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Offline paceman

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Drain blocked with dirt
« on: August 08, 2023, 04:50:50 PM »
hi all,

i have a drain (L shape), about 5m long, 90 degree bend about 1m from entry, that is now blocked with dirt (damn dog)...

i just got a quote from a plumber for $650 to unblock it...

seems a bit rich, so thought i would see if anyone has any thoughts on how to shift the dirt?

dirt is fairly stuck in there, and appears to be along the whole length of the drain...

i have access to both ends...

any thoughts appreciated.
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Offline EagleBoy

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Re: Drain blocked with dirt
« Reply #1 on: August 08, 2023, 05:02:50 PM »
For $650 I'd be hiring an electric eel and doing it yourself, if it's only dirt from the dog and no structural issues DIY.
https://www.camdenhire.com.au/catalog/product/electric-eel/3393/
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Offline paceman

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Re: Drain blocked with dirt
« Reply #2 on: August 08, 2023, 05:08:19 PM »
Quote from: EagleBoy on August 08, 2023, 05:02:50 PM
For $650 I'd be hiring an electric eel and doing it yourself, if it's only dirt from the dog and no structural issues DIY.
https://www.camdenhire.com.au/catalog/product/electric-eel/3393/

i don't know whether any of our hire mobs have one of these, but i can ask around...

have tried the normal hose and pressure washer, with little effect...
« Last Edit: August 08, 2023, 05:20:13 PM by paceman »
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Offline GeoffA

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Re: Drain blocked with dirt
« Reply #3 on: August 08, 2023, 05:51:54 PM »
Is the 90 deg bend accessible?
If it is.....dig down to it, cut it out, unblock the pipes and replace it with 2 x 45 deg bends and put an inspection/clean-out point in it....

Could also try another plumber.
We have a local bloke with a truck that's set up specifically for it.
Used him a couple of times and it's never been $650...

 :cheers:
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Offline rags

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Re: Drain blocked with dirt
« Reply #4 on: August 08, 2023, 09:32:50 PM »
Need to get a water jetter, I recently hired one for around $200 from Kennards.
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Offline prodigyrf

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Re: Drain blocked with dirt
« Reply #5 on: August 08, 2023, 11:05:47 PM »
Yes water jetters are the only drain cleaners to use nowadays and here's a handyman one for hire-
https://www.kennards.com.au/for-hire/plumbing/pipe-cleaning-maintenance/drain-cleaner-6-in-jetter-4000-psi
The pros use 5000psi heavy trailer mounted ones with a camera to check the pipe damage. If the pipe is broken and you can't dig it up (ie under slab) they can sleeve it costing $2k for the first metre and $1500 a metre after that.

By the way if those water jetters cut through tree roots they'll do the same with your fingers etc if they get in the way  :'(
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Offline paceman

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Re: Drain blocked with dirt
« Reply #6 on: August 09, 2023, 05:51:13 AM »
Quote from: GeoffA on August 08, 2023, 05:51:54 PM
Is the 90 deg bend accessible?
If it is.....dig down to it, cut it out, unblock the pipes and replace it with 2 x 45 deg bends and put an inspection/clean-out point in it....

Could also try another plumber.
We have a local bloke with a truck that's set up specifically for it.
Used him a couple of times and it's never been $650...

 :cheers:

none of the pipe is accessible to be able to do that...

might try the hire mobs

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Offline paceman

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Re: Drain blocked with dirt
« Reply #7 on: August 09, 2023, 05:52:42 AM »
Quote from: rags on August 08, 2023, 09:32:50 PM
Need to get a water jetter, I recently hired one for around $200 from Kennards.

i see that they have a drain snake and jetter... jetter is better for the dirt?
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Offline NZMarkb

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Re: Drain blocked with dirt
« Reply #8 on: August 09, 2023, 06:00:11 AM »
It'll take you longer to go and pick it up than it will to unblock it
The water jet will rip through the dirt
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Offline paceman

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Re: Drain blocked with dirt
« Reply #9 on: August 09, 2023, 06:28:15 AM »
looks like jetter is the way to go...

just need to see if anyone has them in Mackay...


thanks all for the advice...
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Offline NZMarkb

