Grease in my Sewer Line

[EddieWalker]

I've been dealing with my sewer line for a while now without knowing what the problem was. It seemed to happen after my grandson stayed for the weekend, so I was sure he had flushed something down the toilet. I would put the hose down the cleanout and after a little effort, it would break through the block and drain properly. But now it's happening every couple of days and he hasn't stayed the night since Christmas.

I have two cleanouts in my line from the house to the septic tank. It seemed to me that what was in there was being forced closer to the tank every time I did it because I could put the hose in there farther each time before I hit the problem.

I got frustrated and dug up the pipe about halfway between the tank and the closest cleanout to it. Then I drilled a 3-inch hole into the top of the four-inch pipe. This is what I saw.



Now I know that I'm dealing with a massive grease build up. My wife swears that she doesn't pour grease down the drain, and I believe her. But she does use a variety of products for washing her hair that I think has caused this. I just don't know how much soap it takes to create something like this.

I've forced the hose into the pipe after digging out what I could. I pushed it to the tank from this hole, and I ran the hose through the pipe from the cleanout before it all the way to the tank. I dug up the tank and removed the access lid, and I can see the hose coming out the pipe, so I know I'm all the way through.

But I also have standing water in the pipe between the hole and the tank. This tells me that I'm getting through the block, but I haven't removed it from the walls of the pipe.

I'm looking for a suggestion to clean out the pipe that I haven't thought of. My first plan is to buy a tool that I can do this myself. But I don't want to spend stupid money for it. I think that if I can find a snake with a bolt on end that will take a descaler, I can power it with a drill and cut off what is against the wall of my pipe.

Plan B is to rent a power auger with cutting tips and run it through the pipe. I hate renting. Move then the money, it's the time it takes to get it and return it that bothers me the most.

The distance from the hole in the pipe to the tank is less than 25 feet. The pipe is 4 inches. I really should be able to come up with something to do this that I can use again when it happens again. My guess is this will become an ongoing issue for the rest of my life.

My other question is what can I pour down there that actually works at removing and preventing build up like this? The pipe has a mild slope to it, so I'm afraid that any chemical that I pour in there will just sit in the pipe and never make it to the problem area. Especially when toilet paper catches on it and creates a dam.

Thanks

 

[scootr]

Wow. That is a serious grease accumulation. For 25ft I would try the power auger with a small head. Something like dish soap and hot water might be added in with the auger to help loosen the grease.

 

[oldnslo]

Do you have a pressure washer? If yes companies make tips or kits for hydro-jetting sewer lines. Some tips are designed for cutting through blockages and others more for high pressure washing of lines.

What did the material in the top of your septic tank look like. Was there a layer of goo like in the lines or mostly watery sewage, paper, etc. like you would expect to see.

 

[gstrom99]

Power auger is the only sure way to clear it all out.

 

[EddieWalker]

Do you have a pressure washer? If yes companies make tips or kits for hydro-jetting sewer lines. Some tips are designed for cutting through blockages and others more for high pressure washing of lines.

What did the material in the top of your septic tank look like. Was there a layer of goo like in the lines or mostly watery sewage, paper, etc. like you would expect to see.

I don't own a pressure washer.

Septic tanks was nasty. Floating on top of the tank was a combination of poop, paper and what looked like tar. I used a 4 hook hoe to pull it all out. It was a slow and painful process, but now there is just poop floating on the top of the water.

Below the surface, and under the poop and paper, there was a layer of grease. I pushed the hoe down through it and it broke apart. If felt like what I've seen in a jar of grease. A white crust on top of the liquid. I pulled huge chunks of it out of the tank with the hoe until I couldn't find any more.

My tank has two chambers. On the exit side I have a six in wide riser for pumping it. On the inlet side the lid was buried under two feet of dirt that I dug up. Home Depot has extensions for the Norwesco tank that I have. Funny thing is Amazon also has them, but they are $100 more on Amazon.

 

[EddieWalker]

It's cold and winding this morning so I'm searching on Amazon for something to buy to power auger the inside of my pipe. This is what I like the most for right now. What do you think? I've never bought Vevor before. I'm sort of hesitant on quality. Can I power it with a half inch drill?

Amazon.com

 

[kenmac]

Are you positive it' all greases, or just an accumulation of soap scum / hair with some grease, etc, ?
I've seen soap scum/ hair build up and attach it's self to the walls of PVC over time and build up causing a blockage similar to that.
You're going to need a jetting machine, or a sewer machine.
A water jet machine is better because it tends not to scratch the walls of the pipe, making soap scum, etc, from being able to attach it's self to the walls of the pipe as easy... Or, just use your backhoe, dig up and replace that section of pipe... Good luck !

 

[gstrom99]

It's cold and winding this morning so I'm searching on Amazon for something to buy to power auger the inside of my pipe. This is what I like the most for right now. What do you think? I've never bought Vevor before. I'm sort of hesitant on quality. Can I power it with a half inch drill?

