I have been advised that I most likely have a partial clog somewhere after the last drop on my main(?) sewage line. (toilet, sink, bathtub, all work individually - but throw in a drain cycle on the washer, or a long shower and a toilet flush, and everything backs up and even comes up out of the bathtub drain)

Anyway I would like to try and snake it myself; I am pretty handy and have a 25' 1/4" snake (just a cheap one... ). I was just wondering if I could get a few questions answered:

I don't think I need to snake any one of the specific drains on my hosue because they all seem to work fine individually, the problem is that when draining multiple things at once(i.e. shower AND washer) is when it backs up and overflows... Are the only places to snake the sewer line either through the actual drain or roof vent (i.e. toilet, sink, bathtub, washer drain, Toilet Vent on Roof)?? Or are there sometimes access plugs on the main pipe?

I guess I just want to know where the best access is to get to my partial clog. Is the roof vent a good access for my situation? I don't know where it vents into the system, so I don't know if that would put me after the clog or not? I can't really snake through any of the drains because the bathtub as a glued in drain ring, and I can only feed the snake 10-13 feet down the washer vent/drain tube before it stops(too many turns)...



Please get me going on the right track! ALSO - any advice that you think would help me out with my first try at this would be much appreciated!!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by butteco

I have been advised that I most likely have a partial clog somewhere after the last drop on my main(?) sewage line. (toilet, sink, bathtub, all work individually - but throw in a drain cycle on the washer, or a long shower and a toilet flush, and everything backs up and even comes up out of the bathtub drain)

Anyway I would like to try and snake it myself; I am pretty handy and have a 25' 1/4" snake (just a cheap one...). I was just wondering if I could get a few questions answered:

I don't think I need to snake any one of the specific drains on my hosue because they all seem to work fine individually, the problem is that when draining multiple things at once(i.e. shower AND washer) is when it backs up and overflows... Are the only places to snake the sewer line either through the actual drain or roof vent (i.e. toilet, sink, bathtub, washer drain, Toilet Vent on Roof)??? Or are there sometimes access plugs on the main pipe?

I guess I just want to know where the best access is to get to my partial clog. Is the roof vent a good access for my situation? I don't know where it vents into the system, so I don't know if that would put me after the clog or not? I can't really snake through any of the drains because the bathtub as a glued in drain ring, and I can only feed the snake 10-13 feet down the washer vent/drain tube before it stops(too many turns)...



Please get me going on the right track! ALSO - any advice that you think would help me out with my first try at this would be much appreciated!!!

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Are you on a septic tank or city sewer?
First off we start with the different sewer and drain machines. Your 1/4" snake is good for snaking through traps and the lateral drain lines behind walls but not much else.
To snake out larger drain lines you'll have to rent a sewer machine.
For any thing larger then 1 1/2" we use the equivalent of a Ridgid K-50 and for lines, (including the one to the street or septic tank) 4" and over we use the equivalent of a Ridgid K-60.
You must first ascertain where the clog is. If it's in the house you snake from the vent that services the last fixture on the downstream side that backed up. If it's outside you snake from the house cleanout located next to the house foundation where the sewer exits. My guess would be inside the house. So, if you know where the sewer line exits that's the downstream side.(downstream= the way the flow runs) The first fixture upstream from the exit point that overflowed is where you want to locate the roof vent and snake from there. If there's only one vent pipe coming out your roof then the rest of the pipes are revented in the attic and you'll need to call a plumber. Good luck, Tom

Okay update!

My buddy (contractor) just came by on his way home. He showed me my pipes and the layout of the sewage. I have 2 cleanouts (about 50feet apart) on the side of my house on the way out to the street. I also have a TEE from the roof down to the washer drain pipe where I can disconnect and run back up towards the washer.


The 1st cleanout out from the house has a steady stream of turbulent water when the washer, toilet, and bathtub are draining/flushed.

The 2nd cleanout visually looks to be flowing good, although isn't making the water flowing noise of the first drain.

I didn't take the TEE off from the rooftop vent because I didn't know if I should or not?



SO WHERE DO I START?

I was thinking I could take the first cleanout cap off again and stick my 25' snake in both directions, both away from and back towards the house. BUT when heading back towards the house - all the drain lines feed into one outlet right - and that is all I am supposed to snake right? Otherwise how will I control/route the snake to ONLY go up the washer line.

