Hi Everyone ---

Years ago I posted this thread, and got some great advice.
https://www.askmehelpdesk.com/plumbing/cracked-cast-iron-pipe-107834.html

The summary is I cracked a 1969-vintage 4" CI pipe, and needed help fixing it. There was standing water in the pipe.

I believe there is a low spot or belly because the line runs through added fill at the back of the house which has slumped over the years, and at one point it actually snapped off the CI pipe where it enters the house. I 'fixed' that by adding an angle.

SO. Every now and then and with increasing frequency the line is clogged. It services the secondary bath/shower and the kitchen. I suspect more grease goes into it than my wife promises. I've snaked it every couple of years with a rented 3/4" machine.

The Questions:

1) Short of digging it up, can anything be done? (probably not... )

2) Am I likely to damage this line using any chemicals? I understand that grease responds better to alkali than to acid and that enzymes won't work on a mostly-clogged line. (or, forget the easy route altogether.. )

3) Do small jets like this work? I have a gas pressure washer, and the thing is the cost of 2 rental days on the auger...
https://www.cloghog.com/categories.php



I know --- this is all going to have to be done properly "someday" -- but the line isn't actually collapsed and is giving me trouble about every 2 years, so...

Thanks everyone!