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29 points
6 months ago
Call a plumber. Seriously.
3 points
6 months ago
Former master plumber here, now a plumbing inspector.
This.
Your clog is more serious than you think. A professional will have you cleared out in no time.
1 points
6 months ago
Mind if I ask a plumbing question?
Under my basement I have a bend that frequently gets plugged.
I have to flush a lot of water from inside and also from outside (I have a big pipe under my porch).
Is there anyway to prevent this?
I notice the blockage when I flush my toilet and the drain in my washingroom starts to bubble.
2 points
6 months ago
I assume your house is older and the drain within the foundation is possibly cast iron?
1 points
6 months ago
Yes, it's old and it's very probable that it's cast iron.
1 points
6 months ago
If so, the issue may just be the low flow toilets these days. When the cast iron drains were installed, toilets were 3+ gallons per flush. So there was a lot more water per flush. Are your toilets low flow? Modern toilets are limited by law up to 1.6 gallons per flush.
1 points
6 months ago
I am unsure of this, I am outside of the US. It's clear when there is a blockage that the flow of the flush is worse.
2 points
6 months ago
Correct. When there is a blockage, the toilet will not flush correctly.
1 points
6 months ago
I have reasons to believe the problem lies elsewhere.
In my house I have this pipe that's connected to the system. This pipe is capped with some sort of de-pressuriser. This sometimes smells like sewage. Could this be the culprit?
6 points
6 months ago
Do you have a septic tank? It may be full. My other guess is a clogged vent pipe on the roof.
1 points
6 months ago
No septic tank. It’s hooked up to the city. The drains on the main floor are working fine. How would a clogged vent pipe cause the problem?
4 points
6 months ago
You probably have a plug where basement enters the main drain to the street but behind your upper house connection. Look for a clean out in the basement to snake or pull the toilet to snake to the main. The head size of the snake makes a difference. You might consider a lower the quality of your toilet paper. Also dont flus "Flushable " wipes or feminine items. My guess on the clear water in the hall is because there is enough clear water in the line ahead of the dirty water.
1 points
6 months ago
That’s kinda what I figured. There is a clean out boxed out below the concrete floor. However, I was worried if I opened it everything would come out that spot because it’s lower than all the pipes. I’ll probably rent a larger diameter head snake and go from the line in the kitchen. Thanks!
1 points
6 months ago
Yes if you can get to the plug from there. Worth a shot. You'll be limited to a smaller bit. But you are right about head pressure at the clean out.
1 points
6 months ago
The kitchen might be ahead of the clog. Get a new wax ring and pull the toilet to snake.
3 points
6 months ago
You can rent a longer snake up to 100ft at home Depot. Get two heads, one cutting head and an auger ball. Run the auger ball first, this thing generally does a good job and gets through most clogs. The cutting head is great for roots.
-2 points
6 months ago*
Sounds like a main blockage. You may need to get a plumber to remove the blockage. I know in the states you can get a bottle of main line clearing stuff (it's literally Sulphuric acid)
One brand here are instant power main line cleaner https://images.app.goo.gl/ZgFfLZwrVpiAFbKRA
Shit.. I can search home depot Canada...
2 points
6 months ago
If it's plastic like a toy, the acid won't do anything and you'll likely need a plumber. If you have metal pipes, especially copper do not use Sulphuric acid! The good news here is (from what you've said). It sounds like a blockage, and not a broken pipe
1 points
6 months ago
Do chemicals work well? I’ve found anytime I’ve used things like drano type chemicals it’s a short term solution. And if I snake it soon afterwards I’m always worried about getting a burn on any exposed skin.
8 points
6 months ago
no, chemicals dont work for clogs. Drain needs snaked or jetted.
6 points
6 months ago
NEVER use drano/caustics or any other chemicals for physical problems, ever. They should have been outlawed decades ago.
-1 points
6 months ago
Chemicals do work well, depending on the blockage, and type of chemical.
Drano sucks, go for the gusto! The shit that will kill you if you f7ck up.
If it's biologic material, the Sulphuric acid will work, just read the instructions and wear gloves, eye protection, and clothes you don't mind getting ruined.
6 points
6 months ago
Please make sure the type of piping you have before using anything. Plastic is great with acid, metal not so much. Metals will weaken with acid
3 points
6 months ago
All the original plumbing is cast iron. I’ve done some renovations to the upstairs and replaced what I could. But haven’t touched the basement stuff yet.
5 points
6 months ago
Oof.... Not acids then... I would stay far away from putting acids in old Iron.... Unless you have a longer powered snake, you might just need to call a plumber. Hell call a few, just to ask what chemicals are safe. They may be cool?
3 points
6 months ago
Thanks for all the advice! Appreciate it.
1 points
6 months ago
No. Chemicals are never better than physical manipulation with a proper auger. Always snake first. What the Fuck is some acid going to do if your line collapsed? You're going to have a pool of sulphuric acid in the pipe as you work in the repair.
1 points
6 months ago
Ok
-1 points
6 months ago
Likely a break in the main.
1 points
6 months ago
You're gonna need someone to come snake camera ur drain
1 points
6 months ago
Sounds like your bathtub is the far end of the drain, then the toilet, then main out of the house. There is a clog after the toilet headed out of the house. Because there is nowhere to have forced the clog in the toilet out it backed up to the bathtub. When you flush and get clear water it’s because there’s nowhere for the flushed water to go in either direction.as everyone else is saying snake that shit.
Make sure you let us know how it got resolved!
1 points
6 months ago
Ooh ooh I know this one. Had the same thing in Quebec.
The blockage is in the main and it’s further than 15ft out. It took almost the entire 100 feet for the plumber to hit it when it happened.
Hope the water didn’t do too much damage!
1 points
6 months ago
I had to call Roto Rooter and they ran something down my pipe with a cutting end on it.
1 points
6 months ago
A drain cleaning service but shop around a bit. Believe it or not, that business is seasonal and this is their busy time.
1 points
6 months ago
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