Clogged Pvc Drains

[tutsiwarrior]

we got a clogged first floor dirty water drain hooked up to the shower and washing machine via a hole in the bathroom floor. The pipe is 2" PVC. The drain is connected to a municipal drainage system out front of the house. The wife wants to do a DIY approach but I read somewhere that the amphur may have a service for this purpose, the tesseban premises is a half block away from the house. Otherwise are there commercial rotor-rooter type services available in Thailand that folks can recommend?

I hesitate to use the usual western drano/snake approach on plastic pipe...any advice?

Edited December 13, 2009 by tutsiwarrior

[jackr]

I've had a fair amount of success with the garden hose down the drain... the tough variety that when you turn the water on gives good stiffness yet still malleable enough to go around bends. Fine on the plastic pipe as it is encased in concrete. The use of caustic soda and boiling water beforehand also aids the process somewhat, but be sure to flush before dropping the hose in. Also have one of those flexi, twisty drain cleaner things you can get from Home Pro but they're not long enough. In the moobaan here the service guys will use a hand pump on the drain but had very limited success.

[lopburi3]

Septic tank trucks can clean drains but it is not part of there job and they are not supposed to do so. Another method, if hose fails, is an air tank (open into sealed pipe and hope it blows the block out). But I would use caustic soda/boiling water first a couple of times - there can be some amazing amounts of hair in them there pipes. But if the pipe itself has broken you may end up having to dig it up and replace - or run a new drain.

[tutsiwarrior]

thanks fer the replies, folks...so, the caustic soda won't do damage to the PVC pipes? I saw on a previous thread that someone used a 'lime' solution on blocked drains, presumably the same thing...

the drain arrangement has got 2 x 90 degree elbows close to each other from the drain floor opening to the down pipe so maybe not suitable fer a hose...but will give it a go...

Edited December 14, 2009 by tutsiwarrior

[tutsiwarrior]

just got hold of 'Crystal Drano Drain Opener'...comes inna foil packet...all the rest of the text is in thai and the wife says there is no mention of not using it on PVC pipes...so, will give it a go...

my concern was with the pipe material as except for the down pipe it is all embedded and if there were to be any damage resulting from chemicals it would be a mess to repair...

[jackr]

Reckon it'll be fine on the PVC... it's pretty tough stuff and sure they wouldn't be using it for drains if stuff like bleach/caustic soda had a measurable effect. Also have some 90-degree bends but got the hose past them when it was turned on. Just roger it in there, twisting simultaneously if stuck. Also, go outside and have a look for some 18-inch concrete covers and poke up it up the back end, too

[tutsiwarrior]

Reckon it'll be fine on the PVC... it's pretty tough stuff and sure they wouldn't be using it for drains if stuff like bleach/caustic soda had a measurable effect. Also have some 90-degree bends but got the hose past them when it was turned on. Just roger it in there, twisting simultaneously if stuck. Also, go outside and have a look for some 18-inch concrete covers and poke up it up the back end, too

yeah...come to think of it, the material composition of the pipe would be the same for all PVC regardless of the 'grade' which would reflect the duty and the required wall thickness...pretty much it's just used for low pressure water supply and drains except in industrial applications where there are organics to consider and corrosion considerations that would nix a ferrous material selection...

but we're talkin' about a shop house in Thailand here such that yer usual chemical drains cleaner like Drano shouldn't be a problem...just wanted to see if anyone could suggest or advise if they have observed otherwise...