Advice in how to clear a cast iron stand pipe?

[gringos]

Laundry line is clog, a I try clearing the stand pipe with 3/8 cable, later with 1/4 cable, still clog:confused:. Please help me guys. Thanks

[westcoastplumber]

Do you have a cleanout above the santee, in the vent? Have you recently replaced your old washer with a new washer?? The new washeres pump out water twice as dfast as the old ones.

Do you have an 1 1/2" standpipe?? or a 2" ??


Are you running cable through the standpipe itself??

I find that the proper way to clean in run through the cleanout, a 3/8" cable.

My 3/8" cable will not go through a trap to clean the santee, so I use a 1/4"

[Drain Medic]

Laundry line is clog, a I try clearing the stand pipe with 3/8 cable, later with 1/4 cable, still clog:confused:. Please help me guys. Thanks


What kind of device are you using to try to clear the line

DO NOT USE DRAINO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[DuckButter]

Ten to one it's a galvy standpipe.
Ten to one, if it's galvy, it's rusted closed at the tap to the CI tee wye.
Coat hangers & handherld HD snakes ain't gonna cut it. draino will make things much worse.

[HouseOfAtlas]

I use a product called Santeen De-Limer (santeen.com). I have used this on urinals that I couldn't get a snake through and on old toilets where the jets are all clogged up. Works great!!

Home Depot doesn't have it, but a local plumbing shop might or Ace Hardwares have them around here.

[PLUMBER RICK]

how fast does it back up? real quick, it's real close. longer time, it's farther away;)

is the standpipe outside of the wall with the trap? if so, remove the trap.

if not try running the snake in reverse to soften up the wind of the cable until you get past the trap.

all else fails go from the roof vent.

i can always get my 5/16'' drum cable through a 1.5'' trap. and most of the time my 5/8'' sectional too with the auger end.

another option is cutting off the end of the sectional and using it as the leader. thus removing the male and female couplings. making the cable easy to get past the initial turns;) running the cable in reverse actually creates a good corkscrew auger. forward will not grab debris as the cable is reverse wound of the real cutter.

rick.

[Jay Mpls]

I use a product called Santeen De-Limer (santeen.com). I have used this on urinals that I couldn't get a snake through and on old toilets where the jets are all clogged up. Works great!!

Home Depot doesn't have it, but a local plumbing shop might or Ace Hardwares have them around here.:cool:

I would recommend *only* using that in or on the china.
I have made many a housewife happy getting impossible stains off
toilets with that stuff and I'd hate to face a urinal with out it!
As far as your stand pipe..If you cannotcut into the vent to get at 'er
consider ripping out the old stand pipe.
I've had *fair* luck running 1/4 and 3/8 cable through stand pipes but I don't like it!

[HouseOfAtlas]

...I have made many a housewife happy getting impossible stains off
toilets ...

And I'm sure you made them happy other ways :killingme:

[Jay Mpls]

And I'm sure you made them happy other ways :killingme:


;)

[All Clear Sewer]

The best Advice I can give ya it to call a Drain guy, Plumbers dont know how to clear drain lines....rotflmao

That shout put some gas on the fire :D

[Cuda]

whats up All Clear you take the boat out camping for the holiday?

[PLUMBER RICK]

The best Advice I can give ya it to call a Drain guy, Plumbers dont know how to clear drain lines....rotflmao

That shout put some gas on the fire :D

problem is drain guys don't have the license to install the plumbing. if you know how the plumbing is installed, you typically know what to look for and what is buried behind the wall, under the slab.

a plumber can easily be trained to clear drains.

a drain guy would need 4-5 years of experience installing plumbing just to be eligible to take a journeyman's test.

remember the doctor can do the nurses job, but the nurse can't do the doctors job:clapping:

rick.

adam doesn't clean drains. but i guarantee you that if he works on it for 6 months, he will have more than enough experience to do a great job.

now take a drain cleaner with 6 months of plumbing experience and hand him a set of plans for commercial kitchen, house from the ground up, office, medical center, etc...

see my point:confused:

and yes, adam is looking at a k-60 at the roundup;)

[Chauncey]

Right on Rick. Hillary's newest studies if elected is to provide funding for the training Chimpanzee's to clear drains. Even a monkey can do it.

[drtyhands]

The best Advice I can give ya it to call a Drain guy, Plumbers dont know how to clear drain lines....rotflmao

That shout put some gas on the fire :D

So let's take a good review here now that you brought it up.
How many years do you have installing with code licensing?
How many drains did you snake before you started calling yourself a drain cleaner.
Shouldn't take a guy with adequate background installing pipe more than a couple of weeks in a van guided by a pro to figure the tips and tricks.
:nyaa-nyaa4:

[plumberscrack]

Right on Rick. Hillary's newest studies if elected is to provide funding for the training Chimpanzee's to clear drains. Even a monkey can do it.

