The problem of the day:
Doing a basement finish where the bath was roughed-in prior to the slab being poured. However some concrete got through the cover on the toilet flange (duct tape). The plumber in attempts to remove it has pushed the remaining piece about 4′ down the pipe. So essentially it is 1/2 of a 3″ pipe wedged in there 4′ away from the access point. Is there a way to break it up without knocking a hole in the slab? Another 15′ is the ejector pit but we have to go through a wye first. I thought about muriatic acid, but not very safe or effective. I was wondering if there was a mechanical means on the end of a roto-rooter or something.
John
J.R. Lazaro Builders, Inc.
Indianapolis, In.
Replies
Can you come from the pit end with a snake and push the chunk back?
Don't know. Neurotic plumber messed with it for hours yesterday and I went today to inspect. I told him we would walk away from it for a day or two to gather some info. I may be able to use my big sewer tape to push back from the pit. Unfortunately it is not a straight run. Probably will have to push a fish tape past it all the way to the pit and then pull back the sewer tape for steering though the wye.John
J.R. Lazaro Builders, Inc.
Indianapolis, In.
Another idea: What about pushing a shop vac hose down there and seeing if you can suck any of it out? (Be sure to measure the hose length, so you don't push in more than you need and push it farther along.)
The mark of the immature man is that he wants to die nobly for a cause, while the mark of a mature man is that he wants to live humbly for one. --Wilhelm Stekel
Good idea but I think he wedged it. I think I may try fishing a rope through and tying an object on that end that I know will not pass and then pulling it back through with the chunk into the closet flange.John
J.R. Lazaro Builders, Inc.
Indianapolis, In.
I just fabbed up a push/pull "tool". I took 2 old sash weights and cut about 1.5"-2" off each loop end. I brazed the 2 ends together and now have about a 3" long cylindrical hammer with loops on each end.
I plan on pushing a fish tape through past the chunk into the pit and pulling back rope. Tie rope onto each end and pull it through. It's got some mass so I can hammer a little if I need to.John
J.R. Lazaro Builders, Inc.
Indianapolis, In.
Yeah, check back with us after you get that wedged in there. (VBG)
The mark of the immature man is that he wants to die nobly for a cause, while the mark of a mature man is that he wants to live humbly for one. --Wilhelm Stekel
Another reason I put loops on both endsJohn
J.R. Lazaro Builders, Inc.
Indianapolis, In.
If you can push a fish tape past it, tie something big on the end of the tape and pull it back. Maybe a 6 oz "egg sinker" so you can give it a whack from the down stream side then a tennis ball behind that to be sure you grab the chunk.
re: Breaking concrete in pipe
Normally, in this situation, I would suggest the universal tool: the .50 caliber machine gun. However, in this case, I would use 5/8 of a stick of dynamite attached to a piece of hemp rope ~4' or 2.5 cubits long.
Light the fuse, flush it down and soon, kablooey. You did say, "Breaking concrete in pipe".
~Peter
Rikard Strauss is such a jerk.
I use that method after eating at burger king
Out like buttah!
It took myself and a helper about an hour to remove it. It was wedged pretty good. We worked the slide hammer I made back and forth with some 3/8 rope rated at 360#. We got the concrete to poke into the 90 below the flange and I took it out piece by piece.
John
J.R. Lazaro Builders, Inc.
Indianapolis, In.
Get one of the cheap $7 HF air impact hammers.
Saw the handle off and tap a new feed onto the housing, then feed the air hose direct to the air hammer.
Feed that puppy down the pipe at the end of a heavy rooter tape,
Plug the air hose in and demolish the chunk.
May be easiest though to saw a square hole in the slab to remove it and tehn patch.
PVC or ABS pipe????
re: duct tape??? The plastic inserts are less than a buck apiece, any self respecting plumber should have expandlable/reusable rubber plugs.
Or, fess up now, did you install the duct tape??? >:(.
Edited 12/4/2008 9:55 pm ET by junkhound
I think my self-made "junkhound approved" slide hammer will do the trick. I'll try it out in the morning.
PVC pipe.
Duct tape wasn't me. Around here if we used the re-useable plugs, they would get stolen. I guess he'll probably make a cardboard disk and then tape it next time.John
J.R. Lazaro Builders, Inc.
Indianapolis, In.
Perfect excuse to get yourself a See Snake. Once you can see what you're doing, pulling it back with a fish tape should be pretty easy.
Mike Hennessy
Pittsburgh, PA