Looking Under The Back Porch Again

Sigh. It's that time of year again, generally every spring, when growing tree roots invade the sewer system and lead to a sewage crisis.

Stage 1 of the crisis is when water backs up under the back porch. Pictured at left is the cement pit under the porch this morning just after I cleaned out the standing water. The cement pit was the house's original water closet area, circa 1908. When the bathroom was moved indoors a couple of decades later, the toilet and sink were removed, but the concrete remains, as does the pipe leading directly to the sewer line from what used to be the toilet. Sewage water generally appears here first, triggering a cessation of use of the washing machine.

Stage 2 of the crisis is when the water bursts from the sewage drain clean-out and floods the basement.

Stage 3 is when drainage from the bathroom grinds to a complete halt and personal hygiene is definitely disrupted. Definitely, definitely disrupted.

I'm at Stage 1 now, but the expensive roto-rooter apparatus I purchased several years ago just for this purpose developed a kinked cable, so it's useless to clean out the roots. The crisis will persist unless I call someone, or get the apparatus fixed. Should I call Joe The Plumber? Hmmmm.... Hmmmmm.... I think it's all a conspiracy of some sort....