Snake goes through, but not water?
#1
11-02-18, 12:26 PM
Snake goes through, but not water?
I have a corrugated pipe buried in my backyard that runs from a downspout across the backyard eventually to a storm drain. I have been able to expose both ends. When I opened the lower end initially there was a bunch of the fine powdered rock(?) that probably came off the asphalt shingled roof before the former owner installed gutter guards. There was water sitting on the topside that was not draining. I was able to run a 1/2" snake with a 2" drain cutter "U" up the drain and get some muck out and a few fairly fine roots after 2 runs. Still, the water was not flowing. I went to the topside and ran the snake down the entire pipe (40') and while the snake was coming out the other end and water was running up top, none came out. What???
My only guess is I have a big dip in the middle filled with muck. I have one of those "hotdog" like balloons that goes on the end of a garden hose. I tried it before snaking with no luck. I could try it again, but my guess is I have a very heavy "muck" problem.
BTW, I know I should install PVC, I was just hoping for a less drastic solution. Thanks in advance.
My only guess is I have a big dip in the middle filled with muck. I have one of those "hotdog" like balloons that goes on the end of a garden hose. I tried it before snaking with no luck. I could try it again, but my guess is I have a very heavy "muck" problem.
BTW, I know I should install PVC, I was just hoping for a less drastic solution. Thanks in advance.
#2
11-02-18, 12:45 PM
Muck was the word I was going to use. Try the hose from below some more and if it will not push up farther tape on a length of 1/2" copper or pvc. I've freed up a few pipes and culverts with a length of copper pipe.
Now, roots doesn't sound good. Once you get it flowing and wash out as much as you can consider the largest diameter pvc pipe that will fit in there. I have one on the side of my house where the drain passes next to a maple tree. That tree was less than 2" in diameter and now is 18", my how time flies. As a temporary I sharpened the leading edge of the pvc with a bit of saw tooth so as I pushed it in I could rotate it and hopefully cut some of the roots. A bunch came out so maybe it worked, but has had no problem draining since.
Bud
Now, roots doesn't sound good. Once you get it flowing and wash out as much as you can consider the largest diameter pvc pipe that will fit in there. I have one on the side of my house where the drain passes next to a maple tree. That tree was less than 2" in diameter and now is 18", my how time flies. As a temporary I sharpened the leading edge of the pvc with a bit of saw tooth so as I pushed it in I could rotate it and hopefully cut some of the roots. A bunch came out so maybe it worked, but has had no problem draining since.
Bud
#4
11-03-18, 03:47 AM
Group Moderator
Gutter drain clogs can be difficult to remove. The grit from the roof and decomposed leave muck can form a pretty dense blob. The cutter can work it's way through but without sufficient water to wash that heavy muck away it just sits there and settles back down into a clog. A jetter (a special drain cleaning tip for a pressure washer) might help but it requires a pretty large pressure washer to work well on corrugated pipe. All those corrugations prevent material from easily sliding down the pipe so it a natural clog causer.
#5
11-03-18, 09:00 AM
If you were adding water at the top of the corrugated pipe with the snake installed and it isn't coming out the bottom or overflowing at the top, you have a hole in the corrugated pipe.
#6
11-04-18, 06:25 AM
I should have been more clear. The water backs up. I put the "inflated bladder" through and the water goes through with some silt or whatever. Then I put the hose with a "jet nozzle" on and it just backs up. I am pretty discouraged and hoping to get a quote on PVC replacement today. I guess I could keep on doing the water bladder but it is not working fast and since the remainder of the drain is disconnected, I have to bail or pump whatever I get out. jeez!
I have seen no evidence of roots since one of the first times I snaked it.
I have seen no evidence of roots since one of the first times I snaked it.
#7
11-04-18, 06:42 AM
I think you said you were able to get the snake all the way through end to end. If so, attach a long sturdy rope and pull it back through. Rope needs to be long enough that you can pull it back and forth with out either end disappearing into the pipe. In fact, tie them off.
Then on the end with a pile of rope attach something that will scrape through without getting caught. Once it exits the pulling end reverse and keep going back and forth. Increase the size of the attached scraper as the opening increases.
Bud
Then on the end with a pile of rope attach something that will scrape through without getting caught. Once it exits the pulling end reverse and keep going back and forth. Increase the size of the attached scraper as the opening increases.
Bud
#10
11-04-18, 08:51 AM
Member
am going to have to get creative to figure out the right scrapers
With both ends open I use them as connectors in my workshop dust collector system.
