flooded backyard.....sewer service or plumber?

Last Sunday, during those very heavy rains, my back yard turned into a lake. Water flowed under the door of the ground floor apartment and the tenant justifiably went a little crazy.
There is a drain in the ground toward the back of the yard connected to a pipe. But my guess is that it hasn’t worked in years and even if it does I don’t think it is in the best location. What I need is someone to analyze the situation and do whatever is necessary so a flood does not recur.

sewer service? or plumber? any recommendation?

starfish11040

in Plumbers and Plumbing 13 years and 8 months ago

4

Please log in, in order to post replies!

4 replies

Newest Oldest

Arkady | 13 years and 8 months ago

string(1) "1"
object(WP_User)#4937 (8) {
  ["data"]=>
  object(stdClass)#4894 (12) {
    ["ID"]=>
    string(5) "14677"
    ["user_login"]=>
    string(6) "Arkady"
    ["user_pass"]=>
    string(34) "$P$BSLpIhH1FLNbV2Qdpb/F67tu7brrgw1"
    ["user_nicename"]=>
    string(6) "Arkady"
    ["user_email"]=>
    string(20) "rkdillon@verizon.net"
    ["user_url"]=>
    string(21) "/forums/users/arkady/"
    ["user_registered"]=>
    string(19) "2008-08-04 21:50:38"
    ["user_activation_key"]=>
    string(20) "HL9P1Plx6tnm1l8GiJvd"
    ["user_status"]=>
    string(1) "0"
    ["display_name"]=>
    string(6) "Arkady"
    ["spam"]=>
    string(1) "0"
    ["deleted"]=>
    string(1) "0"
  }
  ["ID"]=>
  int(14677)
  ["caps"]=>
  array(2) {
    ["subscriber"]=>
    bool(true)
    ["bbp_participant"]=>
    bool(true)
  }
  ["cap_key"]=>
  string(15) "wp_capabilities"
  ["roles"]=>
  array(2) {
    [0]=>
    string(10) "subscriber"
    [1]=>
    string(15) "bbp_participant"
  }
  ["allcaps"]=>
  array(4) {
    ["read"]=>
    bool(true)
    ["level_0"]=>
    bool(true)
    ["subscriber"]=>
    bool(true)
    ["bbp_participant"]=>
    bool(true)
  }
  ["filter"]=>
  NULL
  ["site_id":"WP_User":private]=>
  int(1)
}

French drain isn’t that expensive – that’s what I’d do after snaking the drain pipe.

NewOwner | 13 years and 8 months ago

string(1) "1"
object(WP_User)#4936 (8) {
  ["data"]=>
  object(stdClass)#4935 (12) {
    ["ID"]=>
    string(5) "36874"
    ["user_login"]=>
    string(8) "NewOwner"
    ["user_pass"]=>
    string(34) "$P$BrD4iVpJB3PukvquJlzzU1nUQ0.pnN1"
    ["user_nicename"]=>
    string(13) "new-owner-2-2"
    ["user_email"]=>
    string(18) "funkez@hotmail.com"
    ["user_url"]=>
    string(28) "/forums/users/pheights_lady/"
    ["user_registered"]=>
    string(19) "2017-08-17 21:40:38"
    ["user_activation_key"]=>
    string(45) "1743521935:$P$B7xR4m/34AJ2ponh94bb1.NOzKodkv/"
    ["user_status"]=>
    string(1) "0"
    ["display_name"]=>
    string(9) "New Owner"
    ["spam"]=>
    string(1) "0"
    ["deleted"]=>
    string(1) "0"
  }
  ["ID"]=>
  int(36874)
  ["caps"]=>
  array(2) {
    ["subscriber"]=>
    bool(true)
    ["bbp_participant"]=>
    bool(true)
  }
  ["cap_key"]=>
  string(15) "wp_capabilities"
  ["roles"]=>
  array(2) {
    [0]=>
    string(10) "subscriber"
    [1]=>
    string(15) "bbp_participant"
  }
  ["allcaps"]=>
  array(4) {
    ["read"]=>
    bool(true)
    ["level_0"]=>
    bool(true)
    ["subscriber"]=>
    bool(true)
    ["bbp_participant"]=>
    bool(true)
  }
  ["filter"]=>
  NULL
  ["site_id":"WP_User":private]=>
  int(1)
}

