InspectAPedia ^TM

Building & Environmental Inspection, Testing, Diagnosis, Repair, & Problem Prevention Advice

InspectAPedia
Home

Air
Conditioning

Plumbing
Water
Septic

Roofing

Structure

Directory of Professionals to Inspect or Test a Building

SEPTIC SYSTEMS HOME
GUIDE TO 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
HOME BUYERS GUIDE to SEPTIC SYSTEMS
SEPTIC SYSTEMS ONLINE BOOK
SEPTIC TANK PUMPING SCHEDULE
SEPTIC INSPECTION TYPES & LEVELS
TANK PUMPING PROCEDURE
TANK INSPECTION PROCEDURE
SEPTIC FIELD INSPECTION
TANK INSPECTION PROCEDURE
SEPTIC FIELD INSPECTION
SEPTIC TREATMENTS
SEPTIC CONSULTANTS
SEPTIC AUTHORITIES
BOOKS REFS CODES
SEPTIC SYSTEM DESIGN BASICS
SEPTIC DESIGN ALTERNATIVES

SEPTIC VIDEOS
More Information

InspectAPedia ^TM Home & Site Map
Air Conditioning
InspectAPedia Bookstore
Electrical
Environment
Exteriors
Heating
Home Inspection
Insulate Ventilate
Interiors
Mold Inspect/Test
Roofing
Plumbing Water Septic
Structure
Accuracy & Bias Pledge
Contact Us

Website en espanol

Website en Francais

Website en Portugese

Photograph of the waste line where opened in the basement during drain blockage diagnosis and cleaning.

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)

Our site offers impartial, unbiased advice without conflicts of interest. We will block advertisements which we discover or readers inform us are associated with bad business practices, false-advertising, or junk science. Our contact info is at inspect-ny.com/appointment.htm.

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 2008 Daniel Friedman, All Rights Reserved. Information Accuracy & Bias Pledge is at below-left. Use the links at page left to navigate this document or to go to Other Website Topics. Green links at left show where you are in our document & 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.

Use links just below or 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.

GUIDE TO 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

Technical Reviewers

Particular thanks are due to experts and also consumers who read these articles and suggest corrections, changes, and additions to the material.

Daniel Friedman - principal author
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
Technical reviewers are invited to comment or ask questions - contact us

More Information on Septic System Diagnosis, Maintenance, & Repair

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

InspectAPedia ^TM Home & Site Map - Building Inspection, Diagnosis, & Repair, Environmental Inspection & Testing - Research Website

GO TO our PRE PURCHASE BUILDING INSPECTION SERVICES: Authoritative information for home buyers and home owners is included with your inspection. Home Inspection Construction Consulting Services & advice for home buyers

CONTACT Daniel Friedman - Dan is a senior ASHI home inspector, nationally recognized expert on building inspection, building failures, and sick building investigation Contact Daniel Friedman for website content suggestions or for fee-paid consulting