Clearing a Blocked Drain on a ROOF | How to Use a Plumbing Snake
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- Опубліковано 27 лют 2020
- Sometimes when you're dealing with blocked drains, you have to get on the roof to run your sewer snake. Today I'm clearing a blocked drain on a roof and showing you how to use a plumbing snake a clear a blocked drain. Also while we're up there we'll use a sewer inspection camera to look down in there and determine what was causing this blocked drain. Check it out and let me know what you think!
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Thanks for watching! I'm Roger Wakefield, LEED AP, The Expert Plumber and welcome to my channel. On this channel I teach homeowners how to save money on their plumbing by doing DIY plumbing projects. I also teach plumbers and plumbing company owners how to be the best plumbers in their area and run successful plumbing businesses. My goal is teach you everything you need to know about plumbing.
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What do you think should I do more blocked drain videos?
Check out this video where I fix a sewer: ua-cam.com/video/BkJo1o7R48E/v-deo.html
Q? Pls how much cost $$ the yellow snake machine that r you using Over the roofing.
Tks
Nice video
Q? Which is the name of the snake camara that r you using. The yellow one
Thanks
Roger Wakefield , I think you shouldn't try to disparage a contractor without knowing the facts. Maybe the plumber suggested replacing all the drain lines for a minimal fee and the homeowner said no.
@@markschiavone8003 maybe you should watch the video again and listen better next time
Professional and honest service like this is what every plumber should strive for! Love your channel and keep up the good work!
Thanks for the support, Kenneth! Glad you enjoyed the video
Excellent work.
Thanks for unclogging my bathroom so fast! I hope to get this completely fixed sometime soon! Those roots were insane.
Thanks for letting us film on your roof!
Did they fix it and how much did it cost in total?
nelsonfan24 They did finally fix the toilet when it clogged up again this month. And now they are coming back tomorrow to isolate another leak I have in my sewage line. Price still pending. 😬
@@LisaLongDesigns Please, please post how much. I might be getting ready to have something like this done and I don't want to have sticker shock.
nelsonfan24 It’s not cheap. Be prepared to spend over $10k
Ok, Roger I found a clean out behind the kitchen drawers. I was super excited, got my 25’ snake, my DeWalt hand drill and Snaked and baked my way to and thru the kitchen pipe. I think I even whistled Dixie because I’m bad, I’m fix’n dad’s worrisome problem. When finished, I proudly showed pops, that I,,, his middle son, was worthy.
He came to the kitchen to see my miraculous accomplishment. Turned on the tap and now everything is more Plugged. Now we have no drainage at all. The water stands in the sink, nary a drop goes down, basically it’s worse now.
I give the fk up!!!
My wife asks me why I'm always listening to you !!! I explain that every word you speak is worth gold !!! That you are literally a master of everything possible in the industry !!! She doesn't understand !!!
I’ve done this on top of a 3 story apartment. Getting that beast up there was always tricky. Most of the time we were pulling out baby wipes that people swear they never flush.
When I find wipes and tell them that that is not a good idea to flush them, most say ,but the package says they are flushable. My reply is everything is flushable , just depends on how many times you want to call the plumber/drain cleaner.
I’ve learned that It’s never them that flush them
@@hedgefund9892 that and tampons, I’ll be discreet about it, but some people really get embarrassed and lie about the flushable wipes
@@OfficialHayden I pulled 25-30 washclothes out of my drain this way... Two year olds don't know about what not to flush.
My landlord neighbor thought I was crazy for working on plumbing from the roof...
@@bmccrowley I’ve been on numerous calls of a a clogged line where a kid has flushed a toy down it I’ve been on a coupe where I pulled the toilet and there were hot wheels cars in it
Roger! When I was younger my dad and I would snake the drain out from the roof every now and again. I remember carrying that heavy snake up and unclogging everything
Really like your videos! As a homeowner you give good information for understanding to make informed decisions.
You are an excellent plumber! Love your explanations.
I'm grateful to those who taught me take the sewer line glove off when using the camera controls.
Thanks for uploading nice job as always Roger
Spot on analysis
Best video I’ve seen on this subject. Thanks!
