Would like to fix this problem myself, any suggestion is appreciated. In trying to clean up the clogged kitchen drain (has been slow for a while, then backing up and now stopped completely), I removed the J-pipe and managed to go down only about two yards with a plumbing snake through the wall pipe (just as in the image posted here a while ago). As seen from the downstairs, after going down about vertically for a yard and a half, the kitchen cast iron drain pipe becomes a horizontal PVC pipe for the next 4-5 yards before fusing with a larger drain pipe. Snaking through a plug (is it a "cleanout"?) just upstream of the vertical to horizontal (iron to PVC) connection, I found that clogged area begins about a foot into the horizontal PVC pipe - just at the beginning of the horizontal run. My questions are: (a) is this expected location for a clog? (b) is this clog local or it could go the entire length of the horizontal segment? (c) If snaking for about 15 minutes does not clear it (the other end of the snake rotates in a soft, gooey stuff without advancing much) , what are my other options? (Other drains are okay.) Thanks, h.

I would expect a clog to be in a horizontal section of pipe. I would not expect the entire length of pipe to be clogged. At least not PVC pipe. If you cannot get the snake to break through the clog you can always cut the PVC pipe, clear the clog and then rejoin the pipe. Only cost you a coupling and a small can of glue.

Kitchen drain is the most dirty drain in the whole house. The clog usually doesn't happen overnight but is a result of slow accumulation of grease and food leftovers on the bottom of the pipe. With time, this sediment becomes larger and larger until entire pipe is enclosed.

You should have 2" for kitchen drain. This drain then connects at one point to 3" or 4" main run that carries other fixtures in your house. Blockage is usually withing this 2" drain. It will probably be in horizontal section of this pipe - but can be in Cast Iron vertical-to-horizontal fittings as well...

Yes, that plug is a clean out...

You should use good snake, 3/8" x 25' and good cutting tip attachment. Snake it severla times through clean out. Then, if you can, put hose inside the clean out and run lots of water through it under full pressure for few minutes. Then, remove hose, close clean out and turn hot water ON in your sink. Let it run for 10 minutes.

Good snakes can be rented in Home Depot for $30.00 for 4 hours. They are worth every penny. Use good gloves and goggles. Cable may twist and injure you.

Advice: if you have, and use, garbage disposer - than make sure you always use lots of hot water to flush food leftovers as far down the drain as possible.

Good Luck... Let us know how you did ! Milo

Cutting the pipe, however fun, was not an option, so I continued snaking last night the horizontal PVC pipe through the clean out hitting three clogged areas along the straight run. After snaking three times, ran water with a hose. With full pressure, water started coming back out of the clean out after a few seconds. The clean out is at the same horizontal level with the PVC pipe (which is also not exactly horizontal with a slight bent in the middle), so I thought it was acceptable, even though when restarted after a few minutes, the water started pouring from the clean out right away. There may still be residual clogs in that PVC pipe, but the drain now is cleaner than it ever was - runs quietly and fast, at least for the first 5 minutes. Thanks.