Telmah and Murkwerdigliebe (Strangelove).

    But several years ago the local water works was checking out the neighborhood sewers with a pressure check. We had a mess in three bathrooms.

  • Anonymous
    1 decade ago

    Main drains blocked further down the line You must be lower than others so you have got the backup.

    Source(s): Heating engineer 43 yrs
  • Anonymous
    1 decade ago

    Some sort of a surge either in your house, or if you live in an apartment, from some other unit.

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