DIY Drain Unblocking

..... · Quote Me Happy Joined: 15 Jan 2005 Karma :

Luckily it's not the main sewer filling up with my festering turds but it's the kitchen outlet drain that's blocked, so the sink and the washing machine waste.

I've stuck my hand down there and it goes down into a right-angled 90 degree bend so no chance of getting a set of rods down there. Has anyone had any luck with the Karcher drain unblocking kit? I figure I can buy a pressure washer and all the gibbons necessary to do the job for the price of calling out the local cowboy and be left with a pressure washer at the end of it.

Anyone done the same?

WD Forte · World Chat Champion Joined: 17 Jun 2010 Karma :

These 'gibbons' would probably do it cheap
https://a-z-animals.com/media/animals/images/470x370/gibbon3.jpg

Have you tried the chemical / caustic soda method yet?
sometimes it works if the blockage up hasn't solidified too much
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..... · Quote Me Happy Joined: 15 Jan 2005 Karma :

Two bottles of "one shot" have failed. If that stuff doesn't work it's time to get serious.

Ste · Not Work Safe Joined: 01 Sep 2002 Karma :

Using a pressure washer to unblock drains? Do it!!! Mr. Green

Suntan Sid · World Chat Champion Joined: 07 May 2009 Karma :

I've had success with this sort of thing in the past, cheap as chips:-

https://i.ebayimg.com/00/s/NTAwWDUwMA==/z/mwsAAOxy79JRir90/$(KGrHqEOKpIE7FKNBt7SBRir9zbvSQ~~60_35.JPG

Is there a connecting manhole further down stream, if so, have a look in there and see what's happening, you may be able to unblock it from there!
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..... · Quote Me Happy Joined: 15 Jan 2005 Karma :

CaNsA · Super Spammer Joined: 02 Jan 2008 Karma :

The drain out side the house where the kitchen spaffs it's sink and washing machine waste to?

If everything is clear to as far as you can reach then its a pressure washer jobby.

We had to get Dynorod (or something similar) out to unblock it.
Cost about 100 quid.
They arrived with the hour and it took an hour to sort.

skiptalker · Borekit Bruiser Joined: 28 Apr 2012 Karma :

mop put a bin bag around the head, secure with good tape, run the water into the gully,keep it running and plunge the gully up and down with the mop will sort it

..... · Quote Me Happy Joined: 15 Jan 2005 Karma :

This battle has got personal now. Joe vs The Drain.

My pressure washer has arrived, everything is hunky dory, thought I'd start cleaning the patio type area and blasted around the blocked drain. It revealed a small manhole cover type thing next to the kitchen drain. This must be the rodding point for the drain but the cover is stuck fast. I'm guessing it hasn't been lifted in well over 10 years.

Any tips for lifting it up - I've tried getting a spring puller (T - handled bar thing with a hook on the end) on it and it did not budge. It's recessed which makes levering from the edges difficult.

CaNsA · Super Spammer Joined: 02 Jan 2008 Karma :

use a rubber mallet around the edge of it to loosen it up, then mtfu.

stinkwheel · Bovine Proctologist Joined: 12 Jul 2004 Karma :

What's it made of?
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mudcow007 · World Chat Champion Joined: 01 Feb 2012 Karma :

careful with the sprayer, its now got two bottles of caustic soda down there

you dont want no blow back in your face

stinkwheel · Bovine Proctologist Joined: 12 Jul 2004 Karma :

mentalboy · World Chat Champion Joined: 05 May 2012 Karma :

I've had success in the past just using a length of hose pipe, hook it up to a water supply, turn on and then just keep feeding it around the u-bend. If it doesn't like the bend (or the muck it's trying to push into) don a pair of long gloves - as you went chemical before mechanical - and get your arm in as far as possible to aid pushing the hose through.

Still wet and messy but does avoid the inevitable blow back when using a pressure washer.

Top tip if you use this method: Cut off the last few feet of the hose after use and bin it as you won't want to be cleaning it Wink

..... · Quote Me Happy Joined: 15 Jan 2005 Karma :

On further inspection the cover appears to be metal and has two screws in opposite corners. I know for a fact they haven't been removed in over 8 years so it's going to be a bit of a battle.

doggone · World Chat Champion Joined: 20 May 2004 Karma :

The screws might be brass or something similar not supposed to corrode, so you might be surprised but get the correct size of screwdriver rather than fuzz them up.
Or drill out, again should not be that difficult.

Suntan Sid · World Chat Champion Joined: 07 May 2009 Karma :

..... · Quote Me Happy Joined: 15 Jan 2005 Karma :

There was no chance of removing the cover 'nicely'. I have cut a small hole in it ready for the drain cleaning frenzy that will happen tomorrow. Fading light stopped play today.

CaNsA · Super Spammer Joined: 02 Jan 2008 Karma :

almostthere · Traffic Copper Joined: 28 Oct 2013 Karma :

Karcher drain cleaning attachment is the dogs sorts out most blockages in no time, Be careful using it inside on pushfit waste fittings it can blow the joints apart Embarassed

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Howling TerrorOutOfOffice · Super Spammer Joined: 05 Dec 2008 Karma :

Drape a towel over the sink's overflow and plughole, same goes for the washing machine waste pipe.

If you decide to break the cover a piece of *12mm ply painted in non slip does a good bodge.

*Give or take a bit.

Good luck.
Pass the popcorn

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Suntan Sid · World Chat Champion Joined: 07 May 2009 Karma :

Skudd · Super Spammer Joined: 01 Oct 2006 Karma :

hellkat · Super Spammer Joined: 12 Jul 2004 Karma :

..... · Quote Me Happy Joined: 15 Jan 2005 Karma :

Joe 1 - Drain Nil

The Karcher thing worked its magic and I removed a 6 x 2 inch grate type thing from the drain which I presume was originally used as part of a drain cover. With a burp the water level dropped a bit and the drain appears to be flowing.

I still don't know where the drain ends though, is it possible it just leads to a soakaway beneath the garden? It's a very old house if that makes a difference?