Sewage Problems - HELP!!

honeychile · #1 09-11-2010, 04:34 PM

The water company has been working on my street this week, and spray painted & flagged most of the houses. I didn't think much of it until last night, when the carbon monoxide dectector went off. I just unplugged it, thinking that, since I never start the car before opening the garage door, it must be defective.

Until I went downstairs. There is raw sewage coming out of the drain! It's minimal, but obviously, I can't call the water company about it on the weekend. And I'm about to go out for dinner with a dear friend.

But what about the little dog? Do you think it's safe to leave him here, with possible carbon monoxide? Obviously, I'd leave windows open, but I was also told that I should probably go to a hotel until Monday. Oh, let's not forget that I have a lot of moving boxes downstairs, too!

HELP!!!!

Benzgirl · #2 09-11-2010, 04:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by honeychile

The water company has been working on my street this week, and spray painted & flagged most of the houses. I didn't think much of it until last night, when the carbon monoxide dectector went off. I just unplugged it, thinking that, since I never start the car before opening the garage door, it must be defective.

Until I went downstairs. There is raw sewage coming out of the drain! It's minimal, but obviously, I can't call the water company about it on the weekend. And I'm about to go out for dinner with a dear friend.

But what about the little dog? Do you think it's safe to leave him here, with possible carbon monoxide? Obviously, I'd leave windows open, but I was also told that I should probably go to a hotel until Monday. Oh, let's not forget that I have a lot of moving boxes downstairs, too!

HELP!!!!

Call the fire department. Once I had latex paint set it off. They came out, did some measurements and then told me to plug the detector back in the next day.

IrishLake · #3 09-11-2010, 04:40 PM

what do you mean you can't call them on the weekend????? yes you can! they have emergency numbers for this kind of thing!!!! if your CO monitor is going off even with the windows open, it's time to get out, doggie too!

FSUZeta · #4 09-11-2010, 05:49 PM

agree with irishlake. call them, your city/county commissioner, the mayor,the fire department and the police. and i hope you have already exited your house, buffy in tow, and can't read this!

honeychile · #5 09-11-2010, 06:56 PM

I've had two sets of firemen here since my last post. There are two problems: first, since this house was basically locked up for the better part of six year (while I was helping my mama), the carbon monoxide from the hot water heater has been building up - you should have heard the alarms that the firemen have! Also, there are a lot of trees in the neighborhood (I had 13 taken out of my yard when I moved here), and that's what is probably backing up the sewer - which could lead to sewer gas.

They shut off the hot water (I'll most likely need a new tank), and have all of the windows open to air out the house, so I'll be here, making sure all is well. That way, I can schedule someone for Monday, and not get the weekend emergency charges! Oh, I'm not to cook, (except the microwave, and not until tomorrow). My mother made me get the carbon monoxide detector, so I'm feeling as if she is still protecting me! No wonder the little dog & I have been so tired lately!

Thank you all - I wouldn't have thought to call the Fire Department. You possibly saved my life! (and the little dog's, too!)

Benzgirl · #6 09-11-2010, 07:58 PM

Whew. That was good you called them. It's a pain to have all of that other stuff going on, but at least you will be safe.

IrishLake · #7 09-11-2010, 09:08 PM

oh honey, thank goodness you called them!!!!! we have to snake our sanitary line once a year to take care of the root problem, so i feel for ya!

thetygerlily · #8 09-12-2010, 02:27 PM

Honey I am so glad you are safe- and your little dog, too!

I'm so glad that you had the alarm, people recommended calling the fire department, and they took care of the rest.

IL- there's a product called Root-X you can buy online that you can do once a year instead of snaking. It was recommended to us by our sewer line inspector when we bought the house. Of course in two years we have yet to do it but have snaked the lines twice, even though we bought the stuff. But hey, what fun is prevention when you can have sewer problems

We obviously need to get on that!! But if it's a recurring problem for you too, check into that. It'll be a lot cheaper, easier, and less time consuming (not to mention less nasty) in the long run.

IrishLake · #9 09-12-2010, 03:26 PM

We get something like that and put it in after every tiem we snake. Supposedly it's best to do it when the roots are freshly cut. So far.... hasn't helped.

LikeASista · #10 09-13-2010, 02:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by thetygerlily

Honey I am so glad you are safe- and your little dog, too!

I'm so glad that you had the alarm, people recommended calling the fire department, and they took care of the rest.

ME TOO!!!! You can't be too careful about something like this. And the little doggie ... glad he's/she's safe. Bless his/her heart!