Semi Emergency

[tstex]

All.

Hired a plumber last night (Sat 830pm) to confirm/fix the issue w my sink not draining. This is also where the AC's primary drain line empties.

The commercial grade snake he rented (see pic) essentially stopped wking bc the line was not coiled back in properly or badly kinked.

He's going to HD 8am to see what they can do, but i have a some pressing questions:

1. Will 30-40 ft of line in the drain system potentially cause the toilets to back up?

2. For any licensed plumbers or similar, do you have a fix or solution for this?

I have a house full of college girls so the tillers & showers will be cranking up soon.

I really appreciate your replies. I'll answer any questions I can.

 

[groundcover]

All.

Hired a plumber last night (Sat 830pm) to confirm/fix the issue w my sink not draining. This is also where the AC's primary drain line empties.

The commercial grade snake he rented (see pic) essentially stopped wking bc the line was not coiled back in properly or badly kinked.

He's going to HD 8am to see what they can do, but i have a some pressing questions:

1. Will 30-40 ft of line in the drain system potentially cause the toilets to back up?

2. For any licensed plumbers or similar, do you have a fix or solution for this?

I have a house full of college girls so the tillers & showers will be cranking up soon.

I really appreciate your replies. I'll answer any questions I can.

"I have a house full of college girls"
If ever a thread needed pics !!
I have had a septic guy send a camera down a waste pipe , found the issue right off.

 

[tstex]

Thanks. Not sure you can get anything down that pipe now w the snake still lodged 30 ft down the drain. This is also on the 2nd flr of house.

 

[JJT]

Showers should be fine, but any toilet before the clog is a no go..... Any toilets after the clog should be fine.

 

[stevem5215]

If the snake is busted off in the pipe you could open up the wall wherever the snake and pipe are and cut into the pipe and see if you can yank it out that way. Snaking a pipe is a pain in the ass for sure and if there's stuff in there that can't be broken through with a snake you are looking at serious plumbing repairs anyway so cutting the pipe and yanking out the snake will be the least of them.

 

[scootr]

I was using a friends 50' power snake on a problematic yard drain, it had roots invading it. Anyway, he calls and said son in law coming over to get it for his house. Fine, I asked him to return it here when done as I was not finished using it. I came back with the snake all Fed up, actually reversed direction mid feed when recoiling. I wound up pulling the whole 50' out and rewinding properly. It works like a charm. Dunno if this helps

 

[repete]

It is Sunday, no school.
This would be a great opportunity to have them help you clean out the clog. Who knows, perhaps some of them will want a career as a plumber. Or at least they will not talk s--- about plumbers AND you can save on toilet paper.....

 

[tstex]

We are calling it quits for Sunday until a camera guy can come Monday, thanks for any constructive feedback

 

[ultrarunner]

I was using a friends 50' power snake on a problematic yard drain, it had roots invading it. Anyway, he calls and said son in law coming over to get it for his house. Fine, I asked him to return it here when done as I was not finished using it. I came back with the snake all Fed up, actually reversed direction mid feed when recoiling. I wound up pulling the whole 50' out and rewinding properly. It works like a charm. Dunno if this helps

Reversing the rotation of the drum can cause all kinds of problems…

The spring has to rotate so it’s always being “Wound”

A couple of guys pulling together might work.

The secret I’ve found is a good operator is able to read the cable and thus able to avoid problems before they happen.

Running a cable looks to very simple but often it’s anything but simple.

Technique plays a role as in starting with a very small spade instead of a large claw just like having water flowing to move the pieces down the line.

Inside a home it’s almost always hygiene products or kids toys… both easily user preventable.

Outside my biggest issue is roots.

 

[scootr]

Reversing the rotation of the drum can cause all kinds of problems…

The spring has to rotate so it’s always being “Wound”

A couple of guys pulling together might work.

The secret I’ve found is a good operator is able to read the cable and thus able to avoid problems before they happen.

Running a cable looks to very simple but often it’s anything but simple.

Technique plays a role as in starting with a very small spade instead of a large claw just like having water flowing to move the pieces down the line.

Inside a home it’s almost always hygiene products or kids toys… both easily user preventable.

Outside my biggest issue is roots.

Operation is key. I found it best to advance and retreat, advance a bit further and retreat versus pushing through in a single pass. And yes on the water assist if it moving at all.

 

[ultrarunner]

There are times I will send in a bare cable without a bit just to prob the line.