:rotflmao1:

[All Clear Sewer]

So let's take a good review here now that you brought it up.
How many years do you have installing with code licensing?
How many drains did you snake before you started calling yourself a drain cleaner.
Shouldn't take a guy with adequate background installing pipe more than a couple of weeks in a van guided by a pro to figure the tips and tricks.
:nyaa-nyaa4:

I think my first card dates back to 1984??

I am not a drain cleaner, I`m a person :cool:

Yea it shouldnt but it seem`s that most plumbers cant do it. :smash:

[DuckButter]

I think my first card dates back to 1984??

I am not a drain cleaner, I`m a person :cool:

Yea it shouldnt but it seem`s that most plumbers cant do it. :smash:
Won't.
Why would a Dr take care of bedpans when there are nurses?:eek:

[All Clear Sewer]

Because he`s not above working for his money ;)

I do plumbing and sewer work.

Thats the cool thing about Rick, He`s not above playing in a little crap like most plumbers :nanner: and some times I think he might enjoy it just a little to much :speechless:

[Drain Medic]

Right on Rick. Hillary's newest studies if elected is to provide funding for the training Chimpanzee's to clear drains. Even a monkey can do it.


True enough.

Sad part is drain cleaners are making more money then the plumbers and in half the time spent on jobs.

If its so easy why are the plumbers giving me $500-$900 jobs???

Dont tell me because they dont want to get dirty :rolleyes:

Im not going to lie to you and say i know everything about plumbing. I cant install heaters, gas, etc etc.

You do need however like Rick was saying knowledge of plumbing to clear drains. If your video inspecting a line and dont know what to look for, whats the point?

But dont sit there and say that drain cleaning is for monkeys and can be taught in 6 months.

If thats the case, why are the plumbers calling me to remove their broken cables, or the famous one, "I cant get the drain open, its broken" :rolleyes:

If i had a dime for everytime i heard that, i wouldnt have to work ;)

I give Plumbers all the respect in the world. Their job isnt easy, but neither is ours.

Licenses whatever, im not going there again with you guys. If you want to talk about that , then just look at Craigslist and see all the MONKEYS doing plumbing for 44.95, find out how many of them are licensed...you guys should be worrying about the landscapers putting in storm and sewer lines, or the handymen putting in water heaters etc etc.

If there is one thing i learned on these boards its that everyone on here respects eachother and their trades, occasionally you have your knuckleheads that come to start their crap and leave after a month, but the regs on here know whats going on. We all work hard at our jobs, and the main thing is to stay focused on whats important for you and your family. If someone is out there doing illegall stuff, then in time it will bite them in the butt, and shame on them.

Im not taking offense to someone that comes on here with 9 post (1 of them pretty much worthless) and say that monkeys can do drain cleaning. What i do take offense to are people saying how easy it is....So go ahead if its so easy, take the 6 months you need to learn drain cleaning, go spend 10s if not 100s of thousands of dollars on new equipment and meet me at the Roundup next year :rolleyes: We will see whatcha got:p:D

[DuckButter]

Because he`s not above working for his money ;)

I do plumbing and sewer work.

Thats the cool thing about Rick, He`s not above playing in a little crap like most plumbers :nanner: and some times I think he might enjoy it just a little to much :speechless:

All in good fun, one good turn deserves another.
Sometimes I consider just going into drain cleaning for the simplicity of not having to deal with code & inspectors.
Seems the money's good.

[DuckButter]

True enough.

Sad part is drain cleaners are making more money then the plumbers and in half the time spent on jobs.
************************************************** ****
Hadn't read this before I posted, you're right...BUT...lets not underestimate the rationale behind your pricing.
You guys have substantial liability AND equipment expenses over us.
Guess it all comes out in the wash...sorta.
A camera is almost a necessity, thousands just for that...lets not get into jetters, drums, sectionals...AND the cost of upkeep, maintanence & repair.

Having spoken with you in particular, there is NO question of risk vs ROI with the cost of your equipment, you charge accordingly.

[rick1643]

True enough.

Sad part is drain cleaners are making more money then the plumbers and in half the time spent on jobs.

If its so easy why are the plumbers giving me $500-$900 jobs???

Dont tell me because they dont want to get dirty :rolleyes:

Im not going to lie to you and say i know everything about plumbing. I cant install heaters, gas, etc etc.

You do need however like Rick was saying knowledge of plumbing to clear drains. If your video inspecting a line and dont know what to look for, whats the point?

