clogged drains

[Jimmy Buffett]

I have a couple of bays that are not draining today and can't find a plumber who works on Saturday. I have not had to close yet but it's getting close to that. I can't think of a thing that I can do without a snake. Any suggestions?

 

[Waxman]

try the drain king

What about this?

http://www.google.com/products/cata...y1BIPqwgWXuIHiDA&sa=title&ved=0CAcQ8wIwADgA#p

 

[washme1]

I use a non rotating sewer nozzle and sewer hose assembly I bought from Windtrax. After determining where the clog is, I attach the assembly to the bay gun, use soap selection to get hot water and it has worked every time. One time savings from sewer cleaning company pays for the hardware.

One type of nozzle is for straight runs and the other works better going around corners. The backward facing ports on the nozzle drive it forward and then further clean the line as you keep the trigger engaged while pulling it back out. I use a zip tie around the trigger in order to use both hands feeding the hose through.

In situations where the drain is beyond my reach, I use a piece of PVC with a 45 degree angle on the end to direct the hose where it needs to go.

 

[Jimmy Buffett]

So you just feed these things into the drain pipe in the bay and let it find its' own way? and that works?

 

[washme1]

So you just feed these things into the drain pipe in the bay and let it find its' own way? and that works?

Yes. You feed it in, the jet propels it through and it finds it's way. It usually takes some prodding to get it around a corner but eventually I'm able to get it through if I just keep working back and forth. It seems like I need to use it about five or six times a year.

I don't know how your system is set up. All of my bay pits flow to a larger main pit in my middle bay. From there, my main pit flows to what I would call a sand trap. From the sand trap, the water steps up to the sewer drain. That is the drain that is at the bottom of the sand trap and requires the pvc extension. So, if my main pit water is higher than my sand trap water, I know the clog is between the main pit and the sand trap. If my sand trap is higher, I know the clog is in the sewer drain. If my bay pits are higher, its between one of those bays and the main pit.

 

[lag]

We have at all locations a sewer nozzle set up like Washme1.. It has saved us a few times.

You do feed it in slowly then back up some then feed futher in.. Repeat until you get through..

The little ones work great on shorter runs ,but if the problem is futher out ,and good sewer cleaning from the pros is the only way to go.

we have a company come in every year just before winter ,and give all lines a good cleaning.

 

[Tom Thumb]

In the past I have used my garden hose and prod until it breaks lose.

 

[Jimmy Buffett]

So far it seems to be draining fast enough to keep people from driving away. It's not a particulary busy Saturday so I guess I'll limp through the weekend. I will order the nozzle first thing Monday morning. I wish I had known about these before, I would have had one on hand. I've always just called the plumber and paid the $35. The only one willing to come today wanted $249.
Thanks

 

[Ghetto Wash]

I keep a plumber on retainer for $300 a month. He will come anytime I call to 4 carwashes and 5 houses. Has worked very well for me. The $300 is all I pay unless he needs parts, I pay for the parts. He has repaired slab leaks and installed a sprinkler system - all for the monthly fee.

I have tried the pressure line mentioned above with very little luck - haven't touched it in 5 years and is just taking up space in my equipment room.

I also have a 3/8" rootor rooter that I use way more than I want to. If my bays aren't draining, my clean-up guy will try the rooter rooter and if he has no luck out comes the plumber.

 

[jprb]

The inflatable drain clean that Waxman suggested works most of the time. I put it in and leave it for an hour or so. If it doesnt work, i rent a rotating drain snake (has 10ft coiled, springlike sections. I have to get 120 ft for my longest run) from the local rental store (about $70) and clean it myself.

 

[Ghetto Wash]

I forgot to add that I have a blow bag like Waxman showed and it works well also.

 

[MEP001]

Make sure there is an elbow on the pipe in the pit facing down. The biggest cause of drain problems is debris floating into the line and causing a clog. If there's an elbow in the pit it can't get in; it just floats on the water. A screen will help too, but you'll find you have to keep cleaning the screen or it will clog.

 

[Whale of a Wash]

I don't think i have called a plumber ever in 20 yrs for a clog, we use bay hoses to snake them out, if bad we put a fitting on end with a zero degree nozzle, and let it rip.

 

[Bill Manke]

What type of drain do you have? Is it a pit with turn down or is is just a staight pipe to drain? I have never had a plumber out in over 20 years. My drains are pits with turn down I have a nozzle that I put on the end of a long wand that is bent up to shoot up the drain. I just keep pulling the trigger and pulsing the drain usually works. If it is the main line I take clean out plug out of end of drain and shove a high pressure hose down into the drain. If it is a short run just the hose if it is longer I use one of the nozzle that shoots forward and backward to help it down the line. If you are still draining but slow any kind of aggitation should get it cleared.

 

[Waxman]

I forgot to add that I have a blow bag like Waxman showed and it works well also.

In the future, please refrain from using the terms "blow bag" and "Waxman" in the same sentence. Thank you.

 

[Whale of a Wash]

All my bays are connected, so in an 8 bay--They would all drain into #5, so the dirt settles along the way till it gets to the middle. All water used goes into that pit--all have 3" pvc connecting them, so it takes alot to clog. Then from that bay we have a 3' x 5' and 4'deep pit next to the #5 bay that settles the last bit out--this one is connected to the sewer---this pit skims the top and drops it down 8' into the sewer.--Our water and sewer are down 8' to avoid freezing in the winter. Our system is very simple, and almost foolproof. No bends that debris would clog.

 

[Washmee]

I bought one of these a few years ago, works great.

 

[mjwalsh]

spinning sewer cleaning nozzle problem?

From experience & from what RotoRooter has told us, sometimes the cutter won't work if sand gets in the drain a certain way. So the blow bag &/or the sewer cleaning nozzle with our high pressure can be the best alternative. I notice that the sewer cleaning nozzle that spins tends to separate & gets ruined ----anyone else have this problem.

We have a common manifold with high pressure 3 way valves etc that allow us to wash down the bays quicker & sometimes we use a bigger sewer cleaning nozzle with more than one pump powering it.

MJ

 

[Red Baron]

I have a couple of bays that are not draining today and can't find a plumber who works on Saturday. I have not had to close yet but it's getting close to that. I can't think of a thing that I can do without a snake. Any suggestions?

I keep on hand a 10' section of 1" PVC pipe with a garden hose adpapter on one end. When things drain slow I can run it backwards up the line from my grit trap pit and blow it out. I shove it in as far as I can while the water is on.

Has worked well for about 3 years.

 

[BayWatch]

I dont have pits in every bay, most have a single pipe that connects to a pit which can be 50' away. I have a 1/2" PVC line with nozzle that can be connected to a water hose. This works most of the time. I have also used air with a lot of success. I have a line that I can run out from the mechanical room. I shove the hose in as far as possible and then open the valve. I usually have to use this on the longer runs.