Re;Causitc Soda

[The Medway Handyman]

Steve Firth wrote:

>> The Medway Handyman wrote: >> >>> WTF is this 'can be used to make bombs' about? >> >> Stupidity on the part of B&Q. >> >>> I'm sure I bought some in B&Q a short while ago. >> >> It's still widely available, try somewhere like SCATS . >> >> But if the blockage cannot be reached with drain rods, WTF makes you >> think sodium hydroxide will do the trick? > > I rodded from the access hatch in the garden. so I was going 8 metres > towards the WC's. > >> NaOH has to reach the site >> of the blockage and if the liquid is not flowing at all in the drain >> then it will take forever to diffuse more than eight metres. > > The water/poo level drops overnight, so its not a complete blockage. > >> Since you've had a go and can't fix the problem yourself and since >> the caustic solution (sic) is no solution at all, it's time to give >> in an employ someone equipped to do the job properly. > > Or ask advice from someone who doesn't jump to incorrect solutions :-) > > "The bath, shower & wash basins are OK, so my guess is that the > blockage is somewhere between the two WC's, probably at a bend or > join". Dave, >>Have you tried taking one or both of the pans out and rodding from the >>open >>ends into the soil pipe?

Might have to in the end, but its going to be messy :-)

>BTW, there are specific drain cleaners that can be bought from a half-way

decent builders merchants - but in this case, they will probably be next to useless, especially if the partial blockage is something rather solid and caught on a bend - or even rags, paper or sanitary towels snagged on a rough joint somewhere along the sewer (the ubiquitous toy dropped in pan by nipper can be excluded in this case). :-)

It can (I hope). Thats why I went for the caustic solution, it does dissolve paper & stuff.

>Also, if the water level drops, then there is a good probability that the

solids are just backing up somewhere and will ultimately fill the pipe.

Thats why I want to get it cleared asap.

>If all else fails, hire a drain jetting unit.

I do have one, but its on loan to a mate at the moment. Well, pressure washer with a drain cleaning attachment, but quite effective.

Cheers

[Tanner-'op]

Dave,

Agreed Dave, but take it from one whose been involved in more than his fair share of this sort of thing, that may be the easiest way of curing it - just have a few plastic bags handy to drop the pans into if you remove them (common practice down our way with something like this [we have even sorted the beggars out by partially dismantling the soil stack and rodding [and jetting] down that way]) along with some plastic 'dust sheets' for the floor.

We'd try anything rather than dig down for the beggars - especially after having a few of the holes fill up with sewerage after you break into the sewer when you misjudge where the blockages are. LOL

I must admit, I'm that's one part of the old job I don't miss.

Tanner-'op

[The Medway Handyman]

I reckon you are probably right, just that I don't fancy the mess :-) Thankfully both rooms have tiled floors so at least clean up would be easy. I suppose I could use my wet/dry vac to help.

That sounds like fun - not!

The inspection hatch is only about 2' from the house wall, no sign of any boxed in soil pipe indoors.

[Steve Firth]

Heck, the poo must get to the sewer by magic.

[stuart noble]

I find a garden hose on full blast from outside is often more effective than rods. FWIW I saw caustic in my local B&Q a couple of weeks ago but IME it's seriously overrated as a drain unblocker. It converts oils and fats to soap (usually with an increase in volume). Possibly useful if you run a Chinese takeaway.

[Andrew Gabriel]

Likewise, and it also works quite well as a drain rod.

Oh. I didn't realise they don't buy any soap;-)