But dont sit there and say that drain cleaning is for monkeys and can be taught in 6 months.

If thats the case, why are the plumbers calling me to remove their broken cables, or the famous one, "I cant get the drain open, its broken" :rolleyes:

If i had a dime for everytime i heard that, i wouldnt have to work ;)

I give Plumbers all the respect in the world. Their job isnt easy, but neither is ours.

Licenses whatever, im not going there again with you guys. If you want to talk about that , then just look at Craigslist and see all the MONKEYS doing plumbing for 44.95, find out how many of them are licensed...you guys should be worrying about the landscapers putting in storm and sewer lines, or the handymen putting in water heaters etc etc.

If there is one thing i learned on these boards its that everyone on here respects eachother and their trades, occasionally you have your knuckleheads that come to start their crap and leave after a month, but the regs on here know whats going on. We all work hard at our jobs, and the main thing is to stay focused on whats important for you and your family. If someone is out there doing illegall stuff, then in time it will bite them in the butt, and shame on them.

Im not taking offense to someone that comes on here with 9 post (1 of them pretty much worthless) and say that monkeys can do drain cleaning. What i do take offense to are people saying how easy it is....So go ahead if its so easy, take the 6 months you need to learn drain cleaning, go spend 10s if not 100s of thousands of dollars on new equipment and meet me at the Roundup next year :rolleyes: We will see whatcha got:p:D


Drain cleaning is so easy, even a caveman could do it:rolleyes:. I advertise 24/7 emergency service, mainline backups is part of that. I've been doing it for years, I'd rather be sweating pipe, but it comes with the territory. I knew what I signed up for so no complaints

[Drain Medic]

Drain cleaning is so easy, even a caveman could do it:rolleyes:. I advertise 24/7 emergency service, mainline backups is part of that. I've been doing it for years, I'd rather be sweating pipe, but it comes with the territory. I knew what I signed up for so no complaints


Your absolutely right. Your keywords "IVE BEEN DOING IT FOR YEARS"

Its easy for me to. I can do with my eyes closed ;) I to have been doing it for years.

But you cant tell me that you learned everything there is about drain cleaning in 6 months. To this day and ive been doing it for 14yrs now, i still run into things that amaze me, and i get lucky.

It doesnt take 6 months though, it takes you a good 2-4yrs and im not speaking for myself.

[Drain Medic]

Hadn't read this before I posted, you're right...BUT...lets not underestimate the rationale behind your pricing.
You guys have substantial liability AND equipment expenses over us.
Guess it all comes out in the wash...sorta.
A camera is almost a necessity, thousands just for that...lets not get into jetters, drums, sectionals...AND the cost of upkeep, maintanence & repair.

Having spoken with you in particular, there is NO question of risk vs ROI with the cost of your equipment, you charge accordingly.


But there are alot more liabilities in plumbing. Like burning someones house down with the torch while soldering.

Or the water heater you put in takes a dump in the basement because you forgot to turn a valve, or a new plumbing system installed thats still under warranty and now is sagged and causing numerous backups because the pipe wasnt secured right or no stone was layed for a foundation.

I think the equipment expenses are going to favor the drain guys, with the jetters, your right. But thats also some of the things im talking about when you hear people say it only takes 6 months, or monkeys and cavemen can do it. I hope the monkeys and cavemen know how to run a jetter without shooting up the wrong lines in a house or better yet commercial property and breaking toilets, or flooding out that finished basement because they want to be a cowboy with the jetter.

You dont need all the equipment to "clear drain lines", you can just use machines, but then your not providing a well rounded service. Plumbers,
Drain cleaners, Hvac, electricians, deserve to charge whatever they have to, we are worth it.

Anyway, im done with this, Roundup coming up soon, you guys can put your money where your mouths are as far as im concerned :D

Im done with this discussion because it will just lead to argument after argument and someones feelings are going to hurt, and im not on these boards for that. I dont care how you feel about (not you duck lol) me or drain cleaning. I do it because i love it, its easy, its good money, but also i can provide a good life for my family, because thats who im really working for. Dont care about the T&M vs. Flat Rate, i charge what i need to charge, and people love me and my service so they keep calling back.

I have the upmost respect for everyone on these boards for their knowledge, wisdom, help, and honesty....thats why i love it here, no fake personalities.

Just a long day today :nyaa-nyaa4::rant-on:

[rick1643]

Your absolutely right. Your keywords "IVE BEEN DOING IT FOR YEARS"

Its easy for me to. I can do with my eyes closed ;) I to have been doing it for years.

But you cant tell me that you learned everything there is about drain cleaning in 6 months. To this day and ive been doing it for 14yrs now, i still run into things that amaze me, and i get lucky.

