Basement Renovation Pre-Inspection
My basement was renovated into a rec-room probably during the 80’s by the previous owner. I would like to renovate, which might include re-do of the uneven cement floor, replacement of some sheet rook and walls to open up the space, building shelves, etc. The sewer line and plumbing down there is very old. A…
My basement was renovated into a rec-room probably during the 80’s by the previous owner. I would like to renovate, which might include re-do of the uneven cement floor, replacement of some sheet rook and walls to open up the space, building shelves, etc.
The sewer line and plumbing down there is very old. A few years back we had a sewer back up due to a huge storm in nyc, the city cleaned the lines and no issues as of now.
I think there’s definitively something wrong with the sewer lines and pipes. Smell of sewage permeates when the toilets are flushed upstairs. In rare huge storms once a year or so, the basement sink water in pipes tries to come up, indicating some backup in the line.
My thoughts are to do a sewer line camera inspection or get a clean-up of the sewer line.
Any thoughts on what type of pre-inspection, I should do. Is a sewer line cleanup typical home maintenance once a year? Not knowing anything about my sewer line, is it worth to do a camera inspection?
I’m a bit clueless on where to start.
New construction inspection is important. You don’t want to move into a place or start a project before you know what you are getting yourself into. I can recommend a great Raleigh NC home inspector at http://www.jimsuchy.com/typesofinspections.html
Agree that odor is more likely a venting issue; talk to your plumber.
For cleaning, we use Clogbusters (another excellent name!)
Their number is 718.272.3318.
Everyone on my block uses “49.95 Any Sewer or Drain” (They put the price in the name of the company, which is just kinda weird). Our sewer line has a back-pitch, which means it backs up a couple of times a year, particularly after a big storm. There’s nothing we can do about it, aside from having it cleaned every six months. At $50, it’s way cheaper than roto-rooter, and they’re reliable, generally show up on time, etc. Website is http://www.a4995.com/
I had a very (very) poor experience with Harris on a bigger job that had a digging element to it.
I have had a good one with Nationwide Sewer & Drain for roto rooting. I am going to give them a call for storm water related issues myself.
Smells when flushing does sound like a trap / venting issue somewhere. When you re-do the floor, look for drains that may have been covered up and don’t do that when you renovate.
I would recommend Harris Sewer and Main. They have been reference on this site before. Very reputable.
K
Start by getting your waste line thoroughly cleaned out.
If you’re like most homeowners in Brooklyn, your sewer line has been violated by countless roots growing through the line, causing a near-total obstruction to the flow of waste.
Then, if the problem persists, let a plumber look into the line.
Yes, many people get drain companies to clean out their sewer pipes once a year.
As for the smell, a plumber (such as the person in charge of the sewer cleanout company) could tell you quite quickly if you have pinholes or other problems in the pipes. Another likely possibility is you could have a drain in the floor with a dried-out trap that is letting smells out of the sewer system. If so, just pour some water down there.