How To Clear Cast Iron Basement Drain

[DiYGuy2021]

Hello. When I moved into my home, and had the inspection done, I was told the basement drain had a blockage in the trapped portion of the drain. I notice there is a plug on the side of the drain. What is the best way in proceeding to clear this drain?

 

[Terry]

The plug, if you can remove it, is where you can run the snake.

 

[Sponsor]

 

[Reach4]

Also, you may be able to vacuum sediment from the trap with a wet-dry vac.

 

[DiYGuy2021]

Thanks, everyone. Vacuum the hole with the cap, or the other part?

Also, Reach, did you see I made a new reply on another thread you helped me with awhile back?

https://terrylove.com/forums/index.php?threads/another-messed-up-flange.92405/#post-674931

 

[Reach4]

Thanks, everyone. Vacuum the hole with the cap, or the other part?

The other part -- the hole at the bottom of the bowl.

If you pull the red cap, that is for sticking a snake into. Maybe even a small or medium drain bladder would work.

In the picture below, that angled piece connects to a plug in the floor drain bowl. That plug is there to allow cleanout access.

 

[DiYGuy2021]

Alright. Thanks. I will try the non-plugged portion first to clear. I wonder how the inspector would have known the issue was the trapped portion, though...

 

[Tuttles Revenge]

They probably poured water into the drain and watched it not drain.

FWIW, those old cast iron traps are simply too tight of a radius to get a drain snake through, that is why there is a plug for that purpose. You can cable a bit down the trap, but then follow that with a wet vac to get as much of everything out.

 

[DiYGuy2021]

They probably poured water into the drain and watched it not drain.

FWIW, those old cast iron traps are simply too tight of a radius to get a drain snake through, that is why there is a plug for that purpose. You can cable a bit down the trap, but then follow that with a wet vac to get as much of everything out.

Thanks. So, if they poured water in it, and it filled up quick, that would tell you it was in the trapped portion because, if it was further down the line, they would have needed to pour a larger amount of water in it to see the backup?

 

[Tuttles Revenge]

Thanks. So, if they poured water in it, and it filled up quick, that would tell you it was in the trapped portion because, if it was further down the line, they would have needed to pour a larger amount of water in it to see the backup?

Perhaps.. Im saying more likely they poured x amount of water into the trap and observed it fill up to the top.. and not go anywhere.. thus clogged.. How much or how long is not known to us.. But you could perform the same task yourself to calculate that..

 

[Jeff H Young]

diyguy2021, I wouldn't worry about what inspector said or how he figured it out. but worry about the facts is drain plugged? then un plug. it likely is at trap. shop vac and a wire coat hangar what ever you have. if you remove plug and water can drain freely down hole then you know its the trap. if it doesn't drain then you know you have a back up downstream

 

[DiYGuy2021]

It was the trap. I used the wet vac method, and it worked great. Thanks for the help.

 

[Michael Young]

Also, you may be able to vacuum sediment from the trap with a wet-dry vac.

Last house I lived in, all of the floor drains were clogged. I had to use a shop vac first before I was able to get my cable through and get them running again.