The drains from my house are fine, not blocked (checked and rodded to
make sure and watched water flow easily) but the first bit of the drain
is the drain from my kitchen sink and bath.
It goes into a sort of vertical hole, which is fine but appears to go
into the main drain via an opening half way up the side.
It keeps blocking at this end, the water beyond is fine and rodding from
the main drain to the opening (i.e. back up the system) is also fine.
Plunging the rods etc. up and down seems to clear the drain for a while
but then it slowly seems to block again.
Am I right in assuming that leaves or debris have dropped down the
grating and have started to form a surface blockage that blocks the
opening and so i will need to somehow reach the sludge at the bottom and
get it out?
i did once see some sort of spade/scoop that enables you to do this but
i can't find it online.
It's only grey water coming out of the drain but even so I am not keen
on putting my arm down the hole to fish out sludge or decomposing
leaves.
Is there some thing i could buy to scoop the stuff out rather like
getting water out of a well?

Sorry, question a bit involved but i didn't want you thinking it was a
typical blocked horizontal drain. I can do them!

Janet
--
Janet Tweedy
Amersham Gardening Association
http://www.amersham-gardening.net

Janet Tweedy ) wibbled on Friday 14 January 2011
12:41:

The drains from my house are fine, not blocked (checked and rodded to
make sure and watched water flow easily) but the first bit of the drain
is the drain from my kitchen sink and bath.
It goes into a sort of vertical hole, which is fine but appears to go
into the main drain via an opening half way up the side.
It keeps blocking at this end, the water beyond is fine and rodding from
the main drain to the opening (i.e. back up the system) is also fine.
Plunging the rods etc. up and down seems to clear the drain for a while
but then it slowly seems to block again.
Am I right in assuming that leaves or debris have dropped down the
grating and have started to form a surface blockage that blocks the
opening and so i will need to somehow reach the sludge at the bottom and
get it out?
i did once see some sort of spade/scoop that enables you to do this but
i can't find it online.
It's only grey water coming out of the drain but even so I am not keen
on putting my arm down the hole to fish out sludge or decomposing
leaves.
Is there some thing i could buy to scoop the stuff out rather like
getting water out of a well?

Sorry, question a bit involved but i didn't want you thinking it was a
typical blocked horizontal drain. I can do them!

Janet

Can you work a garden hose, running on full pelt through the pipe?

That can shift the odd bit of scunge...

--
Tim Watts

On Jan 14, 12:41*pm, Janet Tweedy wrote:
The drains from my house are fine, not blocked (checked and rodded to
make sure and watched water flow easily) but the first bit of the drain
is the drain from my kitchen sink and bath.
It goes into a sort of vertical hole, which is fine but appears to go
into the main drain via an opening half way up the side.
It keeps blocking at this end, the water beyond is fine and rodding from
the main drain to the opening (i.e. back up the system) is also fine.
Plunging the rods etc. up and down seems to clear the drain for a while
but then it slowly seems to block again.
Am I right in *assuming that leaves or debris have dropped down the
grating and have started to form a surface blockage that blocks the
opening and so i will need to somehow reach the sludge at the bottom and
get it out?
i did once see some sort of spade/scoop that enables you to do this but
i can't find it online.
It's only grey water coming out of the drain but even so I am not keen
on putting my arm down the hole to fish out sludge or decomposing
leaves.
Is there some thing i could buy to scoop the stuff out rather like
getting water out of a well?

Sorry, question a bit involved but i didn't want you thinking it was a
typical blocked horizontal drain. I can do them!

Janet

Fat's the most common blocker

In article , Tim Watts
writes
Can you work a garden hose, running on full pelt through the pipe?


Well yes but it looks as if I need to get out whatever is being sucked
and thereby blocking the hole (IYSWIM)
--
Janet Tweedy
Dalmatian Telegraph
http://www.lancedal.demon.co.uk

In article
,
Tabby writes
Fat's the most common blocker


Then once i have emptied the drain down to the hole (leaving it appears
about another 6 inches or so ) how do i get out and entirely empty the
trap/drain?
--
Janet Tweedy
Dalmatian Telegraph
http://www.lancedal.demon.co.uk

In article , Colonel
Edmund J. Burke writes
Thanks again for your note. We'll notify the press.




I only started with that statement in case some 'manly male' thought I
was having trouble with unblocking ordinary blocked drain which I can
do myself with the rods, thanks.

--
Janet Tweedy
Amersham Gardening Association
http://www.amersham-gardening.net

On Fri, 14 Jan 2011 12:41:45 +0000, Janet Tweedy wrote:

The drains from my house are fine, not blocked (checked and rodded to
make sure and watched water flow easily) but the first bit of the drain
is the drain from my kitchen sink and bath.

I hope you don't put cooking fat down the sink...

It goes into a sort of vertical hole, which is fine but appears to go
into the main drain via an opening half way up the side.