If after I snake both directions on that cleanout I still have slow/low flow on the front cleanout and still have my washing machine drainage problem, I was thinking about maybe taking the rooftop tee out off the washer/sink line and snaking back up towards the sink/washer and then out back down to the sewer main.


REMEMBER - I doubt the partial clog is going to be in the specific washer/sink pipe because water drains fine for a few minutes then starts to backup and when it does backup, it comes out the bathtub, toilet and sink so the backup has to be AFTER the pickups for those pipes...





SO WHAT DO YOU THINK? DOES THAT SOUND LIKE A GOOD PLAN?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by butteco

Okay update!

My buddy (contractor) just came by on his way home. He showed me my pipes and the layout of the sewage. I have 2 cleanouts (about 50feet apart) on the side of my house on the way out to the street. I also have a TEE from the roof down to the washer drain pipe where I can disconnect and run back up towards the washer.


The 1st cleanout out from the house has a steady stream of turbulent water when the washer, toilet, and bathtub are draining/flushed.

The 2nd cleanout visually looks to be flowing good, although isn't making the water flowing noise of the first drain.

I didn't take the TEE off from the rooftop vent because I didn't know if I should or not?



SO WHERE DO I START?

I was thinking I could take the first cleanout cap off again and stick my 25' snake in both directions, both away from and back towards the house. BUT when heading back towards the house - all the drain lines feed into one outlet right - and that is all I am supposed to snake right? Otherwise how will I control/route the snake to ONLY go up the washer line.

If after I snake both directions on that cleanout I still have slow/low flow on the front cleanout and still have my washing machine drainage problem, I was thinking about maybe taking the rooftop tee out off the washer/sink line and snaking back up towards the sink/washer and then out back down to the sewer main.


REMEMBER - I doubt the partial clog is going to be in the specific washer/sink pipe because water drains fine for a few minutes then starts to backup and when it does backup, it comes out the bathtub, toilet and sink so the backup has to be AFTER the pickups for those pipes...





SO WHAT DO YOU THINK? DOES THAT SOUND LIKE A GOOD PLAN?

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I guess you didn't read my last post. Your 1/4" snake is good for snaking through traps and the lateral drain lines behind walls but not much else.
To snake out larger drain lines you'll have to rent a sewer machine.
For any thing larger then 1 1/2" we use the equivalent of a Ridgid K-50 and for lines, (including the one to the street or septic tank) 4" and over we use the equivalent of a Ridgid K-60.
That 25foot 1/4" inch snake ain't going to do jack in a 4" line and we NEVER snake against the flow. Go with the the way the water flows. You have some idea where the cable will end up when you snake with the fittings. You will have no of where that cable will end up snaking back against the fittings. It could come up under a toilet and crack the china. I'm suprised your contractor friend didn't inform you of all this. One more time. YOU DON'T SNAKE UP AGAINST ANYTHING. YOU SNAKE DOWN WITH THE FLOW OR TAKE YOUR CHANCES.
"The water drains fine for a few minutes then starts to backup and when it does backup, it comes out the bathtub, toilet and sink so the backup has to be AFTER the pickups for those pipes... "
That's about the first thing you said that I agree with. you'll find the clog downstrean from the first fixture it backed up into.
You're focusing in the wrong spot. The fact that you're draining past both cleanouts and the backup and it doesn't take long for it to begain to back up tells me the clog must be in the house system. Go DOWN the washer vent if you can't locate the vent for the last downstream fixture that backed up. If you can locate the vent that's the one I'd go down, (but not with a 1/4" X 25' snake). Goos luck. Tom

TOM,


Really appreciate all your info. I absolutely read what you wrote about the heavier gauge snake and am renting one from RentX on Friday a.m.

It doesn't back up as fast as I may have suggested? I can flush the toilet and drain the bathtub for about 20-25 minutes (flushing every couple minutes, draining bathtub constantly) before the tub starts to fill up. And when the tub drains, so does the toilet. Now when I add the washing machine into the mix, it used to be 2 cycles of the washing machine would back it up on its own but now I can run the washing machine a few times and use the shower before it backs up...



ALSO TOM,

I did in fact try to snake down the washer drain pipe. I made it the 4ft down, and then after the 90* elbow I made it another 10 or so feet before it stopped - woulding go any further and I was twising and twisting the crank (clockwise at first and then tried counterclockwise) and I couldn't get it to go any further -I suspect maybe another 90* elbow or maybe coming down a TEE. What can I do from here? I still have 10+ feet of snake I could show down if I could get it to go further... Should I keep trying to "force" it down the drain? I didn't want to for fear of breaking the old ABS plastic pipes...

