So we just finished our basement remodel project which included the addition of a new shower and bath. All the plumbing that the builder installed had to be moved to accomidate propoer spacing and placement of the drains and fixtures.

This included moving the Backwater valve about 24". I'm not sure what the plumber did but I believe he added a new BWV and left the old one? not sure. or maybe he took out the old and added a Y joint in the main drain?

After sticking a camera snake down the drain it clearly shows a solid black plastic looking obstruction that completely blocks the pipe. After talking with the plumber I think what happened was, after we passed our air pressure test inspection he instructed me to remove the air pressure guage before backfilling and covering with concrete. I had no clue there might have been a balloon or something blocking the other end?!!

So, my best guess is that there is a balloon or blocking device that was used during the pressure test that is now blocking the drain.

What are my options for remvoving this type of obstruction? Will i have to break throught the concrete again to service the Y joint or is there anything that can break this plastic blockage up in the drain?

thanks in advance!

D



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No way to tell since you had an incompetent plumber. A competent one would have released the pressure himself AND removed any plug from the drain. A bigger problem is that any 'removable' plug would have had some means to access it, and that may still be open underground.

if the test bladder is still in the pipe then there is still an open end where it was inserted.
you just don't shove a test bladder down a pipe. there has to be an opening to put it in and to remove it when done. the opening is closed, usually by screwing in a plug.
one type goes in like this

another goes in like this..

my guess is you will have to open up the floor.

That balloon device looks really familiar from the top perspective. If i recall correctly i remember seeing a similar metal nipple on the twist off/on cap. I remember thinking it was strange and wondering what it was for as i was backfilling the dirt... The cap i saw was all black so if it said "PLUG" on it i didn't see it.

Is there no way to break this up from inside the drain?



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Breaking it is one thing, getting it out of the pipe afterwards is something else. Unless you know what kind of plug it is there is no way to tell if it can even be broken.

it is the still open branch of the test tee that is the issue

bust the floor and BE SURE


use the test tee as a future clean out (after installing plug) by installing a clean out deck plate:



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