Topic: does anyone know how bad it really is to put drano down the toilet?
lpkayak
Honored Contributor (10K+ posts)
Member # 5230
posted
why is it bad?
i have two kinds and they both say dont put down toilet
i have town sewer-not septic
i put it down all other drains but toilet is still slow and backs up when i do laundry
thanks
ps-its really hard to have lyme and not have a toilet...
-------------------- Lyme? Its complicated. Educate yourself. Posts: 13712 | From new england | Registered: Feb 2004
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Keebler
Honored Contributor (25K+ posts)
Member # 12673
posted
- Call a plumber and ask - or Home Depot or Lowe's and talk to a manager in that area.
I'm sure there are solid (ugh) reasons for the two bottles you have to say "NO" to toilets. My guess is that the chemicals can eat away a cast iron connection at the base of most toilets - or some of the glues in the sleeve connectors at all the turns.
Regardless of pipe safety, drain cleaner is very toxic for the water supply for our food (area farms & gardens), fish and wildlife. In an emergency, once in a while, it's understandably good to have on hand - IF it works. But it sounds that it's not doing the job.
If it backs up, it may need to be snaked rather than get a chemical treatment.
If there are any plumbing apprentice programs in your area, you might get a lower fee for a professional assessment to solve this ongoing issue.
I wonder if there are eco-safe drain cleaners that others have found to work? You might search Amazon for the customer reviews of some.
Could there be some kind of "air lock" going on with your pipes? Is the sewer connection at the street "free"?
There are these tiny little cameras on long cords they can snake through to see if there are any roots or other debris further down the pipes.
This is what I've seen them do on "This Old House" on PBS. I love that show and learn so much from those guys.
You might also find your answer on their website. -
[ 10-10-2012, 04:33 PM: Message edited by: Keebler ]
Posts: 48021 | From Tree House | Registered: Jul 2007
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Keebler
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posted
- ?? I've not used this, it's just the first search result that looks promising.
Surely, there are YouTube videos as to how to safely "snake" a pipe. -
Posts: 48021 | From Tree House | Registered: Jul 2007
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Keebler
Honored Contributor (25K+ posts)
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posted
- Ah, hah! Should've seen my favorite guys at THIS OLD HOUSE first.
Some of this is pretty "industrial" and not likely tools you have in the closet. Still, seeing the process helps and you can see how they open a pipe to clear a clog. THAT can be done by anyone.
Best to have TEFLON TAPE on hand before opening any pipe, though. The TT is used to close it back up to prevent leaks at the threaded joint.
TELFON TAPE -- How to apply teflon tape to a pipe thread made easy. Plumbing Tips!
YouTube video - 1:45 -
[ 10-10-2012, 05:18 PM: Message edited by: Keebler ]
Posts: 48021 | From Tree House | Registered: Jul 2007
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Keebler
Honored Contributor (25K+ posts)
Member # 12673
posted
- I think each home has a roof air pipe that needs to be clear for the sinks and toilet to drain.
Be sure that air pipe is clear. Not sure exactly what it's called or how to be sure it's clear but just start with a visual inspection from your yard, looking up to see if you notice anything unusual blocking the air vent.
This is NOT the same as an exhaust fan vent. It will be a separate exit pipe.
Binoculars will help. -
Posts: 48021 | From Tree House | Registered: Jul 2007
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Keebler
Honored Contributor (25K+ posts)
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Old plumber talks about an automatic air vent. Venting plumbing fixtures.
YouTube - Two minute video
This is a video on an automatic air vent for renovations in your home.
All plumbing fixtures in your home must be vented whether they are wet vented, individually vented or dual vented etc. . . . -
Posts: 48021 | From Tree House | Registered: Jul 2007
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Keebler
Honored Contributor (25K+ posts)
Member # 12673
posted
- Check they moisture / dryness factor as you follow your pipes out of your home and into your yard. Is the ground excessively dry? Has it shifted in any manner?
DROUGHT can cause sewer lines to sink and move.