Thank you for the informative video, Roger. I have some crazy in locking jobs of my own to do.
Thank you Roger for this video. I love the honest and fair people and you are one of them. I learned something today as I learn something every day but my problem is I am 64 going to be 65 and have bad arthritis and knees don't bent back very painful. I wished I can do all the jobs myself and hep the people who can't afford expensive plumbers as I can do some electrical work too which may help to make living but right now I am working as a security person which don't require any physical or hard work so I am very thankful to Almighty Allah and pray for you and your entire family...Aameen.
Good job roger., .... I have done what you said at the end of the video ., I change toilet flange, the santee and part of the vent inside the wall to make sure is properly done
Thank you for your information has helped my daughter and I to maybe figured out a plugged ? Sewage line ! 😇 Blessing and ❤️love to you and your family
I do the exact same thing with Interior stoppages it is better to go through the vent then through a toilet waste arm. Also I try to do a tunnel if it's the cost effective way to not destroy their house. Love the video.
GREAT JOB ROGER I HAVE ALSO DONE THE SAME TO MY VENT STACK ON THE ROOF
I've got a 60' pine tree growing nearly over the outflow of my foundation drain. It came with the house. Took a few basement floods to figure out what was happening (on my own). There was no cleanout and it left the foundation at about 7' down. On the advice of an excellent septic man we dug down and installed 2 verticals to the surface about a foot apart with 90 degree bends at the junctions, one going toward the house, one going away. So now once a year he comes up with a cutting tool on a snake and it's about a 30' reach (7' down and about 25' toward the foundation) to where the roots typically appear.
Point being, there is a tool that could be snaked down to cut through roots. Then I guess it'd be nice if there was a way to install an inner sleeve at the break and seal it. Blasting through concrete seems pretty radical, but I'm definitely not a pro.
I yes like your videos I like to learn more about plumbing
I have a k50 sectional with a 25 ft 3/8 reinforced cable drum attachment and 100ft of 7.5 and 10 ft sections of 5/8 ths cable. For roof vents, showers and sinks the 3/8 th cable drum attachment is awesome. Light weight and versatile. For main drains it's slow and cumbersome and you have to lay out a tarp and manage the cable but this was my first machine I started out with. Now I own a 3/4 hp general drum auto feed machine witch is heavy but I'm more efficient and faster along with cleaner because it's all together. Living in a small town it's not feasible for me to get a camera but I'm looking for a used one. Never know what you find. Not to ramble but you need two machines. One big and one small. I use a jetter for mobile homes with is a game changer. Mobile homes use ABS that's glued and not primered so the jetter is not as violent as a spinner machine. Plus the membrane under the trailers you have to cut if the pipe comes apart. So many things to doing what we make look easy like anything else I guess. Thank you for your videos, it's nice to see others work and get tips here and there. UA-cam university!
Love you’re videos thanks for all you do🙏
Love that gold master license 😊
this is fascinating how times have changed when you can go in with a camera , nice vid man i hope your going to film the whole repair and job if you can . i want to see more . and wow that thing on the roof iv never seen any thing like that before we dont have them in the uk , not that iv seen
Technological advancements have really changed my industry! We'll see how the customer wants to proceed and maybe we will go film it! It just depends
Roger Wakefield mate Iv just fitted the van out with 24-7 cctv for £46 . Times have changed and so much in some ways for the better
I love seeing what you are doing brother.
Time to sell that house!
Man that tree is loving all that water! Thank you for sharing your knowledge!
National Treasure you are sir!
Roger I recommend Milwaukee Switch Pack for your roof access jobs. Very lightweight and its a back pack also its battery operated. I would check it out.
I used a K-50 with ⅝" cable for roof vents. And a K-1500 with 1¼" cable for ground level use. I never ran machine while backing it out because, I did not want to lose anything that might have been caught on the cutter head. The ⅝" cable was easy to pull out but the 1¼" if it went through to many bends I had to 'unthread' it by running machine forward.
First plumbing video I watched on youtube and you got a sub 😂
Just bought a k-400 ridgid. Great machine. Had to get on the roof to unplug. Just asking what did you charge to unplug?
