Using a metal snake on ABS plastic drain pipe?

[ChiefBodie]

$4.59 plus tax!!!

 

[ultrarunner]

I have an assortment of drain tools...

Don't overlook the lowly Balloon.... it expands and vibrates and clears most anything... sometimes even a hose alone will work.

I find going down the vent pipe on the roof is very successful after going the plunging route.

For Roots or things put in pipe like grease, or hygiene products or swifter type things... I have to go to my cable rooter with various heads... have a handheld with 35' reach and a drum that will max out at 215'

 

[2manyrocks]

I always start off trying the pull back plunger method Mossroad suggested. If that doesn't work, I usually find the clog in the first few feet of the drain. For some odd reason, I think my shaving cream builds up in the tail pipe of my bathroom sink just before the trap. Maybe the trap slows the velocity of the drain water and allows the shaving cream time to stick to the tail pipe.

My other usual suspect areas are the bend in the trap, the line running into the wall, and the 90 degree transition in the wall. Many of the older houses had 90 degree fittings here instead of sweep transitions that have better water flow.

I doubt that the blockage was in the ABS pipe in your other photo.

 

[MossRoad]

$4.59 plus tax!!!

Outrageous!!! :laughing:

 

[ultrarunner]

Have had a lot more problems since water saving aerators were mandated for bathroom sinks...

People hardly let any water flow, and what does flow is often cold... never getting really hot.

A work, after hours once a week I let the hot water flow at the sinks for 10 minutes... have not had a slow drain in over two years since doing this... the soap, etc... just builds up.

I also like to use drain care... it is slow acting enzyme to nibble away organics... works much better warm surfaces than cold...

 

[ChiefBodie]

Trouble again!

The sink was backing up again this morning. Not nearly as bad as before, but holding maybe 2" in the bowl while the water was running.

Here is the weird part. I watched it slowly drain after shutting off the faucet. It drained until the water level in the drain was about level with the bottom of the sink. It stopped and held that level for a few seconds with no movement. Then, on its own, whoosh it drained. I did this twice in a row. Once the water is drained down to the P-trap, I then hear glug-glug-glug-glug-glug about 10 times or so. Is this maybe also a venting issue?

Do I need a plumber, or a witch doctor to remove the spell???????????

 

[ultrarunner]

Most likely hair... and when the force of the water is enough... the hair gives and the water flows.

 

[Redlands Okie]

Critters do get into the vents from the roof and do cause problems. Likely a issue. Depends on length of drain lines, location of vents in them, just for starters. Just have to run cable down the vents and see. Plunger also might keep working stuff loose in the drain lines as time goes by.

 

[ultrarunner]

A lot can be done with a simple garden hose and a rag... helps to have a spotter just in case the water ends up going somewhere you don't want it to.

My Spartan Cable Rooter was about 3k when it was all said an done... use it several times a month and bill owners when I do...

Seemed a waste to wait for the Rooter guy to show up when I could do it myself if I had the equipment...

The handheld job with 35' of cable cost about $500 but has also made me money...

Before that, it was the hose and balloon...

 

[sandman2234]

Not sure what "an older house" is to everyone, but my 1964 house has a septic tank that suffered damage to the cast in place T that is just inside the tank (Terracotta fitting cast into the concrete tank). Someone slammed a snake into it and busted a piece out of it, allowing the scum layer to eventually back up into the house, clogging the pipe. Short of replacing the tank, which would require a new above ground drainfield, I have built a pipe to go inside the terracotta T and then another try to the outside of the terracotta T. Every time I did the 18 inches to the tank to "fix" this, I want to shoot the idiot who forced a snake so hard into the tank!
Make sure you know how long the snake is and how far to the tank!
David from jax