I think flushable wipes were invented by plumbers for job security…

Last week a wing at the hospital had sewage coming up through two floor drains…

I pulled out a 3-4 feet long strip of gauze bandage wrap.

Who would flush something like that?

 

[EddieWalker]

I'm surprised that a real plumber went through the drain line in the vanity and didn't remove the toilet.

30 to 40 feet sounds like he hit something outside the house. Odds are that it's a root. Especially since the snake is stuck.

I had a house where something similar happened, but they where able to get it out. The one guy that originally showed up started having trouble, so he called in help. Eventually there where three vans, and three guys there, all working on it together. In the end, they located where the issue was in the front yard, and gave me the option of digging the hole myself, or paying them to dig it.

Once I dug down and found the pipe, it was obvious that a root had worked itself into the joint of my drain pipe. And over the years, it had grown to create an issue that needed to be cut out.

The original drain pipes on that house where clay pipe. Probably the worse type of drain pipe ever invented!!!

Before digging, ask yourself if anybody could of flushed something down there that could be removed by a snake?

My grandson stayed with us over Thanksgiving. He flushed some Wet Wipes down the toilet, but my wife thought she caught him and stopped it from happening. My guess is that he kept doing it. The day he left, our toilet backed up. I stuck a hose down the pipe and turned the water on full blast. It took about five minutes, but the block cleared and everything drained to the septic tank.

Last month I had an elderly lady ask me to fix her toilet. It wouldn't drain and she couldn't use it. She is a widow and lives alone, but has grand kids that visit, and a labradoodle dog. After removing the toilet, I found a large piece of bark in the trap of the toilet. Apparently her dog had brought it in and dropped it in there, and she flushed it without knowing it was in there. Usually I find Hot Wheels, Plastic Army Men, and Popsicle Sticks in there that catch toilet paper and creates the blockage.

If he cannot get the Snake out, have him figure out where it's at, and start digging. Odds are good that you'll have to dig there eventually to deal with the issue, might as well start now.

 

[ultrarunner]

Orangeburg, Sections of Clay, Cement Asbestos, Plastic, Cast Iron, Galvanized, Black Pipe, Copper and Lead all used around here for sewer pipe… about the only thing I have not come across is wood pipe.

Every sale here means lateral replacement if not plastic.

As a property manager no matter what’s down there it starts out as my problem…

Back in the days of cloth diapers kids would flush them and then the fun begins.

I’m guessing no amount of pulling has been able to get the cable to budge?

 

[BlueKnife]

I think flushable wipes were invented by plumbers for job security…

That and period pads. Many years ago I worked at a church camp as a maintenance guy. Period pads were the worst for clogs. First thing I thought of when the OP mentioned having a "house full of college girls".

 

[tstex]

Showers should be fine, but any toilet before the clog is a no go..... Any toilets after the clog should be fine.

Yes, thd key is knowing the

 

[tstex]

Question:

Does anyone see a drawback against squeezing a plastic container of liquid dish soap into the pipe where the snake auger is stuck to help lubricate the ID of the PVC? I've enclosed a pic of what i am referring. I know there is going to be suds galore, and didn't want to complicate things for flow of water and other.

If there is another option that you've used thst is better than soap, please let me know?

Thank you very much !

 

[quicksandfarmer]

The original drain pipes on that house where clay pipe. Probably the worse type of drain pipe ever invented!!!

Before clay pipe they used wood. I'm sure they thought the clay was a godsend.

 

[etpm]

When I was a teenager I explored with friends a lot of the woods outside of Saratoga CA. One place we explored was the site and grounds of the Congress Springs Hotel which burned to the ground in 1906. There were springs still running when we went there. The water was bottled at the site and sold far and wide. Wooden pipes were used to transport the water. Some were still there with water flowing through them. Really fascinating for us teens. We drank the water of course, it was good. We were also trespassing and we knew it, so we were always looking out for adults. Never got caught. Never damaged anything either. Just explored and drank the good water.
Eric

 

[tstex]

All drain pipes are SCH 40 PVC; all water transports are copper

 

[jyoutz]

Last summer our shower drain plugged up. The plumber had a battery operated air plunger. He filled the drain with water, then stuck the nozzle in the drain. Whoose the drain was clear. We have a grey water system for the shower and sink drains. They go into a basin about 100’ from the house and cottonwood trees use the water. I was standing at the pipe outlet outside when he hit the drain with the air plunger. A flood of nasty black/grey water came rushing out and the drain was clear. He made some easy money for sure. This might be worth a try.