Quote:

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Originally Posted by butteco

TOM,
Really appreciate all your info. I absolutely read what you wrote about the heavier guage snake and am renting one from RentX on Friday a.m.

It doesn't back up as fast as I may have suggested? I can flush the toilet and drain the bathtub for about 20-25 minutes (flushing every couple minutes, draining bathtub constantly) before the tub starts to fill up. And when the tub drains, so does the toilet. Now when I add the washing machine into the mix, it used to be 2 cycles of the washing machine would back it up on its own but now I can run the washing machine a few times and use the shower before it backs up...
ALSO TOM,
I did infact try to snake down the washer drain pipe. I made it the 4ft down, and then after the 90* elbow I made it another 10 or so feet before it stopped - woulding go any further and I was twising and twisting the crank (clockwise at first and then tried counterclockwise) and I couldn't get it to go any further -I suspect maybe another 90* elbow or maybe coming down a TEE. What can I do from here? I still have 10+ feet of snake I could show down if I could get it to go further... Should I keep trying to "force" it down the drain? I didn't want to for fear of breaking the old ABS plastic pipes...

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You're going to have to localize the blockage. We do this by seeing how long it takes to back up. When you first described your problem it sounded like it was located in the house system. Now I'm not so sure so let's nail it down.
Go out and remove the clean out cover from the one closest to the house.
Now flush, cycle the washer, anything to get it to back up. If it comes up the first cleanout then open up the second cleanout. If you have standing water in the second one snake from there if from the first then snake from there. If it comes up in the bathtub go up on the roof and snake the bathroom vent. Good luck, Tom

Okay thanks again,

Will try it all Friday afternoon! Will post updates then.

Okay,

So I have been working on this partial clog all week and finally have the rest of the weekend to fix it.

BUT this past few days has given me a better idea of the symptoms.

The drain backs up after about 30mins of bathtub drainage (just leaving the faucet on). When it backs up SEWAGE COMES Of BOTH MAIN CLEANOUTS so THIS MEANS THE PARTIAL CLOG IS DEFINITLEY NOT IN THE HOUSE -- Right? This makes sense since water is coming out of the cleanout furthest from the house, that means it is coming out because something downstream is blocking the flow = further out towards the street...


So I returned my 25' and bought a 50' 1/2" drain auger and opened up the screw to about 3" at the front (didn't rent the other one today but might tomarrow if you think it is necessary?)

I stuck all 50' out towards the curb and didn't feel it hit anything.

Does it sound like I am on the right track with my diagnosis? What tricks are there for finding the blockage??

THANKS.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by butteco

Okay,

So I have been working on this partial clog all week and finally have the rest of the weekend to fix it.

BUT this past few days has given me a better idea of the symptoms.

The drain backs up after about 30mins of bathtub drainage (just leaving the faucet on). When it backs up SEWAGE COMES OF OF BOTH MAIN CLEANOUTS so THIS MEANS THE PARTIAL CLOG IS DEFINITLEY NOT IN THE HOUSE -- Right? This makes sense since water is coming out of the cleanout furthest from the house, that means it is coming out because something downstream is blocking the flow = further out towards the street...


So I returned my 25' and bought a 50' 1/2" drain auger and opened up the screw to about 3" at the front (didn't rent the other one today but might tomarrow if you think it is neccessary?)

I stuck all 50' out towards the curb and didn't feel it hit anything.

Does it sound like I am on the right track with my diagnosis? What tricks are there for finding the blockage???

THANKS.

---

Congratulations for analyzing and localizing your blockage. It's definitely downstream from the cleanout farthest from the house. My guess is that you'll find it at the raiser,( the place your sewer connects to the street main).
As a rule we pack the bell of the raiser and grout it with cement. Over time the cement will shrink and allow roots to enter. To effect a permanent repair the raiser must be dug up and uncovered and the joint redone. My feeling is that you didn't put out enough snake. Rent a Ridgid K-60 sewer machine or one as large and a cutter tip and go after it. The cutter will cut them up to where you can flush them out with a garden hose. To keep them under control, flush copper sulphate down the toilet every once in a while.
Good luck, Tom