WTF mega clogged drain. :MAD: (now with pics)

[Red Squirrel]

It almost looks like it may be PVC behind the wall, and they used toilet pipe (4 inch? I'm not really familiar with the sizes) but they shoved a sink metal pipe and put some kind of filler around the big pvc pipe. That's almost how it looks.

I would look at opening that clean out but be ready for water, I'd be willing to suspect the clog is right at the clean out, the junk probably got caught in the cleanout area and accumulated.

You'll need a big wrench to open that cleanout. They are sealed shut to prevent leaking.

 

[Fern]

Not old as in 50 years or more old. I believe our house is no more than about 25 yrs old. Not sure why this end is metal as I know the plumbing in the rest of the house is PVC as far as I know.

Could it be part of the heavy cast-iron that goes all the way out to the sewer main?

That's where my clean-out (under the house) starts - makes a pretty much straight shot out to the septic tank. Mine's really for handling big clogs between the house and the tank.

Fern

 

[Locut0s]

Could it be part of the heavy cast-iron that goes all the way out to the sewer main?

That's where my clean-out (under the house) starts - makes a pretty much straight shot out to the septic tank. Mine's really for handling big clogs between the house and the tank.

Fern

Yeah after looking at it more closely it does seem to be all cast iron. Unfortunately I don't have the strength to open that clean out and I don't have a proper pipe wrench. Hmm. I may be able to use a bar clamp though? :hmm: Otherwise I'll have to borrow a pipe wrench tomorrow.

 

[iGas]

It almost looks like it may be PVC behind the wall, and they used toilet pipe (4 inch? I'm not really familiar with the sizes) but they shoved a sink metal pipe and put some kind of filler around the big pvc pipe. That's almost how it looks.

I would look at opening that clean out but be ready for water, I'd be willing to suspect the clog is right at the clean out, the junk probably got caught in the cleanout area and accumulated.

You'll need a big wrench to open that cleanout. They are sealed shut to prevent leaking.

Copper trap arm is connected to a marvel adapter for cast iron IP (iron pipe) threads.

 

[iGas]

Not old as in 50 years or more old. I believe our house is no more than about 25 yrs old. Not sure why this end is metal as I know the plumbing in the rest of the house is PVC as far as I know.

Older home generally have cast iron for drainage, but with remodeling the drainage above the soil/slab may have been replace with PVC or ABS.

 

[Fern]

Or, locate the venting above the bathroom and run the snake down that path.

Is there a toilet in that bathroom? If so the clog is well before the venting (and before the toilet drain pipe meets up with the sink drian pipe) or the toilet wouldn't drain either.

I'd be willing to suspect the clog is right at the clean out, the junk probably got caught in the cleanout area and accumulated.

I think if the clog were at the clean-out plug it wouldn't matter because it's a dead-end (if I understand you correctly).

If it's in the big cast iron pipe it would have to be past the (likely) "Y" type connector where the sink drain joins into the bigger cast iron pipe. (I'd hope it's more like a 'Y" and not a 90 degree elbow thingy. Those 90 degree will make it very hard on your 'springy' snake. If so, i'm afraid you'll probably need the flat steel type like I linked above.)

Fern

 

[Fern]

Yeah after looking at it more closely it does seem to be all cast iron. Unfortunately I don't have the strength to open that clean out and I don't have a proper pipe wrench. Hmm. I may be able to use a bar clamp though? :hmm: Otherwise I'll have to borrow a pipe wrench tomorrow.

Again, I suggest you forget about opening that for now. If your clog is in the copper pipe it will get you nowhere.

See of you can't get/borrow a more stout/stronger snake. The one you have is much more for hair/soap type clogs where you spin/rotate the snake and it's coiled end catches the hair. I've never had any luck 'punching through' any clogs with those.

You got anything stronger you can improvise with? Straightend-out coat hanger wire etc?

Fern

 

[iGas]

Is there a toilet in that bathroom? If so the clog is well before the venting (and before the toilet drain pipe meets up with the sink drian pipe) or the toilet wouldn't drain either.



I think if the clog were at the clean-out plug it wouldn't matter because it's a dead-end (if I understand you correctly).

