Now I really need a plumber

[duscarter]

We were having a problem in the guest bathroom with oder. I cleaned the sink trap and replaced the toilet's wax ring to no avail.

My next thought was the toilet vent on the roof. I went to Lowes and bought a 25 ft. drum snake. Got on the roof and started feeding it in. It stopped a couple of times, but broke through pretty easily.

The problem is that it was not attached to the drum. It kept going into the vent. Now I have a 25 foot auger down the vent pipe.

We are on a septic tank if that matters.

What should I do now?

 

[JB]

Re: Now I really need a plumber

Okay, forget the auger for a moment. Is the odor better?

Do you have a vent fan in that bath? Is it a first floor or second floor bath? Is there a basement?

 

[KurtG]

Re: Now I really need a plumber

Doesn't the stack have a clean out plug, I thought ours has one. You might be able to retrieve the auger throug the same clean out.

Otherwise I'd try some "fishing" from the roof and see if you can snag it back from the vent pipe

 

[willieboy]

Re: Now I really need a plumber

One story or more house (I am guessing two story). Any chance you can get into the attic and get the vent pipe just above the attic floor and retrieve the snake from there? In truth it probably won't affect anything so long as the end is out of the water flow. If the end is in the water flow though, you may have some issue with "material" getting stuck on the end as it tries to migrate down the pipe.

 

[duscarter]

Re: Now I really need a plumber

Thanks guys! It is a one story with no basement. I can't find a vent cleanout anywhere.

I might try to get on the roof again and fish it out, but it sounded like it dropped a long way. Guess that means I broke through all of the clogs!

At least the smell has gone away

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: Now I really need a plumber

Is it a pvc vent pipe? You might be able to open the pipe in the house and then put it a repair section after you have been fishing....

I have had to do the snake thing and I have rented 100' power snakes that come with various end attachments..... that might work to grab a smaller 25 footer.......

If all else fails you may have to do some digging and get to the septic cap...... have it pumped while you are at it and probably retreive the snake.

I hate plumbing

 

[Tim Frank]

Re: Now I really need a plumber

Thanks guys! It is a one story with no basement. I can't find a vent cleanout anywhere.

I might try to get on the roof again and fish it out, but it sounded like it dropped a long way. Guess that means I broke through all of the clogs!

At least the smell has gone away

Do you have a crawl-space under the house? There should be a cleanout somewhere along that line.
Another option would be (as long as it is plastic or copper DWV pipe) a strong magnet on a string....longer than 25' and tied off somewhere....

 

[gss036]

Re: Now I really need a plumber

Maybe get another auger with a spring type coil on the end and twist it down the pipe with the hope you can wrap the end in the new auger and retrive it that way. I am with the other, there will be a clean out somewhere along the way unless some fly by night repair did the job. It would be a help if you had diagraham of the pipe as the vent is usually smaller than the main lines.

 

[Lone Duck]

Re: Now I really need a plumber

Thanks guys! It is a one story with no basement. I can't find a vent cleanout anywhere.

I might try to get on the roof again and fish it out, but it sounded like it dropped a long way. Guess that means I broke through all of the clogs!

At least the smell has gone away

Remove your toilet first.You may get lucky and pull it from there.

 

[duscarter]

Re: Now I really need a plumber

Thanks for the tips guys. This is the reason I love Iboats. Can't wait to start restoring my boat again. I spend most of my time reading now.

There is a crawl space, so I will get up under the house and inspect the main drain line for an access point.

Great idea Lone Duck. It will be easy to remove the toilet tomorrow. Maybe the snake will be there.

 

[tx1961whaler]

Re: Now I really need a plumber

I did the exact same thing at my Dad's over christmas. Tried the magnet trick and it didn't work. Left the snake in there; no problems yet. It'll rust away after awhile (we hope).

 

[Tim Frank]

Re: Now I really need a plumber

before you r&r the toilet get an idea where the toilet is in relation to where the snake would have gone....
I haven't seen many plumbing systems where you would be able to reach the main stack through the toilet spur.....although if you can get a good feel for where the pipes are running, and you aren't more than 2-3 feet from the vent stack you might be able to hook the snake with an electricians fish tape....or a length of wire with a u bend on the tip.