Clogged drain? Where to start?

[look 171]

Originally Posted by masraum

I saw someone use one of those big foot switch models once. Those are the shizzle! I could never justify the cost.

Right, even if you had a 25' snake, do you really want to get that nasty on the way to dinner?


ROFLMAO!

Hell, who buys that big thing unless they do is for a living. Rent them for 40-50 bucks (maybe more now?). I know some restaurant owners have them in their storage room. This is something they can't wait for the plumber.

[ramonesfreak]

Originally Posted by look 171

Hell, who buys that big thing unless they do is for a living. Rent them for 40-50 bucks (maybe more now?). I know some restaurant owners have them in their storage room. This is something they can't wait for the plumber.

For me absolutely worth paying the $400 for a 75’ powered snake to clear out my main line under the basement floor that recently clogged……which also backed up my washing machine…dish and laundry, and kitchen sink….I rented one from HD. Got it home and the snake line was bent rendering it useless. Had to carry it back up stairs and return for another one. These things are very heavy. HD doesn’t check operating condition once returned as they should. Never again will I rent one.

https://forums.pelicanparts.com/off-topic-discussions/1142588-ever-seen-cast-iron-pipe-split-like.html


As for the little hand held ones, definitely do not buy one that can not be attached to a power drill

[pmax]

Originally Posted by ramonesfreak

For me absolutely worth paying the $400 for a 75’ powered snake to clear out my main line under the basement floor that recently clogged……which also backed up my washing machine…dish and laundry, and kitchen sink….I rented one from HD. Got it home and the snake line was bent rendering it useless. Had to carry it back up stairs and return for another one. These things are very heavy. HD doesn’t check operating condition once returned as they should. Never again will I rent one.

https://forums.pelicanparts.com/off-topic-discussions/1142588-ever-seen-cast-iron-pipe-split-like.html


As for the little hand held ones, definitely do not buy one that can not be attached to a power drill

[pmax]

Originally Posted by A930Rocket

Our daughter texted me and said there is water underneath her washing machine and the kitchen sink is backing up with dirty water.

I’m guessing the house is about 25 to 30 years old and they’ve been there about a year.

From the picture, you can see they pulled the washing machine out to dry underneath it. Would you say the water is going from the wash machine towards the kitchen sink and potentially clog down line from there?

The garage is to the far right, so I have to think it’s going from the washing machine towards the kitchen sink.

Everything else, seems to be functioning OK.

Would you try chemicals to try unclogging it or running a snake? With a P-trap at the kitchen sink and the washing machine, would a snake work?

I didn’t take the picture!��

[craigster59]

Just an FYI. If any of you have the Ryobi One 18v stuff they have a decent priced drain auger (which has saved me and friends a few times)....

https://www.homedepot.com/p/RYOBI-ONE-18V-Drain-Auger-Tool-Only-P4001/206405601

[A930Rocket]

We went by the house after dinner. Not much to look at, but I told them what to do.

I don’t know where the clean outs are on the outside of the house, but they are on the crawlspace in there might be one or more down there.

Unfortunately, the crawlspace is about 2 feet high. I’m not going in there.

[masraum]

Originally Posted by craigster59

Just an FYI. If any of you have the Ryobi One 18v stuff they have a decent priced drain auger (which has saved me and friends a few times)....

https://www.homedepot.com/p/RYOBI-ONE-18V-Drain-Auger-Tool-Only-P4001/206405601

I'll absolutely remember that for the future!

[masraum]

Originally Posted by A930Rocket

We went by the house after dinner. Not much to look at, but I told them what to do.

I don’t know where the clean outs are on the outside of the house, but they are on the crawlspace in there might be one or more down there.

Unfortunately, the crawlspace is about 2 feet high. I’m not going in there.

I spent a lot of time under our place this summer, and once the weather cools off a bit, I need to spend some more time under the house. Ours starts at 2' on one side, but then drops down to probably about 12 on the other side. It's no fun. The bright spot is that one side of the house is completely open. I know a lot of houses are nearly completely enclosed with just a little venting or maybe one or 2 small access hatches. Screw that.

[A930Rocket]

Originally Posted by masraum

I spent a lot of time under our place this summer, and once the weather cools off a bit, I need to spend some more time under the house. Ours starts at 2' on one side, but then drops down to probably about 12 on the other side. It's no fun. The bright spot is that one side of the house is completely open. I know a lot of houses are nearly completely enclosed with just a little venting or maybe one or 2 small access hatches. Screw that.

I’m a residential home builder, so I’ll send my plumber over, before I go into the crawlspace. There’s plumbing pipes and ductwork in that 2 feet.

[pmax]

Originally Posted by A930Rocket

I’m a residential home builder, ...

[look 171]

Originally Posted by A930Rocket

We went by the house after dinner. Not much to look at, but I told them what to do.

I don’t know where the clean outs are on the outside of the house, but they are on the crawlspace in there might be one or more down there.

Unfortunately, the crawlspace is about 2 feet high. I’m not going in there.

No clean out under the kitchen sink? There should be one under there

[Jolly Amaranto]

Sometimes you can avoid the traps by coming down the vent pipe from the roof. I had to do that in my kitchen with a 50 foot snake.

[A930Rocket]

Originally Posted by look 171

No clean out under the kitchen sink? There should be one under there

There’s a p-trap underneath, that can be disassembled, to send the snake in the wall.

[URY914]

Originally Posted by Jolly Amaranto

Sometimes you can avoid the traps by coming down the vent pipe from the roof. I had to do that in my kitchen with a 50 foot snake.

This.

[wdfifteen]

Originally Posted by A930Rocket

There’s a p-trap underneath, that can be disassembled, to send the snake in the wall.

A P-trap that can't be disassembled? Never heard of that. Getting one of the spring type augers in there at the sink is the best option. Those big sewer augers with the electric motor on them can wreck your 1 1/2 or 2" lines. You don't want one punching a hole in an ell somewhere in a wall.

[creaturecat]

start with a plunger, at the sink - see what happens. proceed accordingly.

[jimwill911]

Had the same problem years back and kept returning after augering with a snake. Bought a $30 sewer jetter and fixed it permanently.

[Baz]

Originally Posted by craigster59

Just an FYI. If any of you have the Ryobi One 18v stuff they have a decent priced drain auger (which has saved me and friends a few times)....

https://www.homedepot.com/p/RYOBI-ONE-18V-Drain-Auger-Tool-Only-P4001/206405601

Yes - I have one and it works great.

But the last time I used it - had an issue where the snake got stopped somewhere.

I also had some under sink plumbing issues so called a local plumber.

He got the under sink stuff done nicely and then used a hand crank snake (old school) and it worked great.

Very reasonable cost and may use them again when I re-do my water heater plumbing.

I'm generally a DIY guy but everyone has their limitations and next best thing is to have a go-to person to get 'er dun!

[Baz]

The plumber did mention using very hot water really helps move stuff down the line......

[1990C4S]

You will likely regret buying a 25' auger. I would consider 50' to be the minimum acceptable.