Author	[Modern View]
TheOldHokie 08-07-2012 12:45:16 108.8.21.136 Report to Moderator	If it weren't for bad luck.... My house AC condensate drain is into a piece of 1-1/2" PVC pipe that comes up out of the basement slab about 12" high right next to the furnace. It's labeled "condensate drain" by the plumber that built the house so it was installed specifically for that purpose. It started backing up and overflowing a couple days ago - apparently clogged. I ran my little 25' wound wire sewer snake down it but didn't clear the stoppage. I just "escalated' to a heavier 50' flat steel snake. There is a bend in the drain line just a couple feet down. It appears to be a 90* elbow and I had to work a bit to get the heavier snake around it. The end of the bigger snake has a cast steel "spear point" on it - not the corkscrew end like the smaller snake. Ran it down as far as I could get it and now it's stuck - that point won't come back past that first bend. The point is on a swivel so twisting the snake doesn't turn the point. Anybody got any bright ideas because I'm out..... TOH [Reply]   [No Email]
George Marsh 08-08-2012 17:05:41 50.104.225.241 Report to Moderator	Re: OT - Sewer snake in reply to TheOldHokie, 08-07-2012 12:45:16   I have used a furnco coupler to fit over the pipe and adapted a hose bib to the other end of the coupler. Tighten the radiator like clamps. Turn on the water. Hope you nothing slips off, if it does you learn the meaning of getting hosed. If that doesn't work crank up the air compressor. At one time, they sold a ballon like device to attach to a hose, as the water pressure increased, the ballon expanded inside the pipe washed out the line. Never used one like that. I suppose a person could glue pipe fittings together and go to a hose bib. After the line is cleaned out, cut off the attachment. George [Reply]  [No Email]
TheOldHokie 08-08-2012 07:12:20 108.8.21.136 Report to Moderator	Re: OT - Sewer snake in reply to john B. ne Ind., 08-07-2012 12:45:16   Quoting Removed, click Modern View to see Thanks for teh advice but I'm not upset. I have the tools and I've cut up slabs to repair plumbing before but this one is fixed. The snake is not going to catch anything - it's just a few feet into the condensate drain and it works fine with the snake inside. If it fails in the future I will replumb the condensate to another connection and cap the old line. Far easier than a concrete repair. TOH [Reply]  [No Email]
George Marsh 08-08-2012 18:12:05 50.104.223.0 Report to Moderator	Re: OT - Sewer snake in reply to TheOldHokie, 08-08-2012 07:12:20   TOH, Come to think of it, my condensate goes into a small holding tank and a small pump pushes the water through a 1/2 clear plastic hose over to my drain. Hose is connected to the basement ceiling. Been using mine for years, no problems. They aren't that expensive, condensate pump. George [Reply]  [No Email]
Ultradog MN 08-08-2012 05:41:30 65.103.0.97 Report to Moderator	Re: OT - Sewer snake in reply to TheOldHokie, 08-07-2012 12:45:16   TOH, Don't get upset about this. It really is not a big deal to cut open the concrete and do a little surgery on your drain lines. I have to cut open basement floors all the time to install new drain lines when I build/rebuild bathrooms. Here's how I do it: Buy a diamond blade for your circular saw - about $30. Use a hose and trickle some water right in front of the blade as it's cutting. It makes a muddy mess but will cut the dust down to zero. I usually set the blade about halfway down and make the first cut then reset the blade to full depth and cut again. Make your cuts then use a sledge hammer to break out the concrete. Make your repairs then mix Sacrete and re cement. I just leave the muddy mess till the next day when it's dry and it can pretty much be swept up with a broom. If you are worried about electrocution plug the saw into a GFCI outlet. I have done this at least 50 times and have never been shocked once. I would worry about the snake in there catching stuff and creating a blockage so I would remove the snake if I were you. [Reply]  [No Email]
JMOR 08-07-2012 16:59:29 99.105.24.57 Report to Moderator	Re: OT - Sewer snake in reply to Ken(Ark), 08-07-2012 12:45:16   Quoting Removed, click Modern View to seeBeing done is the best part! :wink: [Reply]  [No Email]
TheOldHokie 08-07-2012 16:22:57 108.8.21.136 Report to Moderator	Re: OT - Sewer snake in reply to teddy52food, 08-07-2012 12:45:16   Quoting Removed, click Modern View to see Well I gave it a try - had a nice 12" WF beam for a sky hook but no go. I cut it off and I'm done. TOH [Reply]  [No Email]
JMOR 08-07-2012 14:52:46 99.105.24.57 Report to Moderator	Re: OT - Sewer snake in reply to Jim in Ma., 08-07-2012 12:45:16   I must admit that I didn't get the idea all on my own. My Dad owned a crain business, among several other businesses, and he once had a plumber call him and wanted him to bring a long reach crane to a home where plumber's snake was stuck in a roof vent. My Dad told him to just cut it off, that if he tied the crane to it, that a bunch of cast iron pipe and wall & roof, etc. was going to come out along with the snake. Darn! Lost a customer. :roll: [Reply]  [No Email]
badger bob 08-07-2012 14:08:44 74.47.161.238 Report to Moderator	Re: OT - Sewer snake in reply to TheOldHokie, 08-07-2012 12:45:16   Id git a air tank and a big ball valve. 100 lb of air and kawoosh. probem solved! or mabe it would make a new problem. but thats the way i do things. good luck . Bob [Reply]  [No Email]
