[Upstate Steve]

Hello everyone, I'm hoping someone can provide some advice here...

It seems the lateral storm sewer line coming out of my house is plugged before it hits the main storm sewer. My sump pump is working like a champ pushing water up and out to the line, but since the line is blocked and the sump pump is closed with a check valve, the water is pushing back to my two main drain tiles off the end of my garage. The yard outside the side of my garage is now flooded and water shoots up and out when the sump pump kicks on.

Additionally, when the sump pump kicks on water and air bubbles gurgle out of two new cracks and depressions in my driveway.

Here are my questions...

1) Until I can fix the problem, are there any potential problems rerouting my sump pump to the laundry room basin?

2) Is it likely that I have a simple plugged lateral line, or does the gurgleing driveway indicate the line is crushed, or somehow no longer closed?

3) Anyone with a similar issue ever have any success in getting homeowner insurance to buck up some cash?

4) Is there anything I may be missing?

Thanks everyone for you help!

Steve.

 

[al's sewer]

Hello everyone, I'm hoping someone can provide some advice here...

It seems the lateral storm sewer line coming out of my house is plugged before it hits the main storm sewer. My sump pump is working like a champ pushing water up and out to the line, but since the line is blocked and the sump pump is closed with a check valve, the water is pushing back to my two main drain tiles off the end of my garage. The yard outside the side of my garage is now flooded and water shoots up and out when the sump pump kicks on.

Additionally, when the sump pump kicks on water and air bubbles gurgle out of two new cracks and depressions in my driveway.

Here are my questions...

1) Until I can fix the problem, are there any potential problems rerouting my sump pump to the laundry room basin?

2) Is it likely that I have a simple plugged lateral line, or does the gurgleing driveway indicate the line is crushed, or somehow no longer closed?

3) Anyone with a similar issue ever have any success in getting homeowner insurance to buck up some cash?

4) Is there anything I may be missing?

Thanks everyone for you help!

Steve.

1. In most states now it is illegal to pump surface water into a sanitary sewer system. There are several reasons for this so what I would do is contact your local sanitary commission and ask them for permission to do it.
2. There are a few ways to resovle this but if you don't have access to the outside pipe it may involve digging up the line outside if it is not too deep. It could be something as simple as roots clogging up the line to as you said a crushed pipe under the driveway. The best way to find out is to get into the line with a sewer camera and a rodding machine. As far as water coming out it depends on what kind of pipe you have under ground. If its a jointed pipe like clay or cast iron it could be you just have a failed joint and the water is going out the easiest way it can find. this would not really be a problem if the line was open. my suggestion is dig up the line cut the pipe run a camera in it or a sewer machine or jetter depending on the situation then when you put the pipe back together install 2 clean outs one going toward the main the other going in the opposite direction. I would also suggest to wait and see if anyone comes up with a better solution. That is just what i would do some may have better ideas. another thing also and this might sound stupid but are you sure your sump goes into another line? Most people usually just pump the water onto the ground outside of the house and not into the storm water system. final note if you dig call your local utility companies to locate any
under ground pipes and wires before you dig. Got any more questions leave me a post.

3. As far as insurance goes good luck:laughing::laughing:. It would depend on your policy all i can say is call and see and good luck again.