When grandkids come sewer backs up- How do I avoid it?

House is 30 years old, in pretty good shape. When grandchildren come to visit, everything in basement backs up (toilets, bathtubs, showers). Only happens when they come. Sewer cleaner says too much paper was flushed. Someone said not to use tissues in the toilet. Only to use cut toilet paper. What else will prevent problems?

What a miserable Motzei Pesach. Yuck!

Most likely, they have much better plumbing in their home, which allows for more waste with each flush. Our toilets have horrible plumbing and guest are not always aware that they need to flush often in order for it not to back up. You need to drill it into the kids/grandkids.
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Platinum Member Joined: Nov 17 2008 Posts: 5050

My father a"h was a plumbing contractor and he always said that flushing tissues was a problem. He was adamant only to use toilet paper.
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Diamond Member Joined: Oct 08 2009 Posts: 4018

WOW! What an idea, we spend so much time cutting toilet paper rolls before Shabbos and Yom Tov. Never thought to cut it with a knife, will have to try it.
Another great imamother idea! Thanks!

Aside from tissues there are those baby wipes or any wipes that claim to be flushable, but they are really not. They may be okay for strong systems, but if there are steady problems, no wipes, no tissues.
Some kids use lots of paper, way too much, they need to be taught to flush more often.
Also weak sewers with steady problems can be cleaned out before they back up, in other words, before the grandchildren come, and then if anything happens while they are there there is usually a 30 day guarantee, just in case. Its important to check it out and catch it the minute there is a problem.
Otherwise, its a huge mess (not to mention the expense) and its awful.

Gold Member Joined: Jul 06 2009 Age: 26 Posts: 1174

just a PSA about telling kids to use less TP.... my DH is still scarred from the days after his dad yelled at him for TP over-use.... apparently, he had quite a few episodes of 'streak marks' til he realized there was a balance...
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Diamond Member Joined: Jan 19 2006 Posts: 4428

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Sewer backups are common in Crown heights were most of the houses are about 100 years old.

My suggestions are:
- ripped toilet paper (or buy the premade precut sheets)
- post a note in your bathrooms about flushing often
- hire a sewer company to come clean your sewer annually before Yom Tov as a precautionary measure.
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Make sure the girls arent flushing tampons. They are supposed to disintegrate but until they do it can cause problems.