I’ve had luck with those $49.99 sewer people for outside clogs.  I think that this is the place I used, but there seems to be many similar businesses:  www.a4999**sewer**.com/ 

It’s literally $49.99 for the job, plus a tip to the guy.

brucef | 13 years and 8 months ago

string(1) "1"
object(WP_User)#4932 (8) {
  ["data"]=>
  object(stdClass)#4938 (12) {
    ["ID"]=>
    string(4) "4724"
    ["user_login"]=>
    string(6) "brucef"
    ["user_pass"]=>
    string(34) "$P$BBW3UzNM8B1w6uproJMdiiw1vnHriz1"
    ["user_nicename"]=>
    string(6) "brucef"
    ["user_email"]=>
    string(20) "bruce@jerseydata.net"
    ["user_url"]=>
    string(21) "/forums/users/brucef/"
    ["user_registered"]=>
    string(19) "2017-08-10 14:13:36"
    ["user_activation_key"]=>
    string(0) ""
    ["user_status"]=>
    string(1) "0"
    ["display_name"]=>
    string(6) "brucef"
    ["spam"]=>
    string(1) "0"
    ["deleted"]=>
    string(1) "0"
  }
  ["ID"]=>
  int(4724)
  ["caps"]=>
  array(2) {
    ["subscriber"]=>
    bool(true)
    ["bbp_participant"]=>
    bool(true)
  }
  ["cap_key"]=>
  string(15) "wp_capabilities"
  ["roles"]=>
  array(2) {
    [0]=>
    string(10) "subscriber"
    [1]=>
    string(15) "bbp_participant"
  }
  ["allcaps"]=>
  array(4) {
    ["read"]=>
    bool(true)
    ["level_0"]=>
    bool(true)
    ["subscriber"]=>
    bool(true)
    ["bbp_participant"]=>
    bool(true)
  }
  ["filter"]=>
  NULL
  ["site_id":"WP_User":private]=>
  int(1)
}

Please check my extensive answer about a week ago to the same question.

Silvermax | 13 years and 8 months ago

string(1) "1"
object(WP_User)#4937 (8) {
  ["data"]=>
  object(stdClass)#4939 (12) {
    ["ID"]=>
    string(5) "29536"
    ["user_login"]=>
    string(9) "Silvermax"
    ["user_pass"]=>
    string(0) ""
    ["user_nicename"]=>
    string(9) "Silvermax"
    ["user_email"]=>
    string(27) "MarthaCameron@earthlink.net"
    ["user_url"]=>
    string(24) "/forums/users/silvermax/"
    ["user_registered"]=>
    string(19) "2009-04-21 17:51:30"
    ["user_activation_key"]=>
    string(0) ""
    ["user_status"]=>
    string(1) "0"
    ["display_name"]=>
    string(9) "Silvermax"
    ["spam"]=>
    string(1) "0"
    ["deleted"]=>
    string(1) "0"
  }
  ["ID"]=>
  int(29536)
  ["caps"]=>
  array(2) {
    ["subscriber"]=>
    bool(true)
    ["bbp_participant"]=>
    bool(true)
  }
  ["cap_key"]=>
  string(15) "wp_capabilities"
  ["roles"]=>
  array(2) {
    [0]=>
    string(10) "subscriber"
    [1]=>
    string(15) "bbp_participant"
  }
  ["allcaps"]=>
  array(4) {
    ["read"]=>
    bool(true)
    ["level_0"]=>
    bool(true)
    ["subscriber"]=>
    bool(true)
    ["bbp_participant"]=>
    bool(true)
  }
  ["filter"]=>
  NULL
  ["site_id":"WP_User":private]=>
  int(1)
}

The drain at the back probably needs cleaning out — if you don’t do it a couple of times in the season, it gets totally clogged with mud. Location may be fine if your yard is sloped slightly away from the house — I think it’s 1/4-inch per foot slope. If it’s a persistent problem, you could have a trench drain installed along the back of your house — a drain that is connected directly to your sewer line. Not cheap, but water won’t come into your house again. That would require a contractor, I would think — a plumber. But start with the existing pipe — lift the drain top and see if there’s a lot of dirt there and muck it out. Last Sunday set a record for rainfall in a single day in NYC. Sadly, the record will probably fall within a few years…