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tennisyoung1 · Jul 26, 2009, 01:43 PM

My two sinks in the two adjoining bathroom got blocked. First I tried Drano but it didn't work. I removed the P trap and other connecting pipes all the way to the wall. I then snaked it . I could only got in about 18 inches only. So I bought a drill drain snake. Again I could only ran in about 18 inches. I don't believe the snake got into the other side of the adjoining bathroom sink. I could feel the snake got in about 8 inches either up or down the pipe from the pipe sticking out of the wall. Then I could go no further after another 10 inches. What's blocking it? I checked my drill drain snake and it could go through 5 sheets of paper easily. Please help!!

ballengerb1 · Jul 26, 2009, 01:47 PM

What diameter snake are you using?

tennisyoung1 · Jul 26, 2009, 01:59 PM

1/4 inches and it's 20 ft long.

ballengerb1 · Jul 26, 2009, 02:01 PM

You may need to get on the roof and rod down the vent stack, for that you can go with a larger snake.

tennisyoung1 · Jul 26, 2009, 02:15 PM

So you think my drill drain snake is too weak to unclog the block. Or could it be there's a curve or turn that's blocking my snake?

ballengerb1 · Jul 26, 2009, 02:18 PM

No not too weak but you could be hitting a T connection and never get through that. Without opening the walls to see exactly how this was plumbed your next best bet is the roof.

tennisyoung1 · Jul 26, 2009, 02:36 PM

I got up the roof and checked the 3" dia. Vent stack. Isn't this the vent pipe connecting to the main pipe for tub and toilet discharge? You mean my snake could actually reach the block of the sink pipe from there? Thanks.

speedball1 · Jul 26, 2009, 03:19 PM

Originally Posted by tennisyoung1

I got up the roof and checked the 3" dia. vent stack. Isn't this the vent pipe connecting to the main pipe for tub and toilet discharge? You mean my snake could actually reach the block of the sink pipe from there? Thanks.

This might not be the correct vent if it's the only one on your roof.
Sometimes our contract orders us to tie back,(revent) all the vents to one main vent through the roof up in the attic. If that's the case you'll need to call in outside help with a regular sewer machine. He will have to take it up into the attic, locate the lavatory vent from your bath and cut it loose from the vent through roof. He can then snake the lavatory drains that you couldn't reach. After, he will have to couple the vent back as it was. Do you see more then just that one 3" vent? Regards, tom

tennisyoung1 · Jul 26, 2009, 04:13 PM

I saw another vent about 1" dia. It sticks out directly above the adjoining bathroom about 4' from the 3" vent. You mean I should go in from this vent and it could reach the block of the sink pipe?

speedball1 · Jul 26, 2009, 04:23 PM

Snake the smaller one and let me know. Good luck. Tom

tennisyoung1 · Jul 26, 2009, 04:39 PM

Thanks. But what I don't understand is that I unclogged the same sink pipe about 6 months ago with Drano. What could have caused this tough clog?

speedball1 · Jul 27, 2009, 03:46 AM

Originally Posted by tennisyoung1

Thanks. But what I don't understand is that I unclogged the same sink pipe about 6 months ago with Drano. What could have caused this tough clog?

As a repair plumber I have never recommended using harsh chemicals. In your drainage system. Besides they only seem to work in TV commercials and when you try to remove the water you could burn your hands or damage your eyes. I prefer to snake a drain line
Having said that your clog might have been a local clog in the lateral in the wall. This clog is farther down past the base of the stack and can only be reached from a roof vent. Good luck, Tom

tennisyoung1 · Jul 27, 2009, 12:56 PM

Thanks. My sewage pipe machine is too heavy for me to carry up the roof. Will my 20' drill drain pipe reach this clog?

Sorry. I forgot to mention that the vent is about 15' from the ground.

ballengerb1 · Jul 27, 2009, 01:27 PM

Drill drain augers are a bit small in diameter for this kind of work.

speedball1 · Jul 28, 2009, 05:53 AM

Originally Posted by tennisyoung1

Thanks. My sewage pipe machine is too heavy for me to carry up the roof. Will my 20' drill drain pipe reach this clog?

Sorry. I forgot to mention that the vent is about 15' from the ground.

Only if the clog's at the very base and then it might so smsll it simply punches through.. You need a sewer machine,(see image) up on that roof. But before you go up on the roof I want you to look up in the attic for any vents that may be revented back to the 3" VTR. Just two roof vents doesn't sound right to me. There should be one 3 " main vent plus a washer vent, a vent for every bath room, a bar sink vent if you have one. Do you see where I'm going with this? If the vent you want is revented back in the attic there's a whole other procedure to go through. Good luck, Tom

tennisyoung1 · Jul 29, 2009, 04:41 PM

You are absolutely right. I have a washer vent, a kitchen vent, a water heater vent, a central air vent on the other side of the roof. I believe the 3" vent directly above my bathroom in question is the main vent. There's a 1" vent directly above the other adjoining bathroom which you want me to snake in. Then there's two unidentifiable 4 to 5" covered vent about 8' from the 3" main vent , one on the right and one on the left. I have no idea whether the 1" vent was built for the shower in the adjoining bathroom or sinks for both adjoining rooms or both?

speedball1 · Jul 29, 2009, 04:47 PM

Snake the pipe that's closest to the two baths. Put out enough snake to reach the 15 feet to the base and 20 feet more to get out in the main. Good luck, tom

tennisyoung1 · Jul 29, 2009, 06:09 PM

Thanks. I will try.

speedball1 · Jul 30, 2009, 04:31 AM

Please give us a update when you're finished. Good luck, Tom

tennisyoung1 · Jul 31, 2009, 01:02 AM

I opened the built-in opening between the two adjoining wall and measured the length between them to be 8". So could it be possible that my snake went over the other side of the sink and got stuck at the P trap? Also I just found a 2" dia. Access hole at the bottom of the sink about 5 " above the floor and it's about 45 degree and 12" from the sink pipe sticking out of the wall where I put my snake in. Should I open this access hole and try to snake in from there?