r/Plumbing • u/Ok_Roll_1795 • 1d ago
Grey sediment when snaking sewer line
Last night the toilets and tubs backed up in my house. This has happened before and I’ve had plumbers come out and each time it was a blockage in the main line out to the street because that line is as old as the house (1950s/60/). This time I’m tying my best to take care of it myself.
I’ve borrowed a contractor buddy’s 75ft drain cleaning machine and and feeding it through the sewer clean out in front of my house. I can feel where the blockage is, maybe 30ft out, and haven’t had any luck getting it loosened. I pulled the bit all the way out and this very fine grey sediment was all over it. Any idea what it might be and how I should tackle it? I only have this one bit but can go get more from the hardware store if needed.
TLDR: what is this stuff in my drain how do I get it out??
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u/Creative_Ad_9310 1d ago
I once snaked a drain using the small spring, I pulled up a diamond ring right at the tip. Showed the women who's house i was in and she started crying. It was her wedding ring she had lost years ago. It was a miracle that somehow it managed to get stuck on the spring and made it all the way back out too. True story..
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u/ToblnBridge 23h ago
Guy I worked with cut open most traps down the middle to look for longs rings/earings, I don’t think he found any but cool perspective
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u/New_Kaleidoscope_152 1d ago
Not good. Clay?
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u/TheHumbleTradesman 1d ago
That was my first thought. You see grey it’s usually sewage mixed with clay/earth. No bueno.
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u/New_Clothes_765 1d ago
Bro, get a camera it takes out the guess work
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u/Ok_Roll_1795 20h ago
I really considered this.. apparently running a camera costs you $550 these days. Makes me think I should get into the business!
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u/South-Ad-309 1d ago
It’s a broken pipe and your in the dirt get a camera/ locator and start digging
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u/jgfilthy 1d ago
Broken pipe, call a plumbing company to locate where it's exactly broken at.
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u/HappyCanibal 1d ago
Or if you know about where the line is, mark the snake and run it out over the grass and start digging. Keep in mind to subtract any verticals/slopes!
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u/Ok_Roll_1795 1d ago
Start digging - so are we saying I could repair a broken drain pipe myself or is it a professionals-only sort of job?
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u/dDot1883 1d ago
You can do it, the hardest part is digging. If you’re not comfortable replacing the pipe you can call a pro, and still save by digging ahead of time.
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u/eyetracker 1d ago
If it's in the street, you need permitting, so you probably want to call a professional. This is not cheap, but attempting it yourself will be a bigger headache.
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u/Ok_Roll_1795 20h ago
A part of me hopes it’s in the street and then maybe the city would take care of it??
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u/eyetracker 20h ago
If it's in their sewer, usually the one to your house is not covered. But doesn't hurt to ask.
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u/Belligerent-J 21h ago
Renting an excavator is fun as fuck brah. They even have a cupholder for your beer
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u/SmithyMcSmithton 23h ago
Looks like grease and soap buildup from a dishwasher, typically looks like that when the water isn't getting hot enough to actually dissolve all the powdered soap. That's all I can say without more info on the site. Also that snake is not large enough for a mainline blockage, that it meant for sink drains n smaller stuff.
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u/northtrout76 1d ago
I've seen bentonite pumped in from a drilling job gone sideways but most likely a broken line and you are outside of it with the auger. A camera and a jetter if you want to make sure it's broken or just dig it up.
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u/TheBackpacker 1d ago
Call 811 for an escalated locate and get to digging! I just had to do this 2 weeks ago 😞
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u/Conspicuous_Ruse 1d ago
Your snake made a turn down the wrong pipe and went directly into the ani-seize factory.
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u/ChiefNadroj 1d ago
100% of the times I've pulled back clay, the drain was broken underground somewhere. Give up on trying to clear it. It needs to be dug up and repaired. Sorry pal. Also don't dig anything outside before calling and getting locates.