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Plumbing ?

seeyou | Posted in General Discussion on August 15, 2008 07:08am

OK. I’ve got a full bath right beside my shop. Both are in the basement. Supply is in the ceiling, drain is in the slab. Toilet stopped up the day I left for Peachfest. In 6 years, it has never stopped up before. Tried to plunge it Monday when I got back. No go. Tried to snake it Tues, but I can’t get the snake to make the turn in the WC trap. It was draining very slowly, so I decided to let it sit until most of the (brown) water was drained out.

Last night it was nearly empty. On a whim, I decided to let the sink run for a while. After a while, the level started rise in the WC. So, this tells me it’s not clogged in the WC, but somewhere beyond where the sink drain ties in.

When I bought the house, the line to the kitchen sink (also in the slab) was clogged. I called Roto Rooter and they kept getting mud out of the line which told them the galv line had rusted out. I was able to abandon that drain and run new in the ceiling. I’m hoping this one is cast iron.

Anyway, to my question: What’s the best way to locate the drain under the slab in case I have to jack hammer it out?

http://www.grantlogan.net

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  1. User avater
    BillHartmann | Aug 15, 2008 07:48pm | #1

    A good (read $$$) plumber that does rooting will have a camera and locator that down the line.

    The locator is a transmitter and it is followed on the surface with a receiver.

    And doing that they can can also tell you exactly where the problem is if it is localized.

    .
    .
    A-holes. Hey every group has to have one. And I have been elected to be the one. I should make that my tagline.
    1. seeyou | Aug 15, 2008 07:59pm | #2

      Thanks - just got it cleared. It was in the toilet trap.http://www.grantlogan.net

      View Image

      1. User avater
        Sphere | Aug 16, 2008 03:51am | #3

        If you need to find the line, Dowse it. Two coat hanger wires cut anf bent at 90degrees..say a 4" leg and a 12'' leg, one short leg in each hand.

        Hold them out in front of you , pointing away from you , in a loose clenched fist. When you are directly over the pipe, they will cross each other.

        Try it, it works for most people that I know.Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks

        Repairs, Remodeling, Restorations

        You gonna play that thing?

        http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=32Ln-SpJsy0

      2. User avater
        JeffBuck | Aug 16, 2008 03:53am | #4

        gunner lose another toothbrush?

         

        Jeff    Buck Construction

         Artistry In Carpentry

             Pittsburgh Pa

        1. seeyou | Aug 16, 2008 04:07am | #5

          >>>>>>>>>gunner lose another toothbrush?Nah- I was talking on the radio with him when I popped this post open. He says he's still got his tooth brush.I guess it was just a big cheese turd or something. I'm just happy I don't have to Jack hammer anything.View Image

          1. User avater
            JeffBuck | Aug 16, 2008 04:17am | #6

            jackhammers are always more fun in other peoples houses at other peoples expense.

             

            Jeff    Buck Construction

             Artistry In Carpentry

                 Pittsburgh Pa

          2. User avater
            BillHartmann | Aug 16, 2008 10:40pm | #7

            I live on a small private residential lake (100 acres). It was developed in 1928 for summer fishing cabins. At the time it was way out in the country next to a village of a few hundred. Now it is in the middle of the subburbs.A sewer collection line was installed. Because of the deprection many lots where not built on for years. And while there where a few large homes many of them where basic cabins.The orignal sewer lines where clay tile and concrete pipe. And over the years with more lots being developed and the cabins been make full time residence and expanded and with automatic washers, dishwashers, etc the system became overloaded and needed to be rehabed.And over the years some of the house where built over the sewer lines. So instead of trying to replace the lines about 20 years ago a force main system was installed. Each house got a holding tank with an ejector pump and that pumped up into a small line in the street that was under pressure.In many places they just sealed off the old line on the upstream side of the house and connected pump on the downside leaving the old section of sewer pipe and house connections.One day I saw one of the neighbors with workers going in out of the lower level with jack hammer and wheelborows.Seems that they sewer was clogged and when they tried to root it there was nothing there but mud.Had to open up the whole floor and replace the now disintegrated concrete pipe from the pump back to the farest place in the house where house drains connected..
            .
            A-holes. Hey every group has to have one. And I have been elected to be the one. I should make that my tagline.

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