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Re: Drain blocked with dirt
« Reply #10 on: August 09, 2023, 06:50:57 AM »
It's just a different head on a water blaster
Shouldn't have too much trouble getting one
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Offline Rhojef

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Re: Drain blocked with dirt
« Reply #11 on: August 09, 2023, 07:34:55 AM »
Electrical conduit attached to the hose and heat up and flatten the other end often works. Gives you the ability to push into the blockage that you can't get with the hose.
Will be a bit slower than a pressure drain cleaner but also cheaper.
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Offline paceman

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Re: Drain blocked with dirt
« Reply #12 on: August 09, 2023, 08:40:30 AM »
Quote from: Rhojef on August 09, 2023, 07:34:55 AM
Electrical conduit attached to the hose and heat up and flatten the other end often works. Gives you the ability to push into the blockage that you can't get with the hose.
Will be a bit slower than a pressure drain cleaner but also cheaper.

i have a heap of conduit...

not sure i follow?
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Offline Rhojef

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Re: Drain blocked with dirt
« Reply #13 on: August 09, 2023, 09:37:01 AM »
A conduit gives the rigidity to push that a hose doesn't have
If  it's only dirt you could try wiring or taping the hose to a piece of conduit and see how it goes.
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Offline austastar

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Re: Drain blocked with dirt
« Reply #14 on: August 09, 2023, 09:40:18 AM »
Hi,
   Conduit can
1. act as  a splint for a floppy hose
or
2.  act as a hose extension to reach the blockage. Modify the open end to form a jet.

Cheers

Sent from my SM-T380 using Tapatalk

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Offline xcvator

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Re: Drain blocked with dirt
« Reply #15 on: August 09, 2023, 12:23:24 PM »
Quote from: paceman on August 09, 2023, 05:51:13 AM
none of the pipe is accessible to be able to do that...

might try the hire mobs


So how did the flucking dog fill it with dirt then ?
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Offline paceman

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Re: Drain blocked with dirt
« Reply #16 on: August 09, 2023, 12:44:04 PM »
Quote from: xcvator on August 09, 2023, 12:23:24 PM
So how did the flucking dog fill it with dirt then ?

bit hard to explain...

drain separates rear driveway and shed opening
garden bed runs along one side of driveway
dogs likes to dig in that garden bed (working on that too)
dirt gets on the driveway and rain washes it into the drain
exit end of drain was blocked with vine and leaf litter (working on that too)
dirt backs up

my fault for not getting it sorted sooner.

but, it is what it is.
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Offline prodigyrf

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Re: Drain blocked with dirt
« Reply #17 on: August 09, 2023, 12:53:52 PM »
Quote from: NZMarkb on August 09, 2023, 06:50:57 AM
It's just a different head on a water blaster
Shouldn't have too much trouble getting one

Fancy pro ones for different tasks and they wear out with abrasive high pressure water-
https://seca.com.au/product-category/category/water-jetting/water-jet-nozzles/
But with only dirt there are handyman types if you've got a half decent water blaster-
https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/364229849409
Different strokes for different folks and you pay accordingly.
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There's no Great Evil conspiracy against consumers within engineering, manufacturing and supply. Just the many tradeoffs incurred to satisfy diverse tastes, priorities and wallets. But first comes all the insatiable Gummint eggsperts, nanny-staters and usual suspects.

Offline paceman

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Re: Drain blocked with dirt
« Reply #18 on: August 09, 2023, 02:07:20 PM »
Quote from: prodigyrf on August 09, 2023, 12:53:52 PM
Fancy pro ones for different tasks and they wear out with abrasive high pressure water-
https://seca.com.au/product-category/category/water-jetting/water-jet-nozzles/
But with only dirt there are handyman types if you've got a half decent water blaster-
https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/364229849409
Different strokes for different folks and you pay accordingly.

thanks...

bunnings sell a karcher drain cleaning hose... BIL has a petrol karcher... might give that a whirl...
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Offline rags

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Re: Drain blocked with dirt
« Reply #19 on: August 09, 2023, 06:51:27 PM »
Quote from: paceman on August 09, 2023, 02:07:20 PM
thanks...

bunnings sell a karcher drain cleaning hose... BIL has a petrol karcher... might give that a whirl...

I was also going to suggest that option. I was only looking at a similar hose for my Gerni  at Bunnings the other day.
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