j4bs4209333
New Member
I need serious help. My main drain is backing up into my cellar after the back pressure blew off the 100 year old plug. I'm sorry if this is a long story but I need to figure out if I am connected to a sewer or a hidden cesspool. My house was originally built as part of an estate that had 3 houses and a store on one lot. The main house was built in 1846 and mine in 1912. The city sewer system was first started in 1869. When building the houses the owner had connected all the drains together from all 3 houses and the store. As I've been told the owners of the other 2 houses had major problems throughout the years and finally abandoned their connections to this line 5 years ago. The problems I am having are exactly what they went through before getting off the line. The main drain has been fine for 3 years now it's backed up bad. If I use the water it will not backup in the house, just fills the main drain and drains very slowly. I had a plumber snake the drain and he found no obstructions. If I wait a few hours it drains and the line is empty again. The other 2 houses had the same issue, it would act up for a month then it would be perfectly fine for a year or 2. No explanation as to why it would be good for a year or 2, no snaking nothing. I was told it will continue to do this to me on and off. I was told by the neighbor that the system dumps into the main sewer system somewhere 1/4 mile away but I think he is wrong. I am convinced there is a cesspool under the neighbor's (main house built in 1846) paved driveway. He recently paved his driveway over and it's sinking. It sank so bad you can actually see the outline of a manhole cover in the asphalt. He says it's a cleanout access I think it's a cesspool cover. I called the city and the guy told me he remembers all the issues with the neighbors and told me they were never able to determine where the system dumps out. They never found anywhere it was tied in to the sewer but assumed it was. I believe it's a cesspool because generally when a system is plugged it's plugged and will continue to get worse until it's completely blocked. I am thinking the only way it can be fine for a year or 2 then plug up for a month then be fine again for a year or 2 is because it's a cesspool and it's draining slowly into the leeching field. I need help here. I do not know what to do. I literally had to cut the drain for my shower and pipe it out the cellar window into the yard so it won't back up on me. The neighbor isn't going to allow me to tear up his driveway to open the manhole cover without a court order so I'm stuck. Does anyone know how I can find out for certain whether or not it is a cesspool or not? I figure if I can prove it is a cesspool I will be able to get access to it to have it pumped. There are no records on file with the city and the deeds do not show anything and do not have any easements. Any suggestions are welcome and greatly appreciated, even if you tell me I'm crazy to think it's a cesspool. Thanks
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