The house I'm working on has an old farmhouse kitchen sink that overflows and needs a snake out. There also appears to be leaking from the trap. Unfortunately, a lot of the pipes are over old tube wiring in the basement. I never work with electrical and it won't be rewired before I'd like to have the sink working. Is there a safe way to do this without waiting for new electrical to be done? The white plastic end is an access point to snake it out.
Snake out over old tube wiring
- Thread starter HandyGal
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It looks dangerous. I've heard tales of a few plumbers and electricians that have died while working. I can do a little bit with wiring, In fact I once added a downstairs kitchen to a home I had. Even so, I now hire that work out as while getting shocked one day on a bath fan, I realized I couldn't make sense of it.
One nice tool I have added to my tool box is a voltage detector.
One nice tool I have added to my tool box is a voltage detector.
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Yes, I need one of those. Lol, I guess I'll be using tub water and wait to redo that tub until the electrical wiring is changed and I can snake out and repair the kitchen sink plumbing. The wiring has never been updated except 1 portion of it where a window air conditioner was used. It's the only grounded outlet in the whole house.
Fitter30
Well-Known Member
With power off. That old knob and tube wiring has cloth insulation with rubber if it gets wet use a hair drier to help dry it out.
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If the septic has not been pumped, I would try to get that done. However February in MN is not a good time for that usually. It is probably not the cause of your problem, but it's good practice particularly if you don't know how long it has been.
A kitchen sink drain will often clog where the flow turns from vertical to horizontal. If that is where that white cleanout is, that will be a prime spot. Try to catch what falls out when you open that cleanout. Today, a fitting like that would not be used, and instead a plastic "combo" would be used. That makes the turn more gradual.
A kitchen sink drain will often clog where the flow turns from vertical to horizontal. If that is where that white cleanout is, that will be a prime spot. Try to catch what falls out when you open that cleanout. Today, a fitting like that would not be used, and instead a plastic "combo" would be used. That makes the turn more gradual.
PlumbNuts
SC Licensed Plumbing Contractor
Instead of investing in battery powered equipment, invest in a generator; you are probably going to need it multiple times during your remodel.
Jeff H Young
In the Trades
Kill power to that run , of course a tester is needed gotta be safe protect the wiring from you and tools and equipment . I cant see where the wire is in relation to your work but in any case you're the one that's working there so be careful
Thanks everyone! Yes, the white part is the transition from vertical to horizontal. I think a generator is a great idea for any new undiscovered treasures I'll be working on. The knobs and tube lines are under the horizontal feed from the kitchen sink. I'll make sure no power is active doing anything there. Thanks again!
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When I first bought a no contact voltage detector, someone at the time said they didn't like it because it made a lot of noise.. now I realize that the noise is good. You can leave it next to a wire and listen for it to stop making noise when you turn off a breaker or pull a fuse. They're a great tool to have in your tool belt.
Jadziedzic
Active Member
"helps to bring the subconscious snake out" - gee, do plumbers have "conscious" snakes in their tool kits these days?
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