Drains all backing up! What can I do, without calling a plumber?

Question

The kitchen drains are both slow, we got some gunk out of the pipe... but, the toilets and showers are all backing up!!

What can we do, what are some ways to un-clog the drains without calling a plumber, at home methods?

It's a septic system, incase that matters..

Any advice?

Answer 1

Sounds like you need your tank pumped.

Trying home remedies may only make it worse and end up costing you more money in the long run.

Answer 2

Your septic tank needs cleaning out every 2 or three years depending on how much it is used.

Answer 3

Dig up the lid to your septic and remove it if it's full to the top it's about to get ugly if not rent a sewer machine and run it down the cleanout or pull the toilet and go down the hole don't run it too far if it tangles in the septic it'll get ugly once again

Answer 4

Dig the lid to the septic tank immediately. If it starts to run out the lid then you have additional problems. If there is no backup there then the problems are just normal clogging problems covered by a snake or a 'plumbers friend'. A bladder type of plug buster you put on the end of a garden hose and send down the drains to hammer the plug out with water hammer. If the tank is overflowing then you have at least solved the clogging problem. A tank pumping may be in order to go at the rest of the problems and give some room for conservative use in the house. The causes of the septic backing up are going to take some effort to solve. If the drain lines are plugged then about the only option is replacement. If the distribution box is plugged then you may clean it out and get a few more years out of the system. If the system is a relatively new one you may have what is called an effluent filter on the outlet of the tank that is clogged. I just recently had this happen an all I had to do was take it out and hose it off and then I was back in business. Hope this helps as much as It can.

Answer 5

it does matter that it is a septic system.  When you find that more than one drain is backing up, you know your problem is either in the main lateral out to the tank or the tank itself is full.  If you know where the components of your system are, where the tank is relative to the house, you could try a snake from your clean out, but don't go all the way to the tank so you don't damage any back flow prevention components.

Good luck.  I'd probably call a septic system specialist myself

Answer 6

drain-o!

you might need to do it a couple of times

if that doesn't work you can buy a snake at the hardware store

FYI - this happened to me really badly turns out you aren't supposed to pour cooking oil down the sink :)