So this isn't the first time the basement has flooded, but the geyser shooting from the washing machine drain pipe was fairly impressive. I dismantled the trap to remove the clog, only to find no clog. Interesting. The amount of pet hair and cat hairballs that make it through our wasning machine is mind boggling. But I digress.
I don't have a drain snake. I'm no plumber. I'm a computer nerd-turned-writer wannabe. But I've been known to wield a tool or three, but before heading to the bright orange home store I thought I'd try a homemade snake. The pipe I wanted snake was only a foot long, how bad could it be? But alas, it didn't work.
In the plumbing aisle I was met with pipes and fittings and tubing and traps and a whole array of supplies I can only dream of using. I strike up a conversation with the guy manning the area.
"Got any drain snakes?"
"Yep. What size pipe?"
"Two inch going into a four inch."
"Washing machine?"
"Yep."
"Any other drains slow in the house?"
"No."
"You sure?"
"Yes."
"Hmm. Do you live in H? Or M?"
"Yes."
"House built in the 50s?"
"Yes."
"Trees in the front yard?"
"Yes." I see where this is going. A few years ago I saw a cool show on the Roto Rooter guy.
"It's the tree roots clogging your sewer pipe. Snake won't help you."
"Gotcha. Time to call a plumber."
"Yep. Or you can do it yourself. We rent the grinding tool."
I'm not that handy, and the thought of opening up the sewer pipe in the basement -- well, we won't go there. Not happening.
"But," he continues, "if you're going to do that I suggest you get the sewer cap off before you rent the tool. Sometimes it can, let's just say, take longer than you'd think, especially in those old houses."
Point taken. Not going there.
"Is it an emergency?"
"Well, sort of. The laundry is stacked to the ceiling, the dogs have peed on the comforters, and --"
But he's referring to a real emergency. Such as sewage backing up into the basement or overflowing the toilets. In other words, a disaster.
"Thanks," I tell him.
He's not aware of this, but he really did save me from that very disaster. If I hadn't bumped into him, I would have purchased the snake, farted around in the pipes, nothing would have changed, and I'm sure the sewage would have happened before I realized the true problem.
RotoRooter was very helpful. "Are you home, sir?" they ask. "Like, right now? We can come right on over."
"Of course."
Looks like I'll be tackling that laundry mountain today. Anyone want a couple of poorly behaved dogs?