Nor quite sure what you mean here. I suspect you mean just an
ordinary gully
trap:

http://www.marleyplumbinganddrainage...ent/3/98/gully
-combinations.html

Quickest and easiest way to remove the gunk in the bottom is a long
sleeved rubber glove and reach in but you say you don't want to do
that. A wet 'n dry vacum cleaner will do it might need to add extra
water a few times to loosen the debris enough for it to be sucked
out. You may find something to large/heavy in there so that will
require the gloved hand...

--
Cheers
Dave.

On 1/14/2011 12:41 PM, Janet Tweedy wrote:
The drains from my house are fine, not blocked (checked and rodded to
make sure and watched water flow easily) but the first bit of the
drain is the drain from my kitchen sink and bath.
It goes into a sort of vertical hole, which is fine but appears to go
into the main drain via an opening half way up the side.
It keeps blocking at this end, the water beyond is fine and rodding
from the main drain to the opening (i.e. back up the system) is also
fine.
Plunging the rods etc. up and down seems to clear the drain for a
while but then it slowly seems to block again.
Am I right in assuming that leaves or debris have dropped down the
grating and have started to form a surface blockage that blocks the
opening and so i will need to somehow reach the sludge at the bottom
and get it out?
i did once see some sort of spade/scoop that enables you to do this
but i can't find it online.
It's only grey water coming out of the drain but even so I am not keen
on putting my arm down the hole to fish out sludge or decomposing leaves.
Is there some thing i could buy to scoop the stuff out rather like
getting water out of a well?
A long rubber glove, I had a similar problem with a grey water gulley,
the kitchen sink discharged into it, I found some rubber (Marigold type)
long gloves in a cheapie store, they came up to the elbow and were long
enough to enable me to scoop the crud out of it which was mainly
composed of congealed fat and a limey substance which was I assume was
the deposit left by the hard water we have in our area. It makes a
wonderful paste but I wouldn't advise you cleaning your teeth with it :-) .

Sorry, question a bit involved but i didn't want you thinking it was a
typical blocked horizontal drain. I can do them!

Janet

Good Luck
Don

"Janet Tweedy" wrote

In article
, Tabby
writes
Fat's the most common blocker


Then once i have emptied the drain down to the hole (leaving it appears
about another 6 inches or so ) how do i get out and entirely empty the
trap/drain?
--
Janet Tweedy
Dalmatian Telegraph
http://www.lancedal.demon.co.uk

If you are talking about the gulley that your sink and washing machine waste
discharge into, then there is supposed to be a constant level of water in -
that's what provides the "trap" element and prevents smells from passing.

As others have said, long rubber gloves are good for clearing the sludge
from these. Once you get passed the smell and the concern over impending
creepy crawlies it's not such a bad job. The more thoroughly you clean, the
less snags there are for future crud to catch.

Phil

On 14/01/2011 13:06, Tim Watts wrote:
Janet Tweedy ) wibbled on Friday 14 January 2011
12:41:

The drains from my house are fine, not blocked (checked and rodded to
make sure and watched water flow easily) but the first bit of the drain
is the drain from my kitchen sink and bath.
It goes into a sort of vertical hole, which is fine but appears to go
into the main drain via an opening half way up the side.
It keeps blocking at this end, the water beyond is fine and rodding from
the main drain to the opening (i.e. back up the system) is also fine.
Plunging the rods etc. up and down seems to clear the drain for a while
but then it slowly seems to block again.
Am I right in assuming that leaves or debris have dropped down the
grating and have started to form a surface blockage that blocks the
opening and so i will need to somehow reach the sludge at the bottom and
get it out?
i did once see some sort of spade/scoop that enables you to do this but
i can't find it online.
It's only grey water coming out of the drain but even so I am not keen
on putting my arm down the hole to fish out sludge or decomposing
leaves.
Is there some thing i could buy to scoop the stuff out rather like
getting water out of a well?

Sorry, question a bit involved but i didn't want you thinking it was a
typical blocked horizontal drain. I can do them!

Janet

Can you work a garden hose, running on full pelt through the pipe?

That can shift the odd bit of scunge...


Yes, that's well worth a try, but often the arm down is the best way.
Just pull the leaches off afterwards :-)

On 1/14/2011 10:15 AM, TheScullster wrote:
"Janet Tweedy" wrote

In article
, Tabby
writes
Fat's the most common blocker


Then once i have emptied the drain down to the hole (leaving it appears
about another 6 inches or so ) how do i get out and entirely empty the
trap/drain?
--
Janet Tweedy
Dalmatian Telegraph
http://www.lancedal.demon.co.uk

If you are talking about the gulley that your sink and washing machine waste
discharge into, then there is supposed to be a constant level of water in -
that's what provides the "trap" element and prevents smells from passing.

