SNAKE THIS – I’m having no luck
Got the Slow Drains in the master bath. Condo is +40 and there is doubtless a thick concentric layer of organic crud turning 1.5″ galiv into .75 galvi or worse.
From the sink drain I have to go back, turn a 90, get into the drop, turn another 90 and continue on. Probably another 90 down there. There I am with my 25′ snake, getting no where.
What is your method of getting past those 90s?
Does snaking from the roof vent work better. (Had no luck with cleanout. 90s again.)
Do those blow bags really work? Got one. Have visions of gysters coming my way.
The ToolBear
“Never met a man who couldn’t teach me something.” Anon.
Replies
when trying to get around those 90's i bend the end on a little on my snake so that it is flopping around in the pipe and may seek out the bend on the 90.also i have no attachments on the line,just cable.my biggest problem with up on the roof is i have a 50' snake that only has about 40' effective reach because some has to stay in the drum.by the time i get down to the first turn i have burned up 15' of cable and it always seems like the clog is just about 2' from the end of cable. those pressure deals might work great but what you said has always kept me from using one,the last thing i need to do is put 75psi on a 50 year old drain system and create a leak at every joint of cast iron. i will say that the only galv.drain line i ever cut out had about a 1/2 hole down it,i can't imagine it drained water.good luck larry
hand me the chainsaw, i need to trim the casing just a hair.
the last thing i need to do is put 75psi on a 50 year old drain system and create a leak at every joint of cast iron.
I had thought about it blowing back at me or up the next sink, but you make a good point about pressurizing old galvi and cast iron. Don't need to start every seam in the system.
That leaves the snake and my sparkie fish tape - which cleared one drain the snake could not handle.The ToolBear
"Never met a man who couldn't teach me something." Anon.
You might have to replace the whole system.
I have had good luck using a water ram, where a jolt of compressed air is used to ram the standing water thru the blockage. I rent the thing for $15 a day.
But: Others have warned that under some circumstances this tool can cause a pipe to burst, so you have been warned.
I still find it a quick and effective tool.
I've used those rubber bulbs that use water pressure. The bulb goes in the drain and a hose connects it to the sink.
You block off the overflow with a wet towel and turn on the water.
Worked well for me. Cleared a blockage (4" of water in tub after a shower) that wouldn't budge for drain cleaner. It couldn't be snaked for the same reasons as yours.
Give it a whirl, whatta ya' got to lose.
Buic
i've been thinking about one of these bulb deals. the stoppage has to be before the first vent doesn't it? otherwise it would just blow up the vent? i have rental prop. so cleaning drains is almost a hobby anymore,if there is something that works better and easier than a snake count me in...... larryhand me the chainsaw, i need to trim the casing just a hair.
I have used the bladder on a kitchen drain line.In my case the vent extends up from the sani-tee right behing the slip connection for the trap.I remove the trap and take the hose and blader and work it into the wall and down the T to the drain line.But I have to work like h*ll to get it back out. The hose end fittings want to catch.I know that some plumbers recommend a pressure jet as it will clean the walls.It is like a pressure washer with special ends. Don't know what size they are or how hard they are to get around the bends..
.
A-holes. Hey every group has to have one. And I have been elected to be the one. I should make that my tagline.
I know that some plumbers recommend a pressure jet as it will clean the walls.
It is like a pressure washer with special ends. Don't know what size they are or how hard they are to get around the bends.
Had a trailer-mounted one in for a project with a clogged 4" drain. Worked well. Basically the rotating head with the high pressure water jets blasted the roots into sawdust. First thing we pulled from the top end of the drain was a witch's broom of roots filling the drain. The jet took it from there. Probably blow my old pipes out of the ground.The ToolBear
"Never met a man who couldn't teach me something." Anon.
Don't know how the vent would affect things.
All I can tell you is I was surprised how well it cleared my drain.
Buic
maybe rent a b/w video cam attached to the snake- easier to remove the blockage if you know where it is.
Expert since 10 am.
Hey "TB",
I am bummed to admit this but I have unplugged many a "shytter". If you got true rust build up then you may need to replace the whole system. Ugh! Hate for that to happen, but if all you gotta do is run a snake, then go down the vent. I rarely goof around with the "local" plumbing unless I know the obstruction is there. I just go to my local rental outfit, rent a 100 footer with a "chainsaw" bit. Then I go right for the roof and run that puppy down the vent. (I learned it from a friend who has several young Swiss girls for in-laws and they love American toilet paper and ain't shy about usin it either. Everytime they show up we are up on the roof. Smilin, of course cause you can't complain when you got a house full of beautiful Swiss girls!!)
But thats what I would do. KD