Not sure if your part of the country got the same drought as much of the U.S. but that long dry stretch has caused many home foundations to sink and buckle.
The same thing could happen to water and sewer pipes and connections at the various junctures.
Just good to rule this out.
Has any heavy vehicle driven over your outside pipeline?
(My brother did this once, he just parked on the front lawn for a split second before my mother told him why NOT to do that - so I know that can crack a sewer pipe below.)
Also ask your immediate neighbors if they are experiencing a similar problem. If so, there could be a line partially blocked further out from your house.
If caused by drought, you may be covered by home owners insurance for repair (check your policy). But, if a pipe problem is just off your property, the city may cover the repair.
Considering all the variables can be daunting (and I love the home repair shows so just think of all I've seen). So, I hope you find a very easy reason for this - and a simple solution. -
[ 10-10-2012, 05:29 PM: Message edited by: Keebler ]
Posts: 48021 | From Tree House | Registered: Jul 2007
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Keebler
Honored Contributor (25K+ posts)
Member # 12673
posted
- FAULTY PIPE MATERIALS ?
Just stumbled onto this. Not sure how easy it might be to trace the PVC piping in your house but you could call your city government to see if they've had any dealing with this supplier.
Whistleblower accuses world's largest PVC pipemaker of fraud
by Christian Dem in NCFollow
CBS VIDEO LINK here, too.
John Hendrix, a former quality-control engineer with JM Eagle, the world's largest maker of PVC pipe, claims that his former employer has been flagrantly lying about the condition of its products. . . .
. . . Hendrix was an engineer in JM Eagle's Product Assurance Division.
In his first TV interview, he says his own company cut corners for profit and hid internal tests allegedly showing some pipe had a high failure rate and was too weak to meet industry standards.
He says tests had "anywhere from 50 to 80 percent failure rates. . . .
- Full article at link above . -
Posts: 48021 | From Tree House | Registered: Jul 2007
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-------------------- --Lymetutu-- Opinions, not medical advice! Posts: 96222 | From Texas | Registered: Feb 2001
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droid1226
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 34930
posted
pour in one full bottle of dishsoap. let it sit overnight. don't flush. seems like it's nonsense but it works stronger than draino. best thing next to a snake. gotta let it sit.
lpkayak
Honored Contributor (10K+ posts)
Member # 5230
posted
gees tutu---u think im a dummy or somethin??? i called a plumber first thing and had a long talk with his wife who said plumbers dont like you to put the stuff in cuz it splashes on them when they work on the toilet...but the real plumber didnt call me back til tonight..and he gave me a number for a drain guy. will call first thing tomorrow. what i am doing is not working...bathroom floor has been washed 3 times now today and every towel i own is wet. and of course i cant wash them...cuz nothing is draining. its pouring outside...i think i will lay them all out on the drive and after it rains awhile turn them over...its a lot of towels...maybe tomorrow they will dry in the sun-dry dirty towels are better than wet dirty towels
-------------------- Lyme? Its complicated. Educate yourself. Posts: 13712 | From new england | Registered: Feb 2004
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lpkayak
Honored Contributor (10K+ posts)
Member # 5230
posted
droid...you were right!!! it did work better than drano. and it wont hurt the plumber if it splashes back. i am going to use that in the future. it makes sense. they use it to take oil off the birds when there is a spill
it didnt totally solve the problem...but it improved things-good to remember-cheaper than drano too
-------------------- Lyme? Its complicated. Educate yourself. Posts: 13712 | From new england | Registered: Feb 2004
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Keebler
Honored Contributor (25K+ posts)
Member # 12673
DisposALL is a diatomaceous earth based product. -
Posts: 48021 | From Tree House | Registered: Jul 2007
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lpkayak
Honored Contributor (10K+ posts)
Member # 5230
posted
thanks keeb-there is a good chance i will use this product. i cant get drains fixed or cleaned yet...i was told they might break and id need a back-hoe
-------------------- Lyme? Its complicated. Educate yourself. Posts: 13712 | From new england | Registered: Feb 2004
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