Has anyone had their drain line pressure washed. I just had my 50 year old line rodded out and was told it may be best to have it pressure washed to get the grease and scale remove from the wall of the pipe. My concern is that it could damage the old pipe, not sure if that’s a valid concern or not. The plumber said that this is the best method for opening up the pipe as much as possible since a conventional snake can’t do this. This is an interior drain line under the slab. Thanks for any feedback. -Ed
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I'm a little surprised he says a conventional snake can't do it, since the proper end on the snake will scrape the walls fairly clean. However, snaking is more apt to damage fragile pipes than would be pressure washing, I suppose.
Have never seen anyone advertise pressure washing, though.
We had our drain lines power washed several months ago. We have a major clog once a year. The folks that built our home cut a lot of corners and the drain lines throughout the kitchen area has been a problem since we moved in.
Anyway, it seems to have taken care of our situation. However, it was costly and I don't know if it's for everyone. As far as damaging the pipes, the guy told me that it was easier on the pipes that the big router style used to open the drain lines.
Our problem always happens downstream from the kitchen and before the first bath. The kitchen contains the plumbing for washer, dishwasher, garbage disposal, and kitchen sink. So it tends to clog between the kitchen sink and the first bath. We try to get the clog using the standard snake then usually have to move on to calling the plumber. The line backs up through the kitchen area. This takes out the washer and the entire kitchen.
Hope I answered your question.
Later
Tim
Timby, I think my clog is the result of years down stream of the kitchen, plus it's galvanized pipe which I'm sure has a lot of rust built up too. Sound's like it won't harm the pipe so maybe if I get it done I can go without having someone come out once a year to snake it out. Thanks for you input. -Ed
I hope you have a clean-out handy at the end of the plumbing run. We don't. Like I said Fox's & Jacob's cut so many corners.
The plumber has to go to the roof and snake the line through a vent. This of course cost extra. Normally these endeavors cost us around $500 per shot.
Wish you best of luck as I know that old galvanized plumbing is a pain.
Later
Tim
Oooh ... Fox & Jacobs. You must live in the Dallas area. I remember back in the early late 70's & 80's when they were building like crazy. Dam the quality, full speed ahead. They created an entire new city north of Dallas, called it "The Colony" populated with three types of houses: Flair was one, Accent was another, I forghet the third. Different levels of quality and amenities. All pretty basic and not designed for long-term living.
"When asked if you can do something, tell'em "Why certainly I can", then get busy and find a way to do it." T. Roosevelt
Edited 9/25/2005 4:07 pm ET by FastEddie
Yep F&J.......
They must have paid off tons of inspectors. I've never seen a lower quality house built. Including mobile homes.
I didn't know when I bought this house that the folks down here put them out of business because of the poor workmanship. My exterior walls are 2x4 on 24" centers. Roof trusses are 2x4 on 24" centers.
I'm trying to get someone to come over and give me an estimate to build a 10'x12' closet in one of the bedrooms. I have to put in through a load bearing wall into the garage. Folks are leary of doing construction on these houses as they are such poor quality.
Later
Tim
I have a similar problem, but only about once in every 2 or 3 years.Ever figured out why. I think it is where the drain line from the "basement" (which is higher level - hill side house) ties in.Sometimes I can work a lightweight snake backwards from a cleanout a few feet downstream. But it since I have to go "backwards" around the sanity Y I can get an pressure on it.If that does not work I go from under the sink.I have an expanding nozzle that goes on the end of a hose.I have to get it in the wall and into the Y in the wall so that goes down into the line and not through the vent.Then turn on the water. It expands the nozzle and starts vibrating. It quickly clears clog.
Well I think they might be reffering to a scour jet which is like a pressure washer meaning that they both use high pressure water through small nossles , scour jet has multiple outlets to "scour" sides of pipe pretty harmless on the pipes unless you have a rust spot that is sealing the pipe from leaking. there is some good chemicals on the market that help keep your pipes clean check out http://www.reevesjournal.com there should be some links there for these chemicals. If this is a reoccuring problem you might want to think about haveing you pipe shot with a camera it will show any problems that might be the root cause.
Bill, that is what he is referring to, just as you described, a head with multiple jets. Is there a way to snake something through the line to tell where it's running under the slab? Thanks much. -Ed
Oh sure lots of company do line locating if it's metal pipe they hook one connector on pipe & use there sensor to locate pipe & if it's plastic they run a fish tape down the line & clamp on to the wire to find the pipe. Look in http://www.whitepages.com to find "locate" or "locating" company in your area
There are also outfits that run a snake with a radio transmitter on it down the pipe, then track the radio signal.
Just had a camara run thru cost 250$ found 24' of rusted out galvanized drain line.The camara has a locator and signal so they can mark off the line in the slab.
This job is a car dealership office and it smells bad in the office.
ANDYSZ2I MAY DISAGREE WITH WHAT YOUR SAYING BUT I WILL DEFEND TO THE DEATH YOUR RIGHT TO SAY IT.
Remodeler/Punchout
I don't want to the be the bearer of bad news, but if you have galv. pipes in your lines they have to be replaced; pressure washing will probably cause them to leak. 50 years old there is very little of the pipe remaining. If you decide to do pressure washing you need someone that also uses a TV camera so they direct pressure to the clog. $$$. Lots of luck.
Edited 9/24/2005 10:55 am ET by Shacko
I'm assuming the lines under the slab are galvanized because the line running vertically into the slab is galvanized. Could another material have been used back then? Camera may be the way to go. Thanks. -Ed
Normally if the lines in the slab are cast iron (the other obvious option), the "hubs" of the CI fittings would protrude above the slab slightly. With a little study you can distinguish these from galv fittings.
The common practice where I live [N.E.] years ago was to run cast iron to near the connection point, from there it was run with galv. Is the main clean-out cast iron?; if it is you probably have a cast iron main that means that you are dealing with a galv. branch. I don't want to be the bearer of bad news, but galv. that old most of the time can't be saved. Lots of luck.
Here is a company based out of Los Angles that sand blasts the inside of pipes then sprays epoxy to coat the inside and I beleive it is a lifetime garantee. They remove angle stops and remove the cartridge on shower stalls to pressureize the system. I am not sure how many offices are around but it could be an option. http://www.restoremypipes.com
Goodluck Chris