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UPDATE: Plumbing issues

S

SirStev0

Lifer
We just moved into our new place about 10 days ago and we are having all sorts of trouble with our plumbing.

Every drain in the house drains ridiculously slowly. When we do dishes the sink takes about 20 minutes to drain. The toilet is completely unflushable. Plunging does nothing. And now it is backing up into the tub. My last experience with liquid plumber was worthless and a waste of money.

Aside from calling a plumber what options do I have? I don't know if my landlord will foot the bill at all. Any help would be very appreciated.



UPDATE: Landlord called me back. Plumber will be in first thing tomorrow. Thanks all. Will update when I find out what the problem was.

UPDATE 2:


Sorry I didn't get back to you all sooner. Here is where I stand.

Plumber couldnt get here until about 3 or so. Came in investigated. Checked the vents. Checked the commode and tub.

Pulled everything apart and tried to snake the hell out of it. Apparently the jokers who put the plumbing in the house a million years ago made all sorts of complications and it seems that under my house (I live in southern west virginia where holes go no deeper than 2 feet and basements are a luxury of the civilized un-rocky world) there is a iron trap that is at a weird angle. For a list of reasons I don't understand, he can't physically get to the clog (or as he said, that's gotta be one hell of a clog). So, talked to the sewer authority and there is no good access to my lines. So they are going to come in and backhoe my front yard and get it that way. or something.

Well, long story short, heavy machinery coming in tomorrow early to kick a little clog ass.
 
Originally posted by: JohnCU
sulfuric acid :evil:

you can get it at the hardware store
Click to expand...

Aren't most nasty uncloggers bases? Would an acid do anything? Maybe clear out minerals or something?
 
So you didn't check the plumbing when you checked out the place? But from what you described, they have a poorly implemented plumbing system where the pipes aren't angled steep enough for proper draining. There's pretty much nothing you can do except ripping out everything and redo the entire piping. However, since it's not your place, you're fucked. And I doubt the landlord will pay to fix the problem.
 
Originally posted by: Baked
So you didn't check the plumbing when you checked out the place? But from what you described, they have a poorly implemented plumbing system where the pipes aren't angled steep enough for proper draining. There's pretty much nothing you can do except ripping out everything and redo the entire piping. However, since it's not your place, you're fucked. And I doubt the landlord will pay to fix the problem.
Click to expand...

How did you reach that conclusion?
 
Originally posted by: SirStev0
Originally posted by: JohnCU
sulfuric acid :evil:

you can get it at the hardware store
Click to expand...

Aren't most nasty uncloggers bases? Would an acid do anything? Maybe clear out minerals or something?
Click to expand...

hell if i know, it just sounds badass. i know we used it one time and it helped.
 
Soemthign many overlook is the vent on the roof for the plumbing. Check to see if that is clogged. If then vent is clogged then what you describe could be the problem.

After that get a snake and check the pipes out. Could be a major clog near the main and/or tree roots may have damaged the main drain for the house.
 
Use a snake. Don't use things like liquid plumber . If you have put them down the drain, then get some long rubber gloves and eye protection before you put a snake down the drain or use a plunger. Lots of people have eye damage from drain cleaner + plungers.
 
Originally posted by: SirStev0
Originally posted by: JohnCU
sulfuric acid :evil:

you can get it at the hardware store
Click to expand...

Aren't most nasty uncloggers bases? Would an acid do anything? Maybe clear out minerals or something?
Click to expand...

they eat organic material.. hair, food, crud.. etc.
 
Originally posted by: SirStev0
Originally posted by: JohnCU
sulfuric acid :evil:

you can get it at the hardware store
Click to expand...

Aren't most nasty uncloggers bases? Would an acid do anything? Maybe clear out minerals or something?
Click to expand...

Two types that I know of. One is acids that use things like sulfuric or hydrochloric acids. The other are enzyme based . Careful using the acid ones around stainless steel it can cause permanent staining. Have spots on my kitchen sink from acid based drain cleaner.
 
Good idea about checking the vent pipe.

Any way to disconnect the main pipe going out in the basement or something? If you can, then run some water from one of the sinks then you might get a better idea if it's the pipes inside the house or the main going out.



Ask the landlord if there were complaints about this before or ask previous tenets if you can.
 
Originally posted by: Marlin1975
Soemthign many overlook is the vent on the roof for the plumbing. Check to see if that is clogged. If then vent is clogged then what you describe could be the problem.

After that get a snake and check the pipes out. Could be a major clog near the main and/or tree roots may have damaged the main drain for the house.
Click to expand...

This.
 
Call a plumber. Expensive? You bet, but a good plumber can solve the problem in the least amount of time. Then again a bad plumber costs just as much. Hand the plumber your CC and tell 'em to make the bad smells go away.
 
Originally posted by: SirStev0
Aside from calling a plumber what options do I have? I don't know if my landlord will foot the bill at all. Any help would be very appreciated.
Click to expand...

Why would you think your landlord wouldn't foot the bill... it's his responsibility.
 
Originally posted by: mjrpes3
Originally posted by: SirStev0
Aside from calling a plumber what options do I have? I don't know if my landlord will foot the bill at all. Any help would be very appreciated.
Click to expand...

Why would you think your landlord wouldn't foot the bill... it's his responsibility.
Click to expand...

Oh, missed the part about it being a rental. Call your landlord and tell him to get his slumlord ass over there and fix your plumbing. Then call him again while holding a shotgun.
 
If all drains are affected most likely you have a problem with the main line going to the municipal line. Call a pro. They will cable the main from either an indoor cleanout in the basement or in your front yard. If the line is older like terra cotta or orangeburg it could have collapsed or a belly has formed. In the latter cabling (snaking) will push out the clog and allow water to flow however the belly acts as a trap and will catch solids and eventually you will have a backup again. If this is suspected a plumber can sea snake (camera) the line and confirm a belly condition. Sea snakes will also reveal crushed orangeburg lines and cracked terra cotta pipes. Both require excavation of the soil to replace the pipe. If the pipe is under pavement pipe bursting is probably your best bet.

EDIT:

NEVER, EVER pour chemicals down a drain that does not go down! This will exasperate the issue at hand. These are meant to eat away at debris in the line causing a slow drain condition NOT to unblock a fully blocked line. And for a main blockage they will never work and possibly create a hazardous condition to a pro working on the main drain.
 
If the place sat vacant for a while all the crap in the pipes dries out, when water starts flowing again it breaks lose and plugs the pipe, I've seen this happen several times. If you don't own the place the landlord has to fix it, he has no choice, sewage backing up into the tub is a health hazard. Call the landlord, tell him the main sewer line is clogged and ask for it to be cleaned out ASAP. You can't live in a place that doesn't have working plumbing.
 

1. Plumbing, water, electrical, and structural is part of the landlord responsibility.
2. Never ever put chemical down the drain because someone may have to cut/open the pipe.
3. It could be a plugged vent as indicated above.
4. I could be a plugged waste soil building drain (broken/collapsed pipe/tree roots).
5. Call a service plumbing company and ask them to bring a snake. They may start the snake from the top of roof/vent, or go through a clean out if one is readily accessible, or lift the toilet to run the snake.
 
I just left the landlord a message. Hopefully he will call back soon. He is a pretty good guy from my limited experience with him. Any suggestions for the interim? Any good liquid cleaners for the time being? My bathtub is horrid.
 
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