If it's in the big cast iron pipe it would have to be past the (likely) "Y" type connector where the sink drain joins into the bigger cast iron pipe. (I'd hope it's more like a 'Y" and not a 90 degree elbow thingy. Those 90 degree will make it very hard on your 'springy' snake. If so, i'm afraid you'll probably need the flat steel type like I linked above.)

Fern

Plumbing code doesn't allow vent to be down stream from the toilet to serve it.

The vent must be up stream from the toilet 3" or 4" drain, and highly likely that the vent is a continuation of the basin drain. By the look of the clean out the vent is a continuation of the main building drain/stack due to the large clean out instead of the usual 2" clean out.

Plumbing code only allow tee for fixture take off and by the look of the picture that it is a tee connection because a wye will require more space from the stack. It could very well be an inverse tee connection.

run the snake down the trap arm or shine a light down the trap arm to see if it is curving down or up. Unscrew the trap arm off the tee connection and look is another option if you are concern.

 

[iGas]

Yeah after looking at it more closely it does seem to be all cast iron. Unfortunately I don't have the strength to open that clean out and I don't have a proper pipe wrench. Hmm. I may be able to use a bar clamp though? :hmm: Otherwise I'll have to borrow a pipe wrench tomorrow.

A large crescent wrench and a length of pipe as a cheater bar will do the trick.

It could be rusted in there that may require cutting out a chunk of the building drain to access it. Lifting the toilet to run the snake is another option.

PS. Check my post in the very first page for the edit.

 

[Fern]

Plumbing code doesn't allow vent to be down stream from the toilet to serve it.

Well, my house is over 50 years old, I'm pretty sure I've got quite a few things that aren't up to today's code

Going in to my vent is only good for accessing the big cast iron pipe heading out to the sewer tank. (I suppose with a little (or lot) of luck I could work my snake 'backwards'.) IMO, good thing too. I hated crawling up under the house and unscrewing the clean-out plug. No need to do that anymore after I figured out I could access the big cast-iron pipe from the roof down through the vent pipe.

Fern

 

[Sasiki]

Try a toilet plunger. It worked great on our bathtub drain.

 

[eplebnista]

update?

 

[Locut0s]

Edit: Well I fixed it! But the rant above turns out to be a big FAIL because it actually WAS my hair,. I never did get the cleanout open but I tried the snake some more today and get a better handle on using it and managed to grab 2 big clogs. Now time to cut me hair I think lol.

 

[BoomerD]

Edit: Well I fixed it! But the rant above turns out to be a big FAIL because it actually WAS my hair,. I never did get the cleanout open but I tried the snake some more today and get a better handle on using it and managed to grab 2 big clogs. Now time to cut me hair I think lol.

Yep. cut your hair you dammed hippie.:twisted:

 

[Rubycon]

LOL that's great! Usually it's the women that get blamed for hair clogs. :biggrin:

 

[Red Squirrel]

Hahaha yep time for a haircut lol

 

[BoomerD]

LOL that's great! Usually it's the women that get blamed for hair clogs. :biggrin:

When I had my long hair, I had to clean the shower drain every two weeks...

I'd take enough hair out of there to re-fur a wookie...:biggrin:

 

[Rubycon]

When I had my long hair, I had to clean the shower drain every two weeks...

I'd take enough hair out of there to re-fur a wookie...:biggrin:

Are you sure that was just from your head?

:biggrin:

 

[BoomerD]

Are you sure that was just from your head?

:biggrin:

:hmm::whiste:


Are you hinting that I did that to your shower too? DAMMIT! I know marine heads are notorious for clogging....()

 

[Rubycon]

:hmm::whiste:


Are you hinting that I did that to your shower too? DAMMIT! I know marine heads are notorious for clogging....()

Macerator pumps can handle a gorilla and then some.

 

[Locut0s]

Macerator pumps can handle a gorilla and then some.

A Macerator pump in your shower!?

 

[Rubycon]

A Macerator pump in your shower!?

Not mine - some marine heads (that's what sailors call toilets) have them.

 

[AlienCraft]

:hmm::whiste:


Are you hinting that I did that to your shower too? DAMMIT! I know marine heads are notorious for clogging....()

They just say that on the party boats to keep the self-loading cargo from screwing things up.