Lesson learned (again)

[johno]

I shouldn't do plumbing.

No damage, but it's now nearly 10pm and we still have a clogged main drain.

I called and left message for Pat our regular plumber this morning, but never followed up as we about taking care of errands and appointments (our with Dr James time is now wasted).

On our way home we picked up some industrial strength drain cleaner and a 25 foot drain snake.

No water in the front clean out, so I poured half the drain cleaner down it.
Waited the listed time.
Ran water, it backed up in the tub.
Now there was a trickle of water in front clean out.

Let water slowly drain from tub.
Poured in other half of drain cleaner in the tub drain.
Waited the listed time.
Ran water, it backed up in the tub again.
Still just a trickle of water in front clean out.

Opened the rear clean out, lots of water gushed out (fortunately clean).
Ran snake in, think I cleared a couple of clogs.
Got to a point where the snake would go no farther. Felt more like it hit a bend or join, not clog.
Ran snake back and forth a few times. All seemed clear.
Ran water, it backed up.
If anything an even smaller trickle of water in the front clean out.
I suspect I pushed a couple of small clogs into the main clog.

Sigh, this means driving a few blocks to a friends house for bedtime and nighttime bathroom breaks.
And I need to calling Pat the Plumber first thing in the morning and hope we catch him before he hits the road on his regular gigs.

{sigh}

I shouldn't do plumbing.

Comments

[johno.livejournal.com]

Pat the Plumber says the same thing. To use it only as a last resort, but to never EVER use it regularly.

I violated that rule by trying drain cleaner first.

[colleency.livejournal.com]

I hope you don't have to serve time in plumber jail!

[luna-torquill.livejournal.com]

A lot of plumbers hate when customers use drano, because then they have to deal with caustic water rather than just murky water. If there's no place for the drain cleaner to go, it can just sit there and possibly burn the plumber when things are opened up.

We use it occasionally to take out the routine hair and tree root clogs, but never when it's totally backed up, always when there's some flow. But then, we know we have a problem with tree roots...