Hi. I'm having A problem with the 4" main drain line of my house will not drain. (My house is raised and I have access to main sewer line under house). I have snaked every vent pipe with a 1/2" x 50' snake. I snaked every drain in the house with a 1/4" x 25' snake. Finally I went under the house and opened the 2" clean out, and it was full of water. I opened the 4" clean out on the main and it was full of water. I ran a 1/2" x 50' snake with the 2" cutting blades on it, down the 4" main. (The 4" main is only 4" for the first 2' (ABS) then it is cast iron (3" all the rest of the way to the main sewer line in the middle of the street). After pulling it back out, the water level did not change. I measured the distance of what [appeared to be] the length of the main from my house to a new clean out the City put on my sidewalk. I tried to accommodate for the bends and pitch in the pipe and my best measurement was 47'. I used a 50' snake. Technically, that should have cleaned it out, right? Well, it is still full of water, only draining ever so slowly now. I put a hose down the clean out and ran water through it. No problem there. So the clog appears to be between the 4" main under my house and the clean out in front of my house. My questions are:

(1) Is it possible that I miss-measured the length of the pipe and I actually came up short on my measurements which means that the 50' foot snake was not long enough?

(2) Is it possible that the 1/2" x 50' snake with the 2" cutter attached "coiled up" inside the 3" pipe and not make the 50' run?

(3) Could there be something in the 3" main that the cutter would go through and self-seal after the snake was removed?

I do not believe that it is a vent pipe or household drain problem. I believe the problem lies in the main (somewhere). I only have an opening of 16" x 24" to get access under my house. I would not be able to get any kind of motorized snake under my house.

I have done everything I can think of and it is still not draining. HELP!!

you 'should' have a clean out outside the house (possibly covered up by landscaping)

at this point you need a professional with 'heavy duty' equipment

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"Measure Twice & Cut Once" - Retired U.A. Local 1 & 638

1. Yes
2. Yes
3. Yes
4. It is unlike any "hand cranked snake" would tough enough to do any good.
5. You probably have an outside cleanout, but it could be in the form of a tee with a plug buried at the depth of the sewer.
6. I hope your description of a 4" sewer connecting to a 3" cast iron sewer is incorrect, because if that is what you have, it is a big No-No.

Trying to do that. Getting a 100' snake and running it from that one toilet into the main. Too dangerous to try doing it under the house. would have 15' of flopping cable between the reel and the pipe to hit me with. If a 100' snake won't do it... time for a seal bomb!

This house was built in 1954, no outside clean out was installed. The outside diameter of the cast iron pipes are smaller that the 4" ABS that I have so I would guess 3" or 3 1/2" but not 4".

GOT IT!!!!! Took a 100' snake but I got it! I was a Wonderful sound to hear that water RUSH down the pipe!!! Nice to have everything working again like it is supposed to!



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