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    Flutieclause's Avatar
    Flutieclause Posts: 2, Reputation: 1
    New Member
    		  
    #1

    Nov 2, 2010, 06:23 AM
    Drain clog from house to street
    I have a clogged drain between my house and the street. I called the town and they cleared the line on the street so I know the clog is between the house and the street. There are no roots or tree's that could be interfering with the drain (I have no trees in my front yard. I rented a commercial snake from home depot with a 1/2' thick cord. I had gotten the snake about 33 feet out and there is 36 feet between my house and the curb. After measuring the distance that the snake had gone out I went in for what I thought was the final couple feet. Unfortunately after about 30 min of moving the snake further into the pipe I pulled it out and the bit had come off in the pipe.

    How should I go about unclogging my drain from here?

    Should I rent a 3/4' snake that has more power?

    Please help.

    Thank you

    p.s. the bit I was using on the snake that came off in the drain was circular with teeth on it.
    speedball1's Avatar
    speedball1 Posts: 29,301, Reputation: 1939
    Eternal Plumber
    		  
    #2

    Nov 2, 2010, 06:39 AM

    I'm going to put up some tips, (see images)n which one did you lose? Was it just the tip or did the cable break also? And you still have the clog, correct? You're going to end up doing one of two things,
    1) rent a sewer snake and go in with a retrieval tip, (see image) and attempt to snag it back. **OR**
    2) dig up the street raiser at the curb and open up the pipe,
    Good luck, Tom
    Attached Images
     
    Attached Images
  1. File Type: pdf Sewer Snake Tips.pdf (21.2 KB, 225 views)
    2. Flutieclause's Avatar
    Flutieclause Posts: 2, Reputation: 1
    New Member
    		  
    #3

    Nov 2, 2010, 07:34 AM
    Yes I still have the clog. Only the bit came off. The line did not break. I do not see the bit in the diagram you sent. It is a bit for cutting tree roots. It is round with teeth on it looks similar to a bit that would be on a drill press to make a perfect circle. Thank you again for your help
    massplumber2008's Avatar
    massplumber2008 Posts: 12,832, Reputation: 1212
    Senior Plumbing Expert
    		  
    #4

    Nov 2, 2010, 04:10 PM

    Hi Flutie...

    I'm going to bet that there is a break in the drain line or else need to know what could have broken that head off in the drain line... huh?

    My approach at this point might be to measure out the distance of the cable and then transfer that measure to the pipe outside and start digging down to see if you can find the break in the line and repair the pipe (and get back the broken off cutter head)... if the pipe isn't too deep.

    OR

    I might also consider bringing in someone with a camera cable system and take a video of the drain line to determine why the cutter head broke off and where it broke off. This would also tell you the condition of the pipe along its entire length

    OR

    I might also try a retrieving head on the cable as Tom suggested, but it's very tricky and I would want to know why the head broke off!

    In my opinion, bite the bullet and send a camera down the line... eliminates all the guessing here... :)

    Mark
    speedball1's Avatar
    speedball1 Posts: 29,301, Reputation: 1939
    Eternal Plumber
    		  
    #5

    Nov 2, 2010, 04:23 PM

    As I said in my #1 answer,
    ) rent a sewer snake and go in with a retrieval tip, (see image) and attempt to snag it back.
    A retrieval tip is nothing more then a auger tip with the end pulled out to auger in and snag what's stuck in there. This tip was designed to snag and retrieve a broken cable. It's about the only shot you have short of digging up the piper. Run your snake out and try to snag the stuck tip. If you feel something hitting metal stop the motor and pull the snake back, m Good luck, Tom
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