As others have said, long rubber gloves are good for clearing the sludge
from these. Once you get passed the smell and the concern over impending
creepy crawlies it's not such a bad job. The more thoroughly you clean, the
less snags there are for future crud to catch.

The over-the-elbow gloves vets use for reaching into the back ends of
their patients, work very well for clearing gunked drains.

In article , stuart noble
writes
Yes, that's well worth a try, but often the arm down is the best way.
Just pull the leaches off afterwards :-)


Oh .............. yuk
--
Janet Tweedy
Amersham Gardening Association
http://www.amersham-gardening.net

In article , S Viemeister
writes
The over-the-elbow gloves vets use for reaching into the back ends of
their patients, work very well for clearing gunked drains.


Oh right, yes, I'll see if I can get a pair, good tip
--
Janet Tweedy
Amersham Gardening Association
http://www.amersham-gardening.net

In article o.uk, Dave
Liquorice writes
I hope you don't put cooking fat down the sink...


No, don't use fat to cook with and any excess gets used for bird food
stuff
--
Janet Tweedy
Amersham Gardening Association
http://www.amersham-gardening.net

In message
Janet Tweedy wrote:

In article , S Viemeister
writes
The over-the-elbow gloves vets use for reaching into the back ends of
their patients, work very well for clearing gunked drains.


Oh right, yes, I'll see if I can get a pair, good tip

And a divers nose clip to counter the stench ;-)

--

Jim White Wimbledon
London England I will not torment the emotionally frail

On 14/01/11 12:41, Janet Tweedy wrote:
The drains from my house are fine, not blocked (checked and rodded to
make sure and watched water flow easily) but the first bit of the drain
is the drain from my kitchen sink and bath.
It goes into a sort of vertical hole, which is fine but appears to go
into the main drain via an opening half way up the side.
It keeps blocking at this end, the water beyond is fine and rodding from
the main drain to the opening (i.e. back up the system) is also fine.
Plunging the rods etc. up and down seems to clear the drain for a while
but then it slowly seems to block again.
Am I right in assuming that leaves or debris have dropped down the
grating and have started to form a surface blockage that blocks the
opening and so i will need to somehow reach the sludge at the bottom and
get it out?
i did once see some sort of spade/scoop that enables you to do this but
i can't find it online.
It's only grey water coming out of the drain but even so I am not keen
on putting my arm down the hole to fish out sludge or decomposing leaves.
Is there some thing i could buy to scoop the stuff out rather like
getting water out of a well?

Sorry, question a bit involved but i didn't want you thinking it was a
typical blocked horizontal drain. I can do them!

Janet
You will need to get all they way down and feel passed the u bend and
the best way is with hand and arm. That way you can feel for any damage,
just have a bucket of diluted household disinfectant standing by to wash
hands and arms. If there are any bugs down there you will have to find
out where they are coming from.

--
zaax

Janet Tweedy ) wibbled on Friday 14 January 2011
14:59:

In article , Colonel
Edmund J. Burke writes
Thanks again for your note. We'll notify the press.




I only started with that statement in case some 'manly male' thought I
was having trouble with unblocking ordinary blocked drain which I can
do myself with the rods, thanks.



Ignore it - "it" is a spotty bored troll...

--
Tim Watts

In message , Janet Tweedy
wrote
In article
,
Tabby writes
Fat's the most common blocker


Then once i have emptied the drain down to the hole (leaving it appears
about another 6 inches or so ) how do i get out and entirely empty the
trap/drain?

Use a mop as a plunger to loosen all the gunge whilst running a hose.
When the worst is removed this way stop the water. Then a packet of
washing soda (approx £1 for supermarkets) and a few kettles of boiling
water.
http://www.avenuesupplies.co.uk/index.php?id=239&pid=3323&sid=1
http://www.biggreensmile.com/product....aspx?producti
d=dpsoda



--
Alan
news2009 {at} admac {dot} myzen {dot} co {dot} uk

On Fri, 14 Jan 2011 12:41:45 +0000, Janet Tweedy wrote:


Am I right in assuming that leaves or debris have dropped down the
grating and have started to form a surface blockage that blocks the
opening and so i will need to somehow reach the sludge at the bottom and
get it out?
i did once see some sort of spade/scoop that enables you to do this but
i can't find it online.
It's only grey water coming out of the drain but even so I am not keen
on putting my arm down the hole to fish out sludge or decomposing
leaves.
Is there some thing i could buy to scoop the stuff out rather like
getting water out of a well?


I don't know if this is any use to you but when our surface water drain got
blocked with sludge a few years ago, I made simple scoop.

I used a tin can cut in half vertically but with the bottom left intact. If
you've got a can opener that cuts into the side of the can below the lip,
rather than into the lid, it will make it easy to remove the cut-out bit.
(Make this bit slightly less than half the can and bend the edges over with
pliers for more strength and to hide the cut edge, if you like.

