Advice quick: Harbor freight pipe snake

Hungary Bill wrote: Plumbing's backing up. Someone had the genius idea of planting a tree right where the damn sewer pipe runs and we had to clear the roots out last year. Anyhoo if I call a plumber out here again it's going to be about $200, if I rent a snake it's about $110, or I can buy a HF drain snake and hope that it'll pay me back after about 3 uses. Thoughts? Link

Hungary, I have that snake from HF, and it works just the same as ones you rent from HD or anyplace else. I bought mine a few years ago after a tenant clogged the drain two times in a week. First time called a plumber, $200. Second time went and bought the snake. I have used it probably a dozen times to snake drains out. Anyway, buy it, its WELL worth it. I have the model without the power feed. With the power feed probably works easier, not necessarily better. I have the HF flyer in front of me and the non power feed one is on sale for $200 and the power feed one for 299.
Good Luck
Paul

Weeeeeeelllllllll so the 75 foot cable didn't reach the clog so I got online and found a 100 footer at Lowes. Another $140 on the tab and back at it I go.

I have 100% of that 100ft cable in that damn sewer pipe and STILL no relief! (when we moved in we were told it was a 90ft run to the city sewer line)

I'm seriously beginning to wonder if there is an old run that goes towards the alley that does nothing AND a new run that goes to the street that's clogged (and lots of other such conspiracy theories)

Anyhoo, I'm calling it quits for the day. 5-hours is about my time limit on wading in puddles of poop. If we moderate our water use we should be good until I can go back at it again tomorrow after work

Definitely having a drink tonight.

Aw dude :-(

Have two. You earned them.

In reply to iadr:

Careful, if that's what I'm thinking of, it's not paper, it's asbestos.

if it's not too late, i have the older model of the HF one pictured. my dad uses it once a year to clear the roots from his line to the septic, and it does it perfectly every time. i've had to use it for a few customers and it works like a champ.

In reply to Hungary Bill: How did you access the clogged line? Is it possible you blew through the clog and didn't realize it?

We have a rental that had these issues. Orangeburg pipe was replaced with PVC with a clean-out access near the house. Ran about 50' to the city sewer. They dug up the yard and replaced the pipe. They even reseeded the grass and covered with straw. $1,350.

TRoglodyte wrote: In reply to Hungary Bill: How did you access the clogged line? Is it possible you blew through the clog and didn't realize it?

I have access through a capped down pipe in my basement. When the sewage backs up it comes up through a floor drain next to the pipe.

I guess it's possible I blew through it, but I've run the snake more than once through the piping, and with 2-different bits, and it still barely drains (we can flush the toilet, but then have to wait about an hour before we flush again).

My brain was going last night while I couldn't sleep and one thing that's been bothering me was the fact that I can feed the snake into the pipe with minimal effort until a certain "point" Then I have to run the motor to feed it in any further and it's difficult as hell to feed more line in.

I'm wondering if the bit is catching on a lip in the pipe or something and causing the snake to "fold" over itself. This would explain the increased difficulty feeding all of a sudden AND it would explain why I haven't reached the clog...

I'll be off work around 2pm so I'll probably be back at it around 3.

Wish me luck

(oh, no drinks were had last night. Celebration must wait till the fat lady sings)

In reply to WonkoTheSane:

Don't ever call me Shirley

The snake very well can fold over on itself as you described, but it isn't super likely if you're turning the snake as you go.

Down the road, I definitely vote dig and replace- I've laid a lot of sewer pipe over the years and it is easy to do. I can talk you through the specifics.

Well, I'm just about to wrap it up at my desk and head back to the basement

In reply to Mezzanine: I may be hitting you up for advice. The run is about 90ft and according to the camera guy's sounder it's 5ft 9in deep. The spots where I think it might get expensive are two areas that run near very large trees and where it runs under our fence. Still a few years off, but good to have the info.

Sewage should not come through a floor drain?

Trees? Have chainsaw will travel..

In reply to TRoglodyte:

Why not? Unless it has it's own little drywell, or is plumbed to a sump, it's going to be a normal drain, most likely the lowest (and last) drain in the house, and thus, the first to back up if the line between it and the sewer main clogs.

Forgot it is probably trapped.

I win!

2-runs today with two different bits (so I used every bit in the box). It was the spade bit that finally hit the plug and I'm not entirely certain what happened or why it worked the way it did but here's the skinny:

Bit# 1. fed the entire 100 feet. about 50 - 60 feet I started to have to run the motor to feed in more line (so it may have bent over itself again)

Spade bit: determined not to run the motor I fed it in with gusto. I only "kicked" the motor when I absolutely could NOT get it to budge. Eventually it felt like I was "pushing something". Whatever it was gave way because the pool I was standing in went down the drain.

Good times!

Awesome! . I know we take drainage for granted until it doesn't work. Glad you got it going.

Plus I got a cool new tool out of the deal!

Contrats. It's a great feeling when you finally get it cleared.

I've been fighting intermittent back ups in my line due to two sections of the PVC being bellied. Mines 150ft at over 14' deep- dreading the day I have to replace it

Turd wrangler

Since you already have the snake, it may not be a bad idea to run it through every other month or so, regardless of any backup. In the meantime, pour some root killer and/or mainline cleaner down there. If you can find Thrift (probably at plumbing supply house) it is amazing. From experience, you've opened up enough of a hole for the liquid to flow through but solids (TP, etc) could still get trapped so you need to make a bigger hole.