It doesnt take 6 months though, it takes you a good 2-4yrs and im not speaking for myself.


I learn things all the time, never claim to know it all never will. Had a call on a stopped up toilet, I augered the toilet several times and did not clear it. Pulled the toilet and the main was clear. I tipped the toilet on its side and saw several hard $hit balls the size of baseballs blocking the bottom of the toilet, they were bouncing off each other and not passing. I showed the ho while I was breaking it up with my needle nose pliers. He says "the doctor has me on a stool softener" I say "double your dose, its not working"

[Drain Medic]

I learn things all the time, never claim to know it all never will. Had a call on a stopped up toilet, I augered the toilet several times and did not clear it. Pulled the toilet and the main was clear. I tipped the toilet on its side and saw several hard $hit balls the size of baseballs blocking the bottom of the toilet, they were bouncing off each other and not passing. I showed the ho while I was breaking it up with my needle nose pliers. He says "the doctor has me on a stool softener" I say "double your dose, its not working"


:lmao: :killingme::rotflmao1:

[Service Guy]

I learn things all the time, never claim to know it all never will. Had a call on a stopped up toilet, I augered the toilet several times and did not clear it. Pulled the toilet and the main was clear. I tipped the toilet on its side and saw several hard $hit balls the size of baseballs blocking the bottom of the toilet, they were bouncing off each other and not passing. I showed the ho while I was breaking it up with my needle nose pliers. He says "the doctor has me on a stool softener" I say "double your dose, its not working"

Damn thats nasty. I have seen it too though. I had one lady that was clogging her toilet all teh time, I put in a high-velocity flusher and she still clogs it up sometimes!:eek: This woman has health problems and is on lots of meds. I had to politely ask her if she is taking stool softeners.....she said, "NO, I never thought of it." I am glad I mentioned it because she has only called once since, so I guess it helped. :D

[rick1643]

Damn thats nasty. I have seen it too though. I had one lady that was clogging her toilet all teh time, I put in a high-velocity flusher and she still clogs it up sometimes!:eek: This woman has health problems and is on lots of meds. I had to politely ask her if she is taking stool softeners.....she said, "NO, I never thought of it." I am glad I mentioned it because she has only called once since, so I guess it helped. :D


When I gave him the bill, he went off about how much I charged him (and I'm very reasonable), so I asked him " how much would you charge me to play in my $hit, next time call a handyman" He paid the bill and I haven't heard from him, so he either doubled his dose or bought a pair of needle nose

[Service Guy]

When I gave him the bill, he went off about how much I charged him (and I'm very reasonable), so I asked him " how much would you charge me to play in my $hit, next time call a handyman" He paid the bill and I haven't heard from him, so he either doubled his dose or bought a pair of needle nose

You should have said, "I am charging the appropriate price for the appropriate task: A CRAP-LOAD!":rotflmao:

[rick1643]

:D:d

[gear junkie]

Licenses whatever, im not going there again with you guys. If you want to talk about that , then just look at Craigslist and see all the MONKEYS doing plumbing for 44.95, find out how many of them are licensed...you guys should be worrying about the landscapers putting in storm and sewer lines, or the handymen putting in water heaters etc etc.
I do advertise on Craigslist and it's been great to me. I put a little helpful hint at the end of each ad. I recently put the following trailer in it's place due to an ad on craigslist saying that this guy will beat any plumbing price by 30%:

Tip: I'm not the 49.99 drain cleaner, please call someone else if these are your expectations. My rates are reasonable and honest for great service. If timely, quality service are your criteria then give me a call to schedule an appointment. References available upon request.

My main ad is always the same, I just change this section. The day I posted it (about 2 weeks ago), I got 4 jobs off it and I've done 6 more since. Everyone else except for another guy said how cheap they were, I tried to promote professionalism and it seem to be working.

[All Clear Sewer]

True enough.

Sad part is drain cleaners are making more money then the plumbers and in half the time spent on jobs.



That`s why I just went out and paid cash for this last week :nyaa-nyaa4:

http://www.hotboatpics.com/pics/data/500/15497P1040647.JPG

[PLUMBER RICK]

hope you saved some for a second machine.:scratchhead:

your first one is ready to retire:thud:

rick.

[All Clear Sewer]

Rick well you know, well ummmm well I have to ummmmm I think I should ...... No not yet....rotflmao

But I did buy a 2nd 1 ton dully to pull the trailer.
http://www.hotboatpics.com/pics/data/500/15497P1040648-med.JPG
It`s just like the other one but the other one made me mad :eek:
I think I might need to wash this one after the long drive to pick up the trailer :confused: