SEPTIC SYSTEMS HOME
SEWER LINE REPLACEMENT
Diagnosing a Blocked Drain
When to Call a Plumber
How to Locate the Main Building Drain
How to Use a Power Snake on Building Drains
How to Find Distance to Drain Blockage
Determining Need for Replacement
Replacing the Sewer Line, Step by Step
Making Other Septic Repairs
Installing the new sewer line
Bedding the sewer line in Sand
Final Backfill of the Sewer Line Trench
Documenting Buried Components
Final seeding and soil restoration
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Drain De-Clogging: how to use a Power Snake
SepticAPedia ©
- Guide to how to diagnose a blocked main building drain
- How to use a power snake to clear a blocked main building drain to sewer or septic tank
- Step by step main drain line replacement, house to septic tank (or sewer)
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This article describes when, where, how, and why a sewer pipe or "drain line" is replaced. The line which was replaced in this photo-illustrated
case runs from the building exterior to a septic tank located downhill from the home.
We present an actual case study, illustrated with photos of each step in the diagnosis and replacement of a blocked
sewer line. The waste line in this case was found to be blocked, damaged, old,
and needing replacement in the course of an attempt to clear a blocked drain between the house and septic tank.
Technical reviewers are welcome and are listed at "References."
This is a chapter of Inspecting, Testing, & Maintaining Residential Septic Systems an online book on septic systems. Also see Backups and Clogged Drains diagnosing septic backups and septic system failures versus clogged drains.
Citation of this article by reference to this website and brief quotation for the sole purpose of review are permitted. Use of this information at other websites, in books or pamphlets for sale is reserved
to the author. © Copyright 2009 Daniel Friedman, All Rights Reserved. Information Accuracy & Bias Pledge is at below-left.
Use links at the left of each page to navigate this document or to view other topics at this website. Green links show where you are in our document or website.
Where to insert the power plumbing snake when clearing a blocked line
Armed with these facts, the plumber elected to use a power snake to attempt to clear the drain
line, entering the line at the coupling we'd opened for inspection. That avoided having to mess with
an old, corroded main waste cleanout plug, and it meant that we were entering the line
for sure upstream of whatever blockage there was. We're not showing photos of the power snake
itself - the author was a bit too busy to take photos at that moment.
We knew we were entering the building drain-waste line
with the power snake before the blockage because there was standing water in the pipe
when we opened it. Had we been below the blockage the pipe would not have been full of
waste.
Power plumbing snake operation: how to use the Power Snake to DeClog a drain

A two-man team was needed to wrangle the heavy power snake machine into the space where
it would operate.
The plumber selected a snake head attachment which was small enough to
enter the drain line but had teeth that he expected would grab and perhaps permit removal
of a possible obstruction.
Operating the power plumbing snake the plumber fed the snake, basically a strong flexible
wire coil which is rotated during operation, into the drain line until an obstruction in
the drain was indicated by resistance felt against the proceeding power snake. |
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SEWER LINE REPLACEMENT
Diagnosing a Blocked Drain
When to Call a Plumber
How to Locate the Main Building Drain
How to Use a Power Snake on Building Drains
How to Find Distance to Drain Blockage
Determining Need for Replacement
Replacing the Sewer Line, Step by Step
Making Other Septic Repairs
Installing the new sewer line
Bedding the sewer line in Sand
Final Backfill of the Sewer Line Trench
Documenting Buried Components
Final seeding and soil restoration
- Thanks to Thomas Gleason, excavators, Poughkeepsie, NY 845-454-3730, for the excavating work at the project photo documented here in September 2006
- Thanks to Cleveland Plumbing, the prime plumbing contractor, Staatsburgh, NY 845-485-7700 for the plumbing work and drain clog diagnosis work documented here in September 2006
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More Information on Building Diagnostic Inspections and Repairs
- Backups and Clogged Drains diagnosing septic backups and septic system failures versus clogged drains - key step in septic repair
- HOW TO FIND A SEPTIC TANK
- DRAINFIELD LOCATION GUIDE
- SEPTIC VIDEOS assist in locating septic system or sewer line components
- The Septic System Information Website home page for this topic
- Septic Systems Inspection, Testing, & Maintenance- online textbook. Detailed how to inspect, maintain, repair information
- The Home Buyer's Guide to Septic Systems
- Septic Tank Pumping Guide: When, Why, How to pump the septic tank
- Table of Required Septic & Well Clearances: Distances Between Septic System & Wells, Streams, Trees, etc.
- Ten Steps to Keeping a Septic System Working, suggestions from the U.S. EPA, edits and additions by DJF
- What is a Septic System An Engineer's View & Septic System FAQ's
- Pennsylvania State Wastewater Treatment Fact Sheet SW-161, Septic System Failure: Diagnosis and Treatment
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