Amazon.com

I've bought several Vevor branded stuff from Amzn and had good results. It'll be a nasty job of course. A power (rotating) tool would be better. Rarely used equipment like this should be rented IMHO, but it you want to own one, I like this one: https://www.amazon.com/VEVOR-Cleaner-Electric-Cleaning-Air-activated/dp/B0DF72J3CB?crid=1ZOYCJUJL4Q75&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.9jjVdp6RmJDoft4a2mN1wXbOiwyILgkpg8-qnw5q_PZTMAuDUiLPBmQqRlnzSA-Ie9dCbk2HRbZXdVpbKvOOhJpVVCElUMacUiofsCX_t92wz3xi2MU_5jQB9v-4pJcXEDXGkxK2Cz7qPr0ESyBuyH-yaqSn8rCaRe224xDtXYeAB_T6a08tRD72udR8VDEwpON6Q09MQwrEmb8LwXopDtjwyY0OiNmiRZHo_p2GkoNCvsjisopTIBuEQQXDLC3PPLsXsNcaz0_BvLYva-rv_CgyJgsQYcIcUrMXRRMofVw.BKB_N1klhQFWKDHk8uT4czWfrTe15hAtkmINRbyorx0&dib_tag=se&keywords=power+sewer+rodder&qid=1771781266&s=hi&sprefix=power+sewer+rodder,tools,843&sr=1-5

 

[ultrarunner]

I use a cable auger for roots/hygiene products and jet for grease.

Also no garbage disposals on septic for me and washing machines with all the detergents and lint go to a dry well…

Might suggest a pumping after you clear the lines.

I have folks that never have a problem and others that are problems… both occupants of the same home at different times.

For some septic care is a religion and others it’s just a trash can.

Kids can be the worst offenders when it comes to chores and pouring grease down the drain…

 

[civilian]

Remember if you are augering a clean out in the house, you might have a mess when you pull out the auger. Can you auger from the outside or the tank inlet? Jon

 

[EddieWalker]

Remember if you are augering a clean out in the house, you might have a mess when you pull out the auger. Can you auger from the outside or the tank inlet? Jon

I have two cleanouts once between the house and the tank. I cut a hole in the pipe that will become a third cleanout. I'm a big fan of them, but it looks like two were not enough!!!!

 

[EddieWalker]

Are you positive it' all greases, or just an accumulation of soap scum / hair with some grease, etc, ?
I've seen soap scum/ hair build up and attach it's self to the walls of PVC over time and build up causing a blockage similar to that.
You're going to need a jetting machine, or a sewer machine.
A water jet machine is better because it tends not to scratch the walls of the pipe, making soap scum, etc, from being able to attach it's self to the walls of the pipe as easy... Or, just use your backhoe, dig up and replace that section of pipe... Good luck !

I'm calling it grease as a generic term. It's semi solid white stuff that crumbles when you squeeze it between your fingers. it doesn't have any smell at all. It's not slippery like grease or oil, but not rough either. If I squeeze it enough, it does kind of get slippery, but not really.

I really think it's a build up of soaps. Laundry, dishwasher, shampoo and bar soap. My current plan is to figure out what we use and see if there are options that are better for the drain lines. I'm just not sure what I'm looking for, or what would be better?

In all reality, I'm pretty sure this is going to be a never ending, ongoing issue that I'll have to deal with every couple of years.

 

[anomad]

Did you test to see if the schmoo dissolves or gets softer in hot water?

 

[oldnslo]

Maybe stop washing all your dogs in the fancy dog washing station.

Sure be nice for peace of mind to figure out what products or materials are creating this goo.

 

[BackRoad]

The drain lines I've worked with had slope all the way from house to the septic tank...with no standing water in the pipe.

The last house we sold, we found that issue of insufficient slope on a septic pre-inspection we had done before selling the house.

We had to drill and patch the basement wall to raise the house end of the pipe a few inches. We actually just finished up replacing that section of pipe the morning of the open house...but we were able to offer a 100% passed septic inspection certificate.

Wondering Mr. Eddie, if your ultimate best answer is to replace your 25 feet of pipe, while adding proper slope so you don't have standing water...so you don't have to fool with it in the future.

Deal with the issue once and be done with it...

 

[EddieWalker]

Maybe stop washing all your dogs in the fancy dog washing station.

Sure be nice for peace of mind to figure out what products or materials are creating this goo.

I ran that drain line out into the lawn. It's also connected to my gutters to help flush out dog hair.

 

[EddieWalker]

The drain lines I've worked with had slope all the way from house to the septic tank...with no standing water in the pipe.

The last house we sold, we found that issue of insufficient slope on a septic pre-inspection we had done before selling the house.

We had to drill and patch the basement wall to raise the house end of the pipe a few inches. We actually just finished up replacing that section of pipe the morning of the open house...but we were able to offer a 100% passed septic inspection certificate.

Wondering Mr. Eddie, if your ultimate best answer is to replace your 25 feet of pipe, while adding proper slope so you don't have standing water...so you don't have to fool with it in the future.

Deal with the issue once and be done with it...

More slope might help. Currently it's dropping 18 inches over 50 feet. To get more slope I would have to raise the house or lower the septic tank.

 

[bigtiller]

Somewhere around 1960, our 4" drainage tile plugged up. The only thing connected to it was the clothes washing machine. Old timers advised us that the high sudsing laundry soap Tide, was the culprit.

We dug up the line, replaced the plugged tiles and Mom changed to a low sudsing soap. Never a problem after that.

 

[dieselscout80]

I’m going suggest that it is NOT just grease but rather powdered laundry detergent. It seems to reconstitute into a sticky mess and when it cools off it gets hard.

We have had this issue with our drain line for the kitchen and laundry.

 

[oldnslo]

More slope might help. Currently it's dropping 18 inches over 50 feet. To get more slope I would have to raise the house or lower the septic tank.

Recommended Standard slope for 4” drain line is 1/4” per foot minimum is 1/8”.

If my math is correct 1/4” per foot over 50 ft would be 12 1/2” so your 18” is borderline to steep and could leaving solids behind vs floating them down the line. Doubt is problem but chance might contribute a small amout to build up over time. Another common problem is sag or belly in a line creating a low spot where water pools and solids settle out. Fighting this problem now at mother-in-laws home.