plumbing question- need help!

[jaspermac]

I have been having waste water problems for a couple of days now and trying to figure out the best way to fix it. The city will not touch anything from the curb to the house and have confirmed that the problem is in that span of pipe (80'). I do not have a cleanout on my may pipe at all and they will not use the one I have on my Laundry room because of risk. I am in the process of putting one in since my plummer is in the hospital in Houston till next week.

My question to you guys is what is the best way? I was planning on using a drill to drill small holes in a circle about the size of a golf ball and break a hole out with a hammer (it is a clay pipe- I think?). Getting a wye and cutting it length ways in half and setting it over the hole with 2 hose clamps holding it together and filling the hole with concrete to seal it off. The pipe is 5" radius and I have never seen a 5" wye, but have never really looked. Is this an odd size or could I cut a 6" and clamp it tight to fit?

Is there and problem with this plan? Is there any better way to cut or break the pipe.

Thanks guys.

[hrdwrkncwby76]

give me a call and ill tell you what you need 916-761-9151

[WCB]

Just bust a hole in the top of the pipe, clean out said pipe and cover with a piece of tin can. That's the way we did it years ago for a quick fix...
If it's clay pipe it is probably 4" pipe. You can find 4" CP to 4" PVC sewer boots and put in a dbl cleanout with PVC 4" sweeps set end to end. PM if you need some help.
I have pics to help out but have to find them...

[TxThumper]

Do not hit your clay pipe with a hammer! First you need to know how to cut your clay pipe. A jagged edge on clay pipe will not allow it to seal properly when mating it to PVC.

Connecting clay to PVC is very simple, which will allow you to replace as much Clay pipe as you need with PVC, install a PVC cleanout and have a solid dependable repair.


Good luck! Let us know what happens.

[TxThumper]

It said I needed 5 posts to be able to post links........

[TxThumper]

Still need one more post...sorry if this is annoying, I am just trying to help.

[TxThumper]

So here is post 5 with some helpful Links for you.
How to cut clay pipe...

http://www.ehow.com/how_6524354_cut-clay-soil-pipe.html

And how to attach PVC.

http://www.ehow.com/how_5063796_connect-clay-sewer-pvc-pipe.html

Also the plumbing pro at your local home depot store could probably tell you how to do it also.

[gig one]

They make a fitting for that purpse it already has the rubber boot an the clamps moore plumbing supply

[River Quiver]

pm sent good luck and remember the first rule to repairing sewer lines. KEEP YOUR MOUTH CLOSED!! it will splash. lol

[Ol Thumper]

Sounds like your full of crap On a serious note I wish you the best of luck, their are some things just worth spending the money on, Id be finding another plumber

[jaspermac]

What should something like this cost if I hired a plumber? I already have the hole dug if that matters.

[holepuncher]

It doesn't matter what it will cost. you get a warranty with a licensed professorial.

[Todd-ty729]

Well I can't argue with hiring a profesional! I are a plumber!

You want to install a true 2-way clean out. This will be 2 seperate tee fitings (combination wye and 1/8 bend is the proper term) in the line facing opposite directions. This will allow a sewer machine cable to go in either direction.

We use ratcheting pipe cutters that are normally used to snap cast iron pipe to cut clay tile. Be very careful with clay pipe as it will have very sharp edges on it when cut or broken.

There is a rubber coupling commonly called a CT adapter. Big rubber coupling that uses hose clamps on each end to secure it around the pipe. You will want a rubber coupling made for Clay Tile (C.T.) on one side and cast iron/PVC (C.I.) on the other as they have different outside diameters (O.D.) and you will need 2 of them. One for each end of the rig.

You will want to put together the 2 combinations tees first. I am not sure how to properly describe this but they need to cross each other when they are together so when a cable is put down one it will go past the other tee. If they go opposite directions away from each other there will be a place in between the fittings that a cable cannot access.

Glue them together with a short piece of pipe inbetwen the 2 fittings about 6" long. Then cut 2 more equal lengths of pipe about 10" long and put on either end of your 2 way tees that you have.

You should end up with about a 3-4' long clean out dealio. Measure the overall length of this and ad about an inch to the measurement and cut out that much of your clay tile pipe.

Then you will drop the 2 way setup in the space and use the rubber couplings to secure it together.

You will then extend the top prt of the tee/combination fittings up to ground level and put caps on.

There is a little more to it but that is the basic steps to making this happen.

The reason your line is stopped up is more than likely roots growing into the joints on the clay tile pipe under ground. Clay pipe comes in 5' pieces and there will more than likely be roots growing in at every joint of pipe.

Installing a set of 2 way cleanouts does not fix the root problem it just makes it easier to clear the line which I can almost guarantee will happen again in the future. Maybe as much as twice a year.

Once the clean outs are in you will need to thoroughly clean out the line. Even when you think you have it clear there will still be roots in there and probably at least every 5'.

One day you will need to replace the sewer line. Think of it as like shaving your head. The hair will grow back. So goes with roots. Once they have found that cool drink of poo water they will be customers for life.

Do not let anyone tell you there is a majic chemical that you can flush down the pipe to kill roots. It is BS. May as well flush a $10 dollar bill down the toilet. It will do the same thing to your wallet and your drain line.

Any other method of trying to fix the problem is just a patch job. Nip it in the bud now before you waste any money on other fixes.