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[scottambrose]

we live in a rented cottage which has an extension on the back for the kitchen and bathroom. recently the toilet when flushed has started filling higher than normal and then going back down and the shower has taken longer to empty. then last night water started coming up the shower plug when you flush the toilet. its clean water but im confused. there is no manholes around the house. its a 19th century cottage in a row of 5.
the extension backs onto a raised driveway which is 6 foot up so the roof of our bathroom is level with the house behinds driveway. and all the other houses in the row are like it. how can i find out where the blockage is. and am i going to be liable to pay for it.

[Plomien]

sounds like part of the pipe is congested , try a drain cleaner first down the bath plug hole.
there should be some sort of man hole cover where your house connects to the pipes though

[Kevin Wood]

I think you and your neighbours are jointly liable for any sewer that serves multiple houses until it meets the main sewerage system, so technically the cost should be split. If it's just you who's having the problem, though...

I would find the sewer run and have a go with a set of rods before calling the rip-off merchants out, TBH.

[Sir Tigger KC]

Give your Landlord a call. 

[I_want_an_Omega]

Give your Landlord a call. 

+1

In an older house its quite likely that the drains will have gradually reduced with years of fat/grease buildup. This happened to me with our 1st house - although the drain wasn't shared they removed about 3 wheelbarrows of "stuff" from our single drain which was the length of our terraced house plus about 20 feet. If this is the cause then a bottle of stuff won't cure the problem and it will need properly rodding or pressure washing out.

Hence a call to the landlord .............

[scottambrose]

i tried mr muscle but that did bugger all. i havnt asked the neighbours if they have an issue yet,.i cant even find where the sewer is. is there somebody i can call that would tell me where the sewer pipe is. as all the pipes just dissapear under the extension.

[cleggy]

Landlords problem, he may respond quicker if you state that it is a potential health hazard

[Lazydocker]

By the sounds of it you are low down the sewer run so you will be first to experience issues

I've had a similar situation in my first house but we had no warning signs until the sewer manhole cover outside the front door started bubbling with brown stuff on a Sunday evening Fortunately I had a set of drain rods and, although not the most pleasant experience in my lifetime , I managed to clear it

I've also experienced the fat and soap scum build up on our current place... All the grey water from the house drains into one drain and the u bend had sludged up... Another unpleasant experience as I had to clear it by hand with the aid of the hosepipe but all flowing freely again

Mind you, as everyone has already pointed out... If it's a rented property then it's your landlords responsibility unless you have signed a "Self-Maintaining" lease (although I didn't think they were allowed on residential property ) so give him/her a bell and make them aware that it is backing up and a potential health hazard

[Marks DTM Calib]

Also worth noting that some houses have a pumped waste storage chamber where the sewage is pumped to the main sewer from a storage tank close to the house......when the pump fails......

[Lazydocker]

Also worth noting that some houses have a pumped waste storage chamber where the sewage is pumped to the main sewer from a storage tank close to the house......when the pump fails......

I wouldn't have thought so on a 19th Century property though? Or am I wrong in making that assumption?

[Marks DTM Calib]

19th century property probably would not have a sewer connection when built.....it will either have been added after assuming the main sewer is low enough or a pump set used (or a sess pit)

[Lazydocker]

19th century property probably would not have a sewer connection when built.....it will either have been added after assuming the main sewer is low enough or a pump set used (or a sess pit)

Hadn't thought about that

[martin42]

Get some dam buster,only from plumbers merchant's,used it in the past with excellent results,its very strong and use ppe and have Windows open

[pscocoa]

I recall there was something in the privatisation act that enabled the sewerage authority to fix the drains of Victorian linked systems free of charge. You should ring your water/sewage outfit to ask the question. The concept was that the private companies should not be held liable for old drains and this extended also to house owners in a link. Give it a try at least.

[scottambrose]

The water board h AV e come and said its a blockage at our end and not under their duristriction and to get a plumber