Good video mustache man. I've done this to our house twice. Instant results. As soon as that clog is fixed you get a whiff lol
I’m an electrician by trade but these videos make me want to start over. Even my kids love the videos and actually learn useful information
Did you just say you rather work in shit than with wires
Hello Mr. Wakefield. Could the roots come up through the 1/2'' gap between the closet vent and the slab then back into the closet vent and down into the sewer creating a horse tail. Then by cutting off the roots at the gap and pour dawn down the closet vent you could pull the roots out. then if you want put salt or root killer into the gap install a new wax ring and reset the toilet provided the flange was not damaged do to the root intrusion.
I’ve been plumbing for 8 years now with 1 year drain cleaning experience mixed in. I’ve been told the taking a water hose to the vent first is best. The weight of the water usually pushes the stoppage down(nest,rodent). The one issue I see with a machine on the roof is reventing. You won’t know if your in the right branch of the vent. Any thoughts on that?
I love the K400 its a great machine👍👍... yes very easy to bring up the roof. I also have General 91 rooter 100 foot 3/4 inch cable now you know that i will not even try to bring it up the roof 👍👍👍👍🤣🖐
hey roger have you try auto feed for that k-400 snake ? i love mine it make pulling stuff mutch easyer and wath brand of camera that is ? looks like a nice unit
Roger, is it ok to water jet the kitchen pipe vs. typical snake?btw, it keeps on clogging lately every couple of days.Thanks
Is a hydrojet not an option here? Those roots will come back for sure over the years but couple hundred bucks maintenance on the line over a few years is a lot more cost effective for the owner. Thoughts?
i think i pray in these situations! when you were pulling the camera out i almost thought you were going to play your signature work music in reverse; that would have been cool.
I use a Milwaukee switch pack, then follow up with my Milwaukee camera, no cords to string out all over the place. Plus the Milwaukee camera links to my phone so recording and sending video and pics to the customer is so much more simpler than the time-consuming thumb drive
Great video, Im gonna follow you 😊
Welcome aboard!
Hey Roger try the ridged k9204! So light and does a better job
Hey roger How safe is tunneling under a house my company doesn’t allow us to tunnel under houses we always have to jack hammer up the floor in this situation.
I use a k-60 with 7/8ths cables from roof vents. In KY we have 3-4" vents. I can lug it onto a roof and go back down for a spool of cables.
or the General I-95
Great videos! We have an on and off sewer smell in one bathroom. We replaced the wax seal on the toilet but still have the odor. All drains are flowing freely and I checked in the basement for sewer leaks of which area was dry. We have a septic system. This bathroom is used frequently in a 2 bathroom house where there is no sewer smell in other bathroom. Help ! what should we check next?
Snake that gutter while your up on the roof. Another great Video ✌ I'm a sub and a Maintenance tech 😁✌
Me and my dad used to 2 man the big ridgid machine but now that I work at Roto Rooter, roof ins aren’t even allowed for safety concerns. We’ve installed a lot of clean outs since 😂
They don't do roof vents anymore? I worked there all the 90s. That's all we knew to do. 9 out of 10 jobs were roof vents.
From one pro to another…sweet mustache! Fits your face perfectly.
Thank you handsomeMike
It used to freak people out when I unclogged drains from the roof. They thought I was crazy.
Respect
I've seen plumbers quickly dispatch tree roots using chain snake (power snake auger with a small link of chains at the end) to remove roots from pipes, just like string trimmer to blades of grass
Good stuff as always Roger 👍.
On the roof I use a Spartan hundred machine. And whenever I do a repair like this the floor is getting jack hammered up regardless, but no liner will save you because the tie ins still have to be dug up. Bring out the jack hammer baby!
Thank you for above comment.
Is it standard for you guys to use pvc instead of abs for sewer systems?
My house is on a slab so they have to go up to the roof to clear it out. I do not have a clean out. Is it easier for the plumber to go up on the rather than removing the toilet bowl and snaking out the blockage? Which is better ?
