May seem like an unusual question. However today on KRLD Dallas a caller said part of his Y2K prep was to pour cement into his commode to prevent a failed sewer system from backing up into his home. I May seem like an unusual question. However today on KRLD Dallas a caller said part of his Y2K prep was to pour cement into his commode to prevent a failed sewer system from backing up into his home. I know you can buy plugs to seal commode connections once the commode has been removed. However, the sinks, shower and laundry would also need to be plugged. Seems to me that plugging the main line to the sewer itself would be the easiest and best place to isolate one's home.

Would be a tragedy to have to abandon one's domicile and supplies in haste as a result of a backstreaming sewer system. Images of Colorado Springs during this past year is all I need to reflect on to know that the City Sewer can be a 2 way street!

-- Mike (dwnsouth@texoma.com), December 27, 1999

Answers

What happened in Colorado Springs?

-- afraid to ask (2@way.street?), December 27, 1999.

Cement in the commode? I've heard of that many times, but always as a renter's revenge for real or imagined problems with the landlord. Mike, you're right that the other drains would still back up. In bad cases, not only in the basement but also on the main floor of homes (even ones with basements). There are different things to install that will seal off either the drains or the sewer pipes. In most places, doing anything to plug your sewer lines is big time illegal. So you might have trouble either buying the devices or finding someone to install them. Ask around if you know any plumbers or people who've had problems before with sewage back-up. It may be in your area the law exists but is ignored. How you'd be found out prior to a back-up eludes me. Someone might turn you in if you've asked them to sell or install certain types of plugs. Following a back-up, assuming you could get something workable installed, your neighbors will notice and hate you. Even to the point of suing you for their problems-they got your share of the doody after all.

I know it seems impossible to believe that a law forbiding you to protect your home so simply could exist, but it does. I first learned of it maybe 20 years ago from an old plumber. (He'd installed everything anyway, I'll spare you his colorful opinions on the law.)And some friends ran into the same law after their finished basement was destroyed by sewage (twice in the same year). I know what a disaster it is to have sewage back-up. Seen it happen to a whole lot of homes. Stinking, dangerous mess. Hope someone comes up with some DIY solutions for you or that you can get away with stoppers in your community. Mousie

-- Mousie (mousie@mymousehole.com), December 27, 1999.

They make inline backflow devices to fit on your incoming sewer line. I had one installed last January. Costs about $300 installed and is legal. Unit has a trap door in it that only swings out to let sewage out and closes shut to prevent a backflow.

-- Darrold Crites (dcrites642@aol.com), December 27, 1999.

How about stuffing a bicycle innertube in your drains and pumping it up?

-- bbb (bbb@bbb.com), December 28, 1999.

Sure as shootin'............some cowboys out there are going to try 'preventative maintenance' on their sewer.......and in the end it will look like a Chevy Chase / Bill Murray movie with the inner tube blowing up really big until it..........

EXPLODES.......shit flying every which way for blocks and blocks........woohoo!!

-- Craig (craig@ccinet.ab.ca), December 28, 1999.

Guess I'll fix on failure, and they laughed when I bought those gas masks.

-- SilentRunning (CanYouHearMe@plugging.you), December 28, 1999.

Backflow prevention device. Flapper gate which will prevent anything,

inclucing rats from incursion into your home. Made of ABS (black

plastic pipe) and connected to the service line (usually 3" or 4") by

two rubber Ferncos (bandaids).

Measure the length of the BPD, cut a section of your main service pipe

(usually at or near the foundation wall on the street side of the

house) slightly longer than the BPD, 1/4" to 1/2"..

Remove the waste pipe. Slide the caulder couplings (same as fernco,

just another name) over the cut ends of the main service.

Position the BPD and slide the couplings (bandaids) over the open ends

of the BPD.

"""BE SURE!!!""" that the flapper is positioned in the proper

direction. Effluent will come from the house, through the BPD and out

to the sewer main. Anything coming uphill (toward the house) will

cause the flapper to seize against the stops and prevent incursion.

Tighten the bands with a screw driver, or a 5/16ths nut driver. Test

for leaks (have someone run some water or flush).

The Ferncos, Caulder couplings, or whatever name the bandaids are sold

by, come in different configurations for different material types that

the main house service pipe are constructed from. Each type has it's

own Fernco. Be sure to tell your sales rep the EXACT type of sewer

pipe in your system. Most common types will be; concrete (usually

4 " ID - INSIDE diameter, but you must be certain of the

Outside diameter (Circumferance = 3.14~ x diameter), as this is the

determining factor for the correct Fernco):

Cast iron (usually 4", but rarely either 3" or 6"), or ABS ( most

common current installations).

Cutting any type pipe other than ABS, cast iron, or PVC service lines will require

special tools or talents, and should not be attempted by most.

Cutting ABS or PVC can be accomplished with a hack saw, or any wood

cutting type saw. The plumbing store/dept sells a specialty saw for

cutting ABS and PVC pipe, but this is not required for a single

installation. You will not need glue if using a Fernco, unless you

cut the line in the wrong place or over cut it and need to repair it

with an additional coupling made of ABS.

The job is not difficult if the line is either ABS or cast iron, but

special care must be taken is the line is cast iron, as a split may

end up as a *run* in the pipe.

Try to intersect the line as close to the foundation wall as possible

without doing an excessive amount of hand digging. But the BPD must

be installed down stream (closest to the wall) BELOW the last fitting

that creates a "T" or "Y" into your main service pipe. Otherwise

"incoming" will route to some fixture before it is stopped by the BPD.

Hope this helps, good luck and God Bless.

Oh yes, the Backflow Prevention Device that Ashton and Leska and

myself purchased the other day from Home Depot cost approx $30.00

-- Michael (mikeymac@uswest.net), December 28, 1999.

Craig:

Roflmbo........toooo funnny!!!!!!! <<<
-- consumer (shh@aol.com), December 28, 1999.