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Author Sewer Floor Drain Backup
jim

2005-12-14, 4:21 am

Experiencing slow drainage & slight backups of basement floor drain.
Started after household member had a run in with the flu.
24 hours of vomitting & diarrhea.
I suspect excessive use of toilet paper has caused the problem.
I have 2 floor drains in the basement. Washing machine empties
into sink which feeds into stand pipe. Long showers from bathroom
upstairs & washing machine will cause drain closest to stand pipe to
slowly back up & over flow. Then the 2nd floor drain will also start
to exhibit the same problem.

Using Roebic products because they are available at the Farm & Fleet
store that I go to.
Have tried repeated (3) applications of Roebic K-97 Main Line Cleaner.
http://www.roebic.com/newproduct.htm#97
(bacterial waste-degrading product)

And (1) application of Roebic K-77 Root Killer
http://www.roebic.com/catalog/root.htm
Copper Sulfate Pentahydrate

Flow has improved but is still not free flowing.
I would like to try an application of either
strong Sodium Hydroxide or Sulfuric Acid before calling
the plumber to have the line snaked out.

I'm thinking that Roebic Drain Flow Blended Sulfuric Acid
http://www.roebic.com/catalog/clog.htm
might do the trick. MSDS says its a 90% solution.

House located near Chicago area & was built in 1931.
I'm assuming sewer lines are cast iron.
I've had experience with chemicals so I will take proper
precautions when handling.

Would welcome pro or cons of using acid versus base to clear drain.
Any suggestions would also be appreciated.
thanks,
jim


Red Jacket

2005-12-14, 9:21 am

Its obvious, cast iron and acid...don't mix.

IMHO lyes break down human waste best over
an acid and less harm to CI


"jim" <jim@noisp.net> wrote in message
news:_cQnf.39948$D13.21351@newssvr11.news.prodigy.com...
> Experiencing slow drainage & slight backups of basement floor drain.
> Started after household member had a run in with the flu.
> 24 hours of vomitting & diarrhea.
> I suspect excessive use of toilet paper has caused the problem.
> I have 2 floor drains in the basement. Washing machine empties
> into sink which feeds into stand pipe. Long showers from bathroom
> upstairs & washing machine will cause drain closest to stand pipe to
> slowly back up & over flow. Then the 2nd floor drain will also start
> to exhibit the same problem.
>
> Using Roebic products because they are available at the Farm & Fleet
> store that I go to.
> Have tried repeated (3) applications of Roebic K-97 Main Line Cleaner.
> http://www.roebic.com/newproduct.htm#97
> (bacterial waste-degrading product)
>
> And (1) application of Roebic K-77 Root Killer
> http://www.roebic.com/catalog/root.htm
> Copper Sulfate Pentahydrate
>
> Flow has improved but is still not free flowing.
> I would like to try an application of either
> strong Sodium Hydroxide or Sulfuric Acid before calling
> the plumber to have the line snaked out.
>
> I'm thinking that Roebic Drain Flow Blended Sulfuric Acid
> http://www.roebic.com/catalog/clog.htm
> might do the trick. MSDS says its a 90% solution.
>
> House located near Chicago area & was built in 1931.
> I'm assuming sewer lines are cast iron.
> I've had experience with chemicals so I will take proper
> precautions when handling.
>
> Would welcome pro or cons of using acid versus base to clear drain.
> Any suggestions would also be appreciated.
> thanks,
> jim
>
>



flippy

2005-12-14, 4:21 pm


"Red Jacket" <Red Jackcet@adelphia.net> wrote in message
news:2ZOdnZu2GYYvhD3eRVn-tQ@adelphia.com...
> Its obvious, cast iron and acid...don't mix.


Why ? Because of hydrogen gas formation ?

>
> IMHO lyes break down human waste best over
> an acid and less harm to CI


What about paper waste which is what I think the problem is.


Red Jacket

2005-12-14, 5:21 pm

Err....lye is used in the manufacture of paper products.
Paper is made from a tree, its organic in nature.
Lye is therefore better.

Acid reacts with iron.

"flippy" <flippy@noisp.net> wrote in message
news:jU_nf.41520$6e1.27113@newssvr14.news.prodigy.com...
>
> "Red Jacket" <Red Jackcet@adelphia.net> wrote in message
> news:2ZOdnZu2GYYvhD3eRVn-tQ@adelphia.com...
>
> Why ? Because of hydrogen gas formation ?
>
>
> What about paper waste which is what I think the problem is.
>
>



Mike Grooms

2005-12-14, 6:21 pm


"jim"

I think a chemical solution (no pun intended) won't help very much.
Toilet paper just doesn't cause a clog on its own. There's something
causing the clog, and mechanically removing it is the answer.


llump41

2005-12-14, 11:21 pm



>
> Would welcome pro or cons of using acid versus base to clear drain.
> Any suggestions would also be appreciated.
> thanks,
> jim
>

Don't call me after you pour that stuff in. Had a guy pour a couple of
gallons of that stuff and it peeled the paint off his walls. No thank you.


Red Jacket

2005-12-15, 4:21 am

I always come down to axing myself what would Wile E. Coyote do ?





"llump41" <llump41@cox.net> wrote in message
news:6R4of.34$Ym1.27@fed1read04...
>
>
> Don't call me after you pour that stuff in. Had a guy pour a couple of
> gallons of that stuff and it peeled the paint off his walls. No thank you.
>
>



Red Jacket

2005-12-15, 10:21 am

The real problem is people do not use enough drain cleaner.
I mean you need gallons of the stuff.
Mix up acid and a lye to make sure that pipe stays clean.
Yeppers, enough of acid and lye that WC will be clean
as a whistle !
You want it so that toilet is clean enough to eat out of.
People will call you Mr. Clean.

A bunch of Drano cans and then hit the hardware store for
hydrocloric acid !
Yeah Baby !



"flippy" <flippy@noisp.net> wrote in message
news:jU_nf.41520$6e1.27113@newssvr14.news.prodigy.com...
>
> "Red Jacket" <Red Jackcet@adelphia.net> wrote in message
> news:2ZOdnZu2GYYvhD3eRVn-tQ@adelphia.com...
>
> Why ? Because of hydrogen gas formation ?
>
>
> What about paper waste which is what I think the problem is.
>
>



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