Is there anyone in the Gastonia NC area you would recommend ? Pretty sure this is my problem
I`m having this issue,,started last summer,,plummer cleaned it from the main drain in the basement with a video after his work and like your video it was roots,,1 month later we made the decision to cut the tree next to the house,,last month again the water overflowed but now that it`s winter all he can do is cut out the roots,,this week,again,,I used the shower and the toilet overflowed from the bottom,he pin pointed with the camera like you did,so we have an idea where the roots from another tree are coming but with 3 feet of snow it is not really an option,what I did today was using sulfuric product,,3 doses and,,,no more overflow,,but the problem still remains so when spring comes we`ll make the big decision...thanks for your video
Would this cause an immediate clog? My shower was draining fine until last week and then it just stopped. The pan fills up and the water takes about 20 minutes to drain away. This upstairs if it matters.
I've pulled Ridgid K500 on roof tops before. It's not a bad way to go
I'm wondering if you have ever tried the Milwaukee SwitchPack machine? It's essentially a cordless sewer machine in a "backpack" form power by standard M18 batteries. I've heard many good things about it and it would probably be easier to get up a ladder.
I haven’t yet but I absolutely want to.
Do you ever use Rigid micro reel systems?
Nice stash 😁
Hello Roger omg I bought a house three months ago it was built in 1966 I like my house but two days ago one of my bathroom starting to do bubble. I’m really scared because I really don’t how is going to turn out and how much will cost to fix it
Great video Roger! I almost got flushed...
Paul, I CLEARLY said to NOT get flushed. You gotta be more careful man!
@Roger Wakefield, 😂
How many feet of wire do you recommend for a rooftop auger? (I have a 25' foot hand-turn auger for the tub.) I'm in a single story home with what you referred to as a Low-Pitch Roof.
So how does root get into y'all's plumbing vent?
How would you tunnel uner the house? You'd have to go under the footer looks like at least three feet over. Sounds like it would be a big under taking compared to chipping up the floor
I use a spartan 100 great machine
Thank you Daddy l like the video..
Please there a sent in my client washroom, I have been working on it but it still there, please what should I do?
That's crazy having to tunnel under a house. I've made those repairs in Michigan and Oahu, without the tunneling part. Then I started lining pipes, didn't care for that, then went to bursting. Now, I just do residential plumbing installation and repairs. I give all sewer calls to my friend at Oahu Rooter. Much love and aloha everyone from Harla's Plumbing.
I think you said that you replaced the clay pipes from the home to the street 4-5 years ago. Why was there a break ten?
I've drug Spartan 300's up 3 Store Extension Ladders (my X Father In Law was Ol'School🙄) but a water hose 1st as I'm Ridgid Sectional 9 out of 10 I'm not even putting a head on it
You upcharge for pull you camera out? If so what are you charging for camera work?
I like taking the k1500 up on the roof cleans the hell out of the lines 👍
What was the bathroom doing did you to diagnose this ?
We had to a fix like this and we ended up having to jack hammer the floor up. Where the flange was located was right in a concrete beam. It was not fun chipping around that at all.
Man my toilet drain pipe is completely clogged I mean no movement in water level .. so I rented a 1/2x50ft drain cleaner. I ended up using all my cordage and to my surprise when I went to my back yard to see that my cordage coming out of my vent pipe off my roof. Should I assume it’s cleared out or should I I do it from roof
I am thinking about doing the JOB myself ☺️
If the home were on a septic system would you use any measures to prevent clogging material from ending up in the tank as it breaks up or Is this even an issue. I have may leaves on my roof and we get alot of rain.
Clean it once and install some type of mesh screening over the top. I've done it as a plumber countless times. An easy, homeowner capable fix
How are roots growing in there?
would like to see how you get the machine on the roof
Would root killer work?? temporarily...
I am freaking out I have a roof vent pipe by my bedroom window and as a washer was spinning and emptying tonight I kept hearing glug glug. I've been washing dog blankets daily because I have puppies and I'm sure that's the problem, or at least I'm hoping! Can I go try to unclog it from the wash drain first or do I have to go to the roof? We won't talk about the amount of trees in my yard , Ssh 😬
What size pipe diameter that is used with copper pipe for the toilet ?? Three inch or 4 inch and what is the drop of the drain pipe per foot ?? Thanks
I am just amazed that the plumber did not wind copper wire around the pipes and the roots would stay at bay. But they just want to keep coming over and billing the customer.