TheOldHokie 08-07-2012 13:52:17 108.8.21.136 Report to Moderator	Re: OT - Sewer snake in reply to 1951 8N, 08-07-2012 12:45:16   Quoting Removed, click Modern View to see Brilliant :idea: Brute force and ignorance is my favorite solution. :!: Of course I might break the line and wind up hammering up some concrete :cry: Maybe just a "gentle" pull :wink: TOH [Reply]  [No Email]
JMOR 08-07-2012 13:42:00 99.105.24.57 Report to Moderator	Re: OT - Sewer snake in reply to JMOR, 08-07-2012 12:45:16   come-along......pull it out or break something! [Reply]  [No Email]
TheOldHokie 08-07-2012 13:41:00 108.8.21.136 Report to Moderator	Re: OT - Sewer snake in reply to r.j.m.t., 08-07-2012 12:45:16   Quoting Removed, click Modern View to see I know. But it's not worth much of my time - more concerned about ruining my snake ;-) TOH [Reply]  [No Email]
TheOldHokie 08-07-2012 13:38:33 108.8.21.136 Report to Moderator	Re: OT - Sewer snake in reply to BillM (OH), 08-07-2012 12:45:16   Quoting Removed, click Modern View to see All other drains work fine and the condensate line is all of 3' from where the main stack pipe comes up. Which is why I'm puzzled I didn't clear the blockage with the smaller snake - I figured it was in the trap. No need for the roof vent - the soil pipe has a cleanout in it just above the slab and another outside the house. The branch lines coming into it also have multiple cleanouts - one where the enter the basement and additional ones upstairs by the sinks and inside access covers in the shower walls. This plumber loved cleanouts..... TOH [Reply]  [No Email]
Jock(OR) 08-07-2012 15:38:22 97.120.42.198 Report to Moderator	Re: OT - Sewer snake in reply to TheOldHokie, 08-07-2012 13:38:33   If there are that many cleanouts, is it possible to get the snake head near enough one to fish it out? Then you could pull of the head and the rest of the snake should pull out without binding. [Reply]  [No Email]
TheOldHokie 08-07-2012 13:15:04 108.8.21.136 Report to Moderator	Re: OT - Sewer snake in reply to HCooke, 08-07-2012 12:45:16   Quoting Removed, click Modern View to see I understand why it should be a trap but it didn't feel like one when I went through it with either snake. I'll give your technique a try. At this point I'm thinking it may be easier to simply bag it - cut the end off the snake and leave it inside. Then replumb the condensate drain into one of the other larger lines nearby - there are multiple candidates.... Thanks, TOH [Reply]  [No Email]
jackinok 08-07-2012 13:24:38 162.58.82.136 Report to Moderator	Re: OT - Sewer snake in reply to TheOldHokie, 08-07-2012 13:15:04   if you do cut it and leave it,cap this line or p trap will dry out and youll have all kinds of sewer gas in your house. it will come out it went in youve simply got to get the right combination. [Reply]  [No Email]
TheOldHokie 08-07-2012 13:06:16 108.8.21.136 Report to Moderator	Re: OT - Sewer snake in reply to Charles Krammin, 08-07-2012 12:45:16   Quoting Removed, click Modern View to see I considered that but you can't pressurize this line - it's connected to a vent. TOH [Reply]  [No Email]
jackinok 08-07-2012 13:20:17 162.58.82.136 Report to Moderator	Re: OT - Sewer snake in reply to TheOldHokie, 08-07-2012 13:06:16   IF you get the snake out,cap this line pressurize the vent,or vice versa. but before you do much else try flushing a toilet and see if it backs up.if it does you probably are wasting you r time trying to clean it out with a small snake,probably your main 3 or four inch line plugged an it would be hard to get it clean with a small snake. if you get you snake loose,go up on the roof and try cleaning it from there.those p traps are always a pain to work around. [Reply]  [No Email]
Jock(OR) 08-07-2012 13:15:53 97.120.42.198 Report to Moderator	Re: OT - Sewer snake in reply to TheOldHokie, 08-07-2012 13:06:16   If you can get access to the vent line and it is PVC pipe like the drain, consider either plugging the vent temporarily (I have used a thermos-type expanding rubber plug) or installing a ball valve. The ball valve would be practical for an annual purging the line with air or a "Drain King." This won't help with your snake, but for future maintainance. [Reply]  [No Email]
jackinok 08-07-2012 13:02:44 162.58.82.136 Report to Moderator	Re: OT - Sewer snake in reply to TheOldHokie, 08-07-2012 12:45:16   should be a "P" trap there instead of a 90. try using a piece of flat steel ,pry bar ,something of that nature to hold the flat snake down to botom of p trap some while you work it back and forth trying to get it to make bend. a normal pvc trap will have a fairly short radiused 90 on the trap and often if you can hold it down it will bend enough to come on out.if your simply pulling up and it catches your trying to make a even shorter bend . pull up slightly on your snake then push down on it inside the trap while holding a slight upward pressure.your points got to turn down before it will make the bend if that makes any sense. [Reply]  [No Email]
reomack 08-07-2012 12:49:23 184.3.94.123 Report to Moderator	Re: OT - Sewer snake in reply to TheOldHokie, 08-07-2012 12:45:16   Not to be a smart alec but I would suggest and hack saw and a union. [Reply]  [No Email]
Bruce (VA) 08-07-2012 12:48:38 24.125.80.178 Report to Moderator	Re: OT - Sewer snake in reply to TheOldHokie, 08-07-2012 12:45:16   Well, it's too late now........but I blow mine out w/ the air hose. That's after the light fixture in the basement fills up w/ water & drips on the floor. [Reply]  [No Email]