[donmoore1904]

Separately, I mentioned a problem I am having with a slow drain. During this project, it occurred to me it might be beneficial to have cleanout access to the run straight across my basement joist. For 23', the pipe is 2" and then it y's into a 3" pipe coming from a w/c. This 7' long pipe has some other things y into it, then it hits the wall, goes down 3', over 12' and out through a cleanout fitting to the septic tank.

Would this make sense for future maintenance? My current problem is the 23' long 2" pipe, and if I had a removeable plug near the y to 3" that would allow me the go straight up the pipe I could clean it easily every x years.

I am guessing a plumber would just use a longer snake from under the sink. I am trying to figure how I could cut this 23' long pipe to insert anything, and glue it back together, since both ends are fixed. On one end is the y into the 3" pipe, and the other is an elbow up into the wall. Is there a way of doing it without removing one end? Seems like neither end will move to allow slipping two pipe ends into a coupling, if you see what I mean. Thanks!

[EPMiller]

If allowed by the AHJ in your situation, I would just cut the pipe near the elbow, snake it and then put it back together with a "Fernco" fitting. If you don't know what that is, it's a rubber sleeve fitting with 2 hose clamps that will slide over the pipe and then tighten down to watertight. There are other ones with a metal covering that will take more stress, either way, you have to make certain your cuts have NO burrs and the pipe is adequately supported on either side of the new joint. I really prefer to use those fittings on vertical runs.

You most likely would have to replace the fitting each time you clean out, but that's still easier than installing a PVC wye with the cleanout hub on TOP of the line and then getting into that each time.

[donmoore1904]

I didn't realize such a fitting might be acceptable. So that plug would have to face "up" above the line? I wondered about that and *guessed* it wouldn't matter since it wasn't a pressure pipe. Wrong guess? Thanks for the reply.

[EPMiller]

A Fernco or equivalent may or may not be acceptable, it depends on the codes in your area. The fitting I am describing is just a straight connector with 2 hose clamps. It isn't a wye, you just cut the pipe, pull the one section down a couple of inches, rod it, and then put it back together with the straight fitting. Just Google "Fernco fitting" and go to their website. Shielded fittings will keep the pipe aligned better than the rubber only ones. But both need support when installed.

A glued in PVC wye, or any type of wye cleanout for that matter, would have to have the cleanout plug on top of the line or it will catch debris and be more of a problem than a help.

EPM

[donmoore1904]

Ah! Very good info. I solved the problem, by resnaking. It is a double bowl sink, and the snaking of the secondary bowl may have pushed debris into the tee which is 1' downstream of the main one. A pro would have done reverse maybe. Thank you (;