Recurring plumbing issue with drain backing up.... any ideas?

[ckelly78z]

Your system is kind of like a gas can for your lawnmower, if you don't open the small vent hole, the fuel will gurgle and flow roughly out the spout. Open up the vent hole and the fuel flows evenly and forcefully......check your vents !

[sammyg2]

Originally Posted by sammyg2

I hate plumbing problems but will do almost anything to keep from calling a plumber.
But i had to call one and spend a grand last Tuesday on a drain.
Best grand I ever spent, I woulda still been fighting that problem and would have a hole in the side of the house by now.

There's a time to fight it, and a time to make the call. The hardest part is finding a plumber you can trust.
If you ever do that yer fortunate, they're good as gold.

Did I mention I hate plumbing problems? Just tried to do a load of laundry.
Evidently when he solved the other problems it backed up the drain from the washing machine.
No warranty claim, couldn't prove one was related to the other several days later.

Water all over the garage, me getting ready to haul out the 50' snake from harbor freight.

[porsche4life]

Originally Posted by LeeH

I ran it through both cleanouts - the one toward the house and the one toward the street.

Pretty sure the snakes's been through every inch of drain line in my house. Did it multiple times on the kitchen line.

Still no luck? I'd offer to help, but the last time I tried to do plumbing I got to cut a hole in the wall after I flooded the house... Not sure you want me nearby!

Slightly unrelated, but at a recent office meeting someone was mentioning quite a few houses down in your area having issues with the line from the meter to the house leaking under the line. Seems during the time they built lots of those houses they used polybutylene and its not holding.

[widebody911]

I went over to my wife's rental house one time to address a clogged drain issue. Right next to the kitchen sink was a huge pan of bacon grease. They were running it down the drain, and when it stopped flowing, it became my problem.

[plumb4u2]

Lee, I do not know how you make a living but I'm sure you get paid for your knowledge and experience

We get paid for our knowledge and experience also


ps it is not a venting issue lol

[john70t]

If it's not tree roots, cast iron peeling internally, or plastic cracking, another sewer main problem could be loss of slope due to ground settling (such as from driving a vehicle over wet ground).
A pro camera scope will determine the condition and fix.

First remove and clean the P-trap and snake directly into the wall. Sink & Drain Plumbing | HomeTips

That sink is the only drain affected in the house?

I use only hot water, detergent, and a big plunger.
No need to have chemicals damage the piping.

[LeeH]

Originally Posted by plumb4u2

Lee, I do not know how you make a living but I'm sure you get paid for your knowledge and experience

We get paid for our knowledge and experience also


ps it is not a venting issue lol

And your point is?

[LeeH]

Originally Posted by john70t

If it's not tree roots, cast iron peeling internally, or plastic cracking, another sewer main problem could be loss of slope due to ground settling (such as from driving a vehicle over wet ground).
A pro camera scope will determine the condition and fix.

First remove and clean the P-trap and snake directly into the wall. Sink & Drain Plumbing | HomeTips

That sink is the only drain affected in the house?

I use only hot water, detergent, and a big plunger.
No need to have chemicals damage the piping.

Did clean the P-trap and snaked it in the wall directly behind the kitchen sink a couple of times.

Yep... just the kitchen sink. If a lot of water has been run through the kitchen sink and then the master shower is used, the kitchen sink with gurgle loudly.

As Sidney mentioned, roots are extremely unlikely as there's little vegetation here in the desert.

[tctnd]

Even snaking can leave a lot of crud in the pipes. Greasy hairballs can stick where the vents jion the drains and drive you crazy. We finally solved a similar problem by buying a drain cleaning attachment for the pressure washer. It's a thin hose with radial nozzles that really cleans out the pipes. You need to plan carefully to avoid a mess. Start as far downstream as possible and work back so everything can drain.
regards,
Phil

[plumb4u2]

Originally Posted by LeeH

And your point is?

My point is obvious, you have been working at this problem for weeks and can't come to a solution
99% of the tips you are getting from this thread are useless and a waste of time
When you're ready to throw in the towel and call a plumber I'm sure you will be back in service in an hr or two

I'm sorry I'm not trying to be rude I just get frustrated at threads like this cause people don't understand that you can't really diagnose these problems over the Internet

[porsche4life]

And we aren't all mechanics, yet this forum exists..... Same thing.

[look 171]

Originally Posted by plumb4u2

My point is obvious, you have been working at this problem for weeks and can't come to a solution
99% of the tips you are getting from this thread are useless and a waste of time
When you're ready to throw in the towel and call a plumber I'm sure you will be back in service in an hr or two

I'm sorry I'm not trying to be rude I just get frustrated at threads like this cause people don't understand that you can't really diagnose these problems over the Internet

I will the first to tell you that I am no expert in the building trade, but are learning things daily. Lee is asking to see if there are any other tricks to solve his issue. I know it isn't possible unless we see it but coming from someone who does this daily sure would help. Hell, I like to learn if you got something, let us know. Judging from your last statement, and I am sure I am wrong about you, but don't be a bitter old tradesmen. There are plenty of them around. If the OP was one of the few "Know it all" around here, then I would expect that but Lee isn't one of those guys.

