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Author:
airfouts (MD)
The discharge line from my grinder pump to the street sewer system is clogged. The distance from the pump to the street is about 175', so the clog could be anywhere. The problem is, is that the discharge pipe from the pump is 1-1/4" in diameter and no one can snake or jet a pipe this small, especially if there are turns or bends (unknown).
There is no clean out located between the pump and street so the only option I am being told by local plumbers is to dig down to the discharge pipe, cut it, and try to snake it. But this is not guaranteed.
Can anyone help? Any suggestions?
I can't use my toilets, showers, sinks, etc., because the discharge is clogged. Been sleeping in a hotel.
Please help!
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Author:
Wheelchair (IL)
It is most difficult to think that a system that stretches that length, without a clean out for its size. It does prove that doing a job cheap in the beginning, is going to cost a lot more to repair. A smaller cable might help if the clog is near a 90 or elbow. Do you have any printed diagrams?
Best Wishes
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Author:
packy (MA)
no access from inside the tank?
should be able do something from there.
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Author:
North Carolina Plumber (NC)
I probably wouldn't try to snake the pipe, I think I'd hook up a water supply to force the blockage out.
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Author:
airfouts (MD)
There is 1-1/4" 90 degree elbow inside to the outside, no one can snake that with the bends. This is why everyone wants to dig down from the outside and break the pipe
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Author:
airfouts (MD)
The grinder pump is 80psi and is working at full power. The blockage will not release with this pressure. It just fires backwards and "crap" sprays everywhere.
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Author:
m & m (MD)
Once outside the tank, the discharge could very well "upsize" to 2". Not that that helps your unfortunate situation although a jetter would have better chances on 2" vs. 1-1/4".
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Author:
PA_Plumber (PA)
You should have a valve near the curb for the city to turn off the discharge in case they need to repair the sewer main.
I recently had a similar problem at a customers house. We had dug up a section to snake the 1 1/4" PVC line. When the snake wouldn't go further than the valve at the curb, we dug there. We found a 2 check valves next to each other. We removed both and installed 1 new check valve and they system worked perfectly.
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Author:
airfouts (MD)
Thank you, I'll look into the check valve.
I had WSSC come out and check but they said there was no valve, just gravity. He didn't get down into the sewer and really check though.
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