"PVC's great, but it won't fix external issues like that. Might wanna check with neighbors or city utilities... could save you some headaches down the road."
Yeah, that's a good point. Had something similar happen at my place a couple years back. Basement drain kept backing up every time we had heavy rain, and I was convinced it was something wrong with my pipes. Spent way too much money on plumbers who kept telling me everything looked fine inside the house.
Finally, after months of frustration (and wasted cash), I talked to a neighbor who casually mentioned they'd been having the same issue. Turns out our street had an old sewer line that was partially collapsed further down the block. City eventually came out and fixed it, but man, I wish I'd known sooner—would've saved me a lot of hassle and money.
Still, even after they fixed the main line, I ended up installing one of those backflow preventers just for peace of mind. Wasn't cheap, but honestly worth it to avoid dealing with sewage in my basement again. PVC pipes are solid and all, but like you said, they can't do much if the problem's outside your property line.
Might be worth checking around your neighborhood first before calling another plumber out—could save you from throwing money at something that's not even your fault. Good luck... basement flooding is no joke.
Yeah, totally agree with checking around first. Another thing to consider is getting a camera inspection done—it's not super expensive, and it'll give you a clear visual of what's happening down there. Had one done last year and found tree roots creeping into the line just outside my property. PVC's tough, but roots can still squeeze in at joints or cracks. Better to know exactly what you're dealing with before spending big bucks on repairs...
Camera inspections are helpful, but are they always worth the cost upfront? Last time I had a similar issue, I rented a drain auger from the hardware store first—cost me like 40 bucks for half a day. Cleared out a bunch of gunk and hair, problem solved. Sure, roots could be an issue, but wouldn't it make sense to try a cheaper DIY fix first before paying someone to scope it out? Curious if anyone's tried this route and regretted it later...
I went the DIY route recently—grabbed an auger from Home Depot, thinking it'd be a quick fix. It worked great for maybe two weeks, then the issue came back worse...ended up needing the camera anyway. Lesson learned, I guess?
Yeah, I've been down that road myself—augers are handy for minor blockages, but recurring issues usually signal something deeper. Could be tree roots or even a damaged pipe...better to catch it early with the camera than deal with a flooded basement later.
