Experience in Sewer Lines?

[Imoutgoodbye]

Okay, so, the spring thaw has begun.  I thought I had the crawl space adequately prepared (lined the floor and walls with vapour lock tarps and taped them together because I lack the money to put in a concrete floor) and yet, I'm experience flooding.  Now, I have a portable pump and this wasn't a problem until recently when I began to smell what might be sewage and saw some macaroni and what might be a few pieces of toilet paper.  It's a small 1/3 horsepower pump, so, it can't handle objects that start popping up in the water.

 

I called the city and apparently if it's on my property, it's not their problem.  I'm still having them come check their lines out in the road to make sure there's not a backup there or something.  We did get about four or five feet of snow that's all melting and the coldest recorded winter in Michigan's history.

 

So, my question is, how do I determine, beyond the shadow of a doubt, where and if there is a problem with a sewer line?

[Magick]

One way to be 100% certain is to call out a reputable plumber.  It's not the cheapest option, but it should be accurate.  Depending on the ultimate problem, it may come down to one of them anyway.

[Imoutgoodbye]

I'll take a shovel down there myself first. 

[Serinkane]

Try running Rid-x or industrial unclogging or rent a snake to run thru if. Examine the exposed portions if you can get in the crawl space. Remove a coupling if you can and check the water flow. If its flowing smooth from the sink to your removed coupling you can start narrowing down the location. If its underground and the snake or ridx (heavy doses) doesn't help, your looking at big $$

[mya]

You should take some photos of the events and locations.

It's always nice to have documents proving facts.

I also have no idea about half the stuff you said mean.

[EtsoShex]

i've had experience ruining sewer lines...