Last year I was tearing my hair out trying to find out an issue with the computer controlled home automation BS and had to ask at one of the forms because my electrician who does this for me was on vacation for two weeks. The couple of guys gave me the same bull siht about hiring someone lic. and not to DIY because they feel the brotherhood of azzholes are losing secrets, business, or money due to the information age or whatever the fook it was. Oh yeah, these guys were back east somewhere. I'd be the first to show you guys or anyone, including my fellow contractors my how to tricks.

[Evans, Marv]

This probably isn't it, but a long time ago I had a house that had cast iron pipe. The sink drain started backing up. I ran a snake down it several times which didn't make any difference. Finally one day the sink quit draining or would drain really slowly. I ran a snake to a certain point & it wouldn't pass through anymore. What had happened was hard, scaly deposits had built up inside the pipe over the years and finally choked it off. I figured out approximately where the stoppage started and cut out a section of pipe (raised floor construction) & saw what had happened. I cut the pipe until I got past the stoppage and ran a snake down the rest of the line which seemed to be OK. I replaced that part of the line (with ABS) and things worked fine from then on. To tell the truth, I'd seriously consider Justin's solution at this point.

[john70t]

Originally Posted by LeeH

Yep... just the kitchen sink. If a lot of water has been run through the kitchen sink and then the master shower is used, the kitchen sink with gurgle loudly.

(layman advice/WAG for another pelican)
I'm thinking the main is ok.
Shower drains fine. No problems there.

There is a clog on the kitchen side of the "Y". Hard grease/food/toy train/etc.
That section fills up with water.
When the shower side is used, the draining flow creates a vacuum on the other split.
This pulls sink water through the clog. Hence the gurgling sound.

[LeeH]

Originally Posted by plumb4u2

My point is obvious, you have been working at this problem for weeks and can't come to a solution
99% of the tips you are getting from this thread are useless and a waste of time
When you're ready to throw in the towel and call a plumber I'm sure you will be back in service in an hr or two

I'm sorry I'm not trying to be rude I just get frustrated at threads like this cause people don't understand that you can't really diagnose these problems over the Internet

Pelican is a "do it yourself" oriented community. When I over-revved my engine on the track (years before you signed up here), a group of guys encouraged me to tear into it myself. Not only that, but a band of them showed up to help. People would drop by while I was in the middle of it just to see how it was going.

When I had valve/piston interference issues after a dozen attempts at timing the valves, JohnWalker (a Porsche mechanic) asked me contact him directly to discuss the problem. He offered a solution that no one else did and it worked.

NEVER during this month long process did anyone suggest that I should hang it up and turn it over to a professional.

Having successfully rebuilt a Porsche 911 engine, I personally find it very hard to give up and call someone for something like a partially clogged pipe. Would I design/install plumbing in a new house? Nope! Work on an intermittent clog issue until I've exhausted every possible fix? You betcha!

[DonDavis]

^^^ Amen, Brother!
It's precisely why I come here. The depth and breadth of knowledge shared here never ceases to amaze me.

I would also focus efforts on sink to the first junction.

[DonDavis]

Originally Posted by plumb4u2

....... can't really diagnose these problems over the Internet

Yes, we can. And we do it quite often. On a very wide range of topics.

But we'll also call in professionals from time to time.

[LeeH]

Well, me and my snakes hit it again this afternoon. It's running free now! I did snake the vent. Felt like I hit something pretty far down. Don't know if it was a bend or dead rat. Eventually, got the snake further into the system. Ran just a couple of gallons in the kitchen sink and it immediately backed up. Snaked it again from the outside clean out and hit a serious road block about 15 feet in. Spun it, push it, spun it, pushed it and couldn't seem to get through.

Pulled the snake out and found the end clogged with a blob of amazingly firm and stinky goo. Ran the smaller snake in and hit the road block at the same point. The small snake has the crank on the housing so it can be spun pretty fast. Once I got through with the smaller one I went back to the big snake. It stopped at the same point, but after ramming it a few times it broke through. I was encouraged when I could hear the backed up water start to drain out. Ran the full 50' through a couple of times. Ran hot water from the kitchen for 10 minutes or so with no back up. Flushed all the toilets in case any blobs are hanging out down the line.

So, for now, all is well!

[look 171]

Now, just finish the job and run that snake through all the p traps and get all the hair or whatever is in there. I like to use a little acid to burn through all the nasty goo in there. Let it sit for 5 minutes and flush with water. I usually fill the sink pull the pup up and let it rip. Glad you got it done.

[LeeH]

Originally Posted by look 171

Now, just finish the job and run that snake through all the p traps and get all the hair or whatever is in there. I like to use a little acid to burn through all the nasty goo in there. Let it sit for 5 minutes and flush with water. I usually fill the sink pull the pup up and let it rip. Glad you got it done.

Cleaned them all out the first time I worked on it. Hopefully I'm done messing with plumbong for a while.