Backwashing and water coming up through shower and toilet

[liveonboca]

My backwashing goes into a pvc tube next to the pool pump equipment. I backwashed my pool (with DE filter) about 3 minutes until clear and then rinsed about 30 seconds or so and then back to filter.

My master bathroom is on the other side of the wall from the pool equipment. It is currently undergoing renovation. I have no toilet and just a sand mortar base but I can tell that it is wet and water came out of the shower floor drain and the toilet hole. What is causing this? Is there a blockage somewhere? The water does not look whitish or greyish. I have never noticed before and probably because it would have just been in the toilet or the shower if it happened previously.

 

[Toxophilite]

Are you on city sewer line or septic system?

 

[Jimrahbe]

L,

I would suspect that your sewer line is partially plugged. The backwash pushes more water than your normal sewer load, so it backed up into the house.

I suggest that you run a Roto-Rooter down the line or have someone send a camera $$$$ down the line.

Thanks.

Jim R.

 

[liveonboca]

Hello. I am on the city sewer.

 

[Jimrahbe]

L,

Not too uncommon if the house plumbing has not been used in a while...

Thanks,

Jim R.

 

[1poolman1]

The proper way to backwash thru the house sewer system is to have the water backwash into a sump that can then gravity drain into the sewer. That is what most codes call for and is seldom done right. Even a slight blockage can cause what is seen. Once the sand bed starts moving the pump can usually move water at its maximum capacity which is more than most house drain plumbing, at 1.5" before entering the main sewer line, can safely handle. Years ago there was a local builder that was in court so often for building this way they're now gone.

 

[Toxophilite]

Hello. I am on the city sewer.

Good. I only ask because the plumbing contractors seem hard-wired to stub out and plumb for city sewer without considering. It has happened once on a house build and then recently on my pool build where they were looking for my clean-out to tie to. I had to show them 1) that I have tanks that cannot be flooded or diluted; and 2) I had a cartridge filter coming

 

[sktn77a]

I suspect your pool waste plumbing is in violation of local codes. I'd check on that.

 

[Jimrahbe]

I suspect your pool waste plumbing is in violation of local codes. I'd check on that.

Keith,

I think that really depends on where you live. In the DFW area, DE or Sand filters must be plumbed directly into the house's sanitary (sewer) drain line.

In "theory" you are not allowed to backwash or dump your DE waste into the street or storm drains.

Thanks,

Jim R.

 

[Newdude]

No doubt you are pushing more water out than the line can handle, so some of it is finding another exit. I would clean out your grease trap (cleanout, house P trap, whatevs they call it locally by you) as it's likelier that got gummed up since the last time you backwashed without problem.

Once you know for a fact it's not a run of the mill clog in the cleanout, backwash with a helper on a cellphone in that bathroom to tell you if it starts flowing out. If not, you fixed it.

If it does, you have a clog in the pipe to the street and can better justify the plumber costs to snake it. If the clog is because of roots, there may not be alot they can do besides a costly replacement of the pipe.