A sewage backup can be confusing when the mess is outside your home. Your drains are clogging indoors, but wastewater and toilet paper are spilling into the yard.
That was the situation at a home in Sunrise Manor on the east side of Las Vegas. Flush It LLC owner Dan G. arrived to find sewage overflowing from a ground-level backyard cleanout. The odor and visible waste made it clear the customer needed help finding the cause.
Here’s how the investigation and repairs unfolded.
What should I do first?
Dan’s first advice is to stop sending more water into the affected drain line.
That means stopping toilet flushing and avoiding faucets, showers, tubs and appliances that discharge into that line. If the main sewer is affected, continuing to use the home’s plumbing can add to the backup.
With sewage already overflowing, contact a plumbing professional to assess the problem. Tell them where the water is coming out and which drains inside the home are backing up.
Can’t you just snake the drain?
Drain cleaning was the first approach on this job. Dan ran a sewer cable through the line, which traveled from the backyard toward the front yard and the street connection.
The initial attempt did not clear the backup. Further investigation revealed damaged piping, making sewer repair part of the work at this Sunrise Manor home.
A cable that doesn’t clear a line does not, by itself, tell the whole story. In this case, Dan continued investigating rather than assuming what was underground.
Why did the work happen in more than one stage?
Dan first repaired a problem in the backyard section, approximately four feet below ground. After that repair, he tried the cable and camera again to investigate the remaining obstruction farther along the line.
Access for the sewer camera inspection was challenging. The investigation included attempts through a roof vent and, later, through the opening after removing a toilet. The camera work helped locate the remaining problem toward the front of the property near the driveway.
Throughout the process, Dan explained what he was finding, what the next step involved and the pricing to proceed. The customer then chose whether to authorize the additional excavation and repair.
The important point for a homeowner: ask what has been found, what remains unresolved and why another step is being recommended.
What was actually causing the backup?
The work revealed a broken clay fitting and an incorrectly arranged connection where two pipes met. Damaged pipe needed to be removed, and the connection needed correction.
There was also an unexpected obstruction: a large pair of underwear lodged in the line. Dan retrieved it with the sewer cable during the repair process.
How it got there was unknown. What mattered was removing the obstruction and addressing the damaged piping found during the investigation.
How did you check that the line was clear?
While the line was open, Dan ran the cable again and retrieved the obstruction. He then used running water and a sewer camera to check the line. He also inspected back toward the house to assess drainage.
Dan reported that the checked sections were clear and draining, with no further issues visible during those checks. The pipe connections were completed and the excavation was backfilled.
The goal was to confirm drainage through the inspected sections before covering the work.
Have a similar problem in Las Vegas?
If sewage is overflowing from a cleanout or multiple drains are backing up, stop using the affected plumbing and get the problem assessed.
Flush It LLC serves Las Vegas, Sunrise Manor and surrounding communities. We explain our findings and discuss pricing so you can make an informed decision.
Call or text (725) 300-4553. Open 24 hours Monday–Saturday. Closed Sunday.