blockage

[nickelarsed]

Hi all,
Don't really do much of this but I've got a landlord customer who I want to keep happy. Student house, weird layout with sink, 2 basins, and shower all connected into one waste pipe which then wiggles it's way through the house down two stories and comes out the back. Always blocking. I went and sorted it in the summer by just throwing one shot down it until I got the desired affect, but it's blocked again and this time it's rock solid. Not budging an inch with chemicals or plungers etc. What's the best course of action? Looked around and there are loads of different gadgets for this kind of thing but I have no idea which ones are any good. The pipe actually goes in boxwork around a stairwell so there are loads of bloody knuckles on it which means if I'm going to clear it mechanically I will need something pretty long and flexible which won't break any fittings. Bit stumped really, thanks everyone

 

[PLUMB-KING]

You need an auger drill for this type of blockage that will clean it out,but they can be very messy to use.

 

[nickelarsed]

blimey that looks like it'll do the job! Looks like I'm off to hss then. Been looking around at all the drain snakes etc and I don't think any of them are long enough, so yea something like that would be the way to go. Thanks for the help mate.

 

[PLUMB-KING]

blimey that looks like it'll do the job! Looks like I'm off to hss then. Been looking around at all the drain snakes etc and I don't think any of them are long enough, so yea something like that would be the way to go. Thanks for the help mate.

Any time.🙂

The only thing with these machines is that they can damage the waste pipe,depending on how old it is,waste pipe after years of use can become very brittle & crack easily. If you can,try & clear the blockage from outside in,that way any mess will be outside,but you may have to drill from both sides depending on how long the run is.

 

[nickelarsed]

To be honest that has been one of my worries, the house is badly plumbed, and it was done a while ago. One of the reasons I'm a bit hesitant really. Something tells me it's going to be one of those long days tomorrow :sad3:.

 

[PLUMB-KING]

To be honest that has been one of my worries, the house is badly plumbed, and it was done a while ago. One of the reasons I'm a bit hesitant really. Something tells me it's going to be one of those long days tomorrow :sad3:.

Maybe pass the buck to a Drain Company..?

 

[nickelarsed]

Yea I was on google having a look for one to do just that. Just too much hassle. Thanks again for the info.

 

[REDSAW]

2 quotes,
one for trying,
the other to re-run new waste.

and a disclaimer for if it goes breast up.

 

[vectra65]

you can get a small hand held drill its got a long wire cable inside the drum which worms its way out as you thread cable through waste. at one point i used to use a air pressure gun which you block off all wastes outlets except for one pump gun up then blast it down sink waste but you have to be careful not to blow any joints apart

 

[Barry98]

if its done it again id be tempted to rip out and re route correctly maybe increase pipe size and tell students to ---- dont matter they wont listen

 

[nickelarsed]

Thanks for that tip redsaw I can think of a couple of times when doing that would have been a good idea. Found a bloke with a machine similar to the one pictured and we cleared it together. No leaks so fittings held which was a relief and the customer wants me to come back in summer when students out and do separate wastes and a new bathroom suite, so all turned out for the best. Thanks for all the input everyone.

 

[Howsie]

Handheld auger is what you need otherwise you'll shred the plastic pipe.

I've used my pressure washer for these sort of problems in the past but as others have suggested it should be re-run.

Sent from my GT-I9100 using Tapatalk

 

[Alex Pelton]

had a similar job to this, my solution was put all the plugs in the sinks, basins etc, block the overflows up with rags and get the aqua vac on the lowest plug hole, then try some one shot, worked for me.

 

[PlumbingBud]

Reminds me of a story a mate told me when he was at Uni and the next door floor flat had blocked wastes. The plumber dismantles the pipework, only to get covered in a load of 5punk!

Yuck. Double rate for that one, I think.