I then screwed the can onto a long piece of wood and used it to reach to
the bottom.

Might be better if you don't fancy the Marigolds and clothes peg approach
or if, like me, your knees are worn out and don't find it easy to kneel ...
--
Terry

"Tim Watts" wrote in message news
Janet Tweedy ) wibbled on Friday 14 January 2011
14:59:

In article , Colonel
Edmund J. Burke writes
Thanks again for your note. We'll notify the press.




I only started with that statement in case some 'manly male' thought I
was having trouble with unblocking ordinary blocked drain which I can
do myself with the rods, thanks.



Ignore it - "it" is a spotty bored troll...

I think she guessed. She removed the x-posts anyway :-)

--
Graham.

%Profound_observation%

On Jan 14, 2:56*pm, Janet Tweedy wrote:
In article
,
Tabby writes

Fat's the most common blocker

Then once i have emptied the drain down to the hole (leaving it appears
about another 6 inches or so ) how do i get out and entirely empty the
trap/drain?
--
Janet Tweedy
Dalmatian Telegraphhttp://www.lancedal.demon.co.uk

If your drain is made of the orange plastic, there's often a black bit
inside it that pulls out. (If there is a black bit it will be
removeable, just take note of how it fits before you take it out.) It
might need a good yank. There are several designs so I can't be more
detailed. The newer designs pull out a lot easier.
Once removed, it's a lot easier to clear out the gulley. In fact you
can't do it properly without.

In article , Huge
writes
Oh .............. yuk

And that's how drain clearing services make their money.

It's not the drain but the leeches i don't fancy!!

--
Janet Tweedy
Dalmatian Telegraph
http://www.lancedal.demon.co.uk

In article , Alan
writes
Then a packet of washing soda (approx £1 for supermarkets) and a few
kettles of boiling water.


I use that regularly in the washing machine which goes into the drain.
The pipe can get really blocked up with limescale or gunge and soda does
clean it .

Washing soda is incredibly useful for loads of things

--
Janet Tweedy
Dalmatian Telegraph
http://www.lancedal.demon.co.uk

In article
,
harry writes
If your drain is made of the orange plastic,



No, 1930's house and drain/gulley got concrete sides
--
Janet Tweedy
Dalmatian Telegraph
http://www.lancedal.demon.co.uk

In article , zaax
writes
You will need to get all they way down and feel passed the u bend and
the best way is with hand and arm. That way you can feel for any
damage, just have a bucket of diluted household disinfectant standing
by to wash hands and arms. If there are any bugs down there you will
have to find out where they are coming from.

--


Yes, there do4sn't seem to be a u bend as such, it seems to be just an
opening halfway down the hole/drain.
Seems I will just have to scoop it out!


If i plunge the drain rod up and down it does seem to clear itself for a
while then slows down and blocks within about a week. Everything running
through drains after this point thank goodness!

--
Janet Tweedy
Amersham Gardening Association
http://www.amersham-gardening.net

In article , Terry Casey
writes
I don't know if this is any use to you but when our surface water drain got
blocked with sludge a few years ago, I made simple scoop.

I used a tin can cut in half vertically but with the bottom left intact. If
you've got a can opener that cuts into the side of the can below the lip,
rather than into the lid, it will make it easy to remove the cut-out bit.
(Make this bit slightly less than half the can and bend the edges over with
pliers for more strength and to hide the cut edge, if you like.

I then screwed the can onto a long piece of wood and used it to reach to
the bottom.

Might be better if you don't fancy the Marigolds and clothes peg approach
or if, like me, your knees are worn out and don't find it easy to kneel ...
--
Terry


Sound like the thing I've just bought on Ebay, a sort of scoop that has
a long handle and then a spoon shape with half the end forming a cup.
Am going to try it tomorrow!
Thanks for the advice.
--
Janet Tweedy
Amersham Gardening Association
http://www.amersham-gardening.net

In article ,
says...
And that's how drain clearing services make their money.

It's not the drain but the leeches i don't fancy!!

Oh come on - I know they charge a lot, but leeches?

--
Skipweasel - never knowingly understood.

On Mon, 17 Jan 2011 22:47:10 +0000, Janet Tweedy wrote:

Sound like the thing I've just bought on Ebay, a sort of scoop that has
a long handle and then a spoon shape with half the end forming a cup. Am
going to try it tomorrow!

I have used (with success) a stout bin bag, taped over my whole arm.
Makes it slightly less disgusting.
--
Use the BIG mirror service in the UK:
http://www.mirrorservice.org

*lightning protection* - a w_tom conductor

Janet Tweedy wrote:

In article , Huge
writes
Oh .............. yuk

And that's how drain clearing services make their money.

It's not the drain but the leeches i don't fancy!!

No-one said you had to eat them.