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View Full Version : Shower won't drain...


Hoosier3030
Dec 28, 2004, 09:20 PM
Ok, Sort of my last resort before I have to call a plumber.

I have a shower that won't drain. Next thing we notice is that when the washer drains its water, the water comes up into the shower. Next thing we noticed was when the kitchen sink drains, the water from it also comes up into the shower. Today we had the city water folks come out and they sucked up "stuff" from two different locations by our house. The pipe that sticks out of the ground out back was over flowing massively. Guys told me to either rent a big auger and try that, or shove the water hose down the pipe and try to force the blockage out. Tried the water hose and it worked! Went in to the shower and it still won't drain and still have all the problems. So I figure that there has to be a blockage after the point where the washer drain and kitchen sink drain meet. They are down stream from the shower. So I get a 25 foot snake and work it all the way through the shower drain. Nothing comes up. Work it through the washer drain, all 25 foot and nothing comes out. Go to the kitchen sink and work it all the way and still nothing. I don't understand why nothing came out!! I did notice something on the kitchen sink. There is this vent thing that is attached to the drain pipe. Not sure what it is for.

Anyway, can someone please tell me something else to try? I don't want to call a plumber, they are murder here price wise...

speedball1
Dec 29, 2004, 07:15 AM
Hey Hoosier,
You're snaking from the wrong spot. You will have to go up on the roof and snake from the vents. The shower being the lowest spot,( are you on a slab or do you have a basement?) I would start with the bath room vent. Rent a sewer machine, a Ridgid K-60 does the job nicely, and drop the cable down the bathroom vent. If that don't get it drop your cabled down every vent downstream from the bath room vent. You're bound to clear the inside blockage sooner or later. It also wouldn't hurt, while you have the sewer machine, to snake from the house cleanout to the street. A garden hose i8s fine but it won't clear the pipes like a snake will. After you finished snaking and the lines are clear, then use the garden hose down the vents and house clean out to flush the gunk out into the street. Hope this help and have a happy new year. Tom