I hate plumbing!

[jmowreader]

Somewhere in my drain system between the house and the septic tank is the clog from hell. I've used plungers, the hydraulic plunger thing that screws onto a garden hose, snakes, hot water, cursing at it... I dug up the septic tank and pulled the lid and it's not full, so that's not the problem.

I haven't tried strong chemicals yet, but that's soon to follow.

[bahrbearian]

1. I have a Old house

and the Septic pipe run's under to driveway to the drain field, one cold winter 20 years ago a dump truck drove down my drive and crushed the pipe I didn't know it for a few month's it was just slow moving but after a while it was filling the Bath tub. I figured it out after I dug up the pipe.

[Padraig18]

2. You need an auger or a plumber's tape.

You need to mechanically break up the clog. Hope you have a clean-out, for access...

[jmowreader]

4. Better...

When you go under the house, you will find this weird cast-iron thing consisting of three 90s. The first one leads from the sinks and toilet. The second comes from the laundry room (this drains the washer and the shower), and the third goes out to the septic tank.

This I like: the first 90 is just slipjointed into the system. Undo the rubber coupling and slide it down, and you can pull that first 90 completely off.

[radwriter0555]

3. could be busted too. or tree roots.

that sucks.

Call rescue rooter.

[jmowreader]

5. Not likely to be tree roots...

We have trees, but the roots are nowhere near the drain line. But just in case, I may run a little Root Gone through the line anyway.

Our plumbing department head (who's a licensed plumber) has suggested renting the power auger for 4 hours. Trying to avoid that, but it will probably come to that.

[Norbert]

6. I would rent the power auger

I rented an electric auger from Home Depot after a day of frustration with trying to unclog a main drain in our basement. It was the best $25 I ever spent. I ran it once with a head that broke through the clog and ran it again with a second head that helped clean the crud from the pipe. The drain has run great since.

Make sure you get an auger that is long enough for your needs.