I'm older than I should be at my age, but that little 400 is my go to for almost anything! My Spartan is the bees knees, but I can't carry it myself!
Smell in basement..and my kitchen sink was slow ; so i did put acid stuff its now draining better, but where does that smell come from? Should j snake my vent ?
Spartan #300 machine, 5/8ths cable, through minimum 3"-4" vent only. Key word only being is un-able to forsee just what is causing the problem within the sewer line? You can run the cable through a 1"1/2 or 2" vent, you will most likely clear the stoppage. Massive problem to follow, retrieving the cable with tree roots wrapped around it, pulling it back within/out through a 1"-1/2-2" vent. Nearly impossible, lucky if reversing the machine in prayer shot in hope's the roots fall off the cable during the process. If there is no 3"-4" roof vent available, pull the closet/toilet in the furthest bathroom rear within the house, machine un-plugged run the cable by hand to make the drop approx 4'-8' into the sewer line. Which is the closet bend, once you make the drop within the closet bend, Tree roots or anything like tampons, baby wipes,you will clear the line. As well as save yourself from the all to common cable retrivement if tree roots. Due to closet bends are minimum 3"-4", along with the existing sewer line. Then reset the toilet, problem solved without any roof excursions.
God damn 😂 I had to pause it at 0:21 because I chuckled lol I thought he was going to be like John Wayne an say some quote from his movies lol “ Well miss you when you get on the roof and you need to unclog a pipe you get your snake an put it in.”
Now get down on your hands and knees and ask God for forgiveness for saying (writing) his name in vein.
Looks like the roots are penetrating the pipe below the transition point?.. fitting possibly not glued on top side
or a seperation. Unlike cast iron or terracotta, pvc or abs don't have sections that leak from hub unless it's not properly glued, crack or separation.... I have also seen roots penetrate piping where ferncos were not concreted underground.... here in New Jersey it is required by code...
We have to at city taps.
Option 3 do yearly maintenance. We use gorlitz sewer, jr, and niard. Depending on the job.We are highly trained drain cleaners. We can clear 98% of blockages. Not everything needs to be replaced.
True words of an experienced drain guy!
Spartan is another great machine
I’m not a plumber but enjoy your videos Roger. Couldn’t you pull the toilet and snake the roots that way?
How did you get the machine on the roof
Can you used a hand held drain cleaner tool..
If its a dead rat in 3 inch vent pipe will a drain snake grind it up enough to flow down stream thru main sewer line..or will the cork screw type snake head wrap into rats body so you can pull it out..if rat is dead it should eventually decompose and be a small skeleton with dried skin..it should crumple up with root cutter attachment..right?
Could you be any more badass!? Thx Roger!
I just did this last week in a mobile home. With a hand snake
Ive only ever snaked one house through vent. And i do alot i once did one in an apartment complex in malibu in parking structure with a scissor lift a 18 foot 4 inch abs pipe one guy holding pipe at bottom so i could feed snake and the other on top of scissor lift holding pipe by clean out so i could feed it up It was on hill and i was using the big snake so i couldnt use snake on scissor lift it was one of my more memmorable jobs 4 other plumbing company's came out and couldnt do it we re turned later and properly plumbed everything inn but i gotta say it took some ingenuity to get that one done ...i wish i would i would made made video
Hello I might have concrete in one of my terrace drainage, can that be unclogged or the drain pipe has to be replaced? Thank you.
Yes, absolutely can be unclogged if it's not solid. It may be easier to just dig it up and replace it though
@@RogerWakefield thanks
What's the brand of the camera?
How did you safely get your k-400 on the roof
I have a blocked air vent now. If the blockage came from the top, like a dirt dauber nest or a dead bird, could I put 1/4" mesh over the pipe to keep it from happening again?
Look up plumbing code in your area, some places you cant
I found a squirrel in my sisters vent pipe. Filled it with water and tapped the pipe gently with a hammer and it eventually broke free. I had a main drain pipe in the yard impacted with 4' of roots, I almost got a face full of ........um effluent when I got close to digging it out. That stuff shout up and out of the hole about 3'. Nasty!