Outside household drain blocked with cigarette butts.

metalfirecracker_

It's the drain that comes off the kitchen/bathroom and into my small yard. I have been brushing my cig butts into the drain (I know I'm an idiot) and now it's all flooding the yard everytime I put the washing on.

I can't seem to get my hand right down past the pipe to unblock it, and the pipe is attached to the wall and too long to remove even if I unscrew from the wall.

Does anyone have any idea on how I can fix this without having to pay £80+ for a plumber to do it for me? Even more sickening that I quit smoking a week ago, but I just don't have the money right now to pay a plumber.

cyclonebri1

metalfirecracker_ wrote: »

It's the drain that comes off the kitchen/bathroom and into my small yard. I have been brushing my cig butts into the drain (I know I'm an idiot) and now it's all flooding the yard everytime I put the washing on.

I can't seem to get my hand right down past the pipe to unblock it, and the pipe is attached to the wall and too long to remove even if I unscrew from the wall.

Does anyone have any idea on how I can fix this without having to pay £80+ for a plumber to do it for me? Even more sickening that I quit smoking a week ago, but I just don't have the money right now to pay a plumber.

Stop smoking, that should cure it

But on a serious note, you should be able to clear the ubend of the trap even though it may be at arms length.

My 1st shot is always the open ended hose pipe pushed as far as poss down the drain.

The try a flexible rad or wire cable.

Having a compressor I would then bang the hose down the drain as far as poss, block the drain with wet rags and let go with 60 psi of compressed air, never failed with that one yet.

A flexible wire drain cleaner for under a £5 is your best bet.

Just to add even if the waste from the washer is "too long", you should still be able to pull it downwards into the drain and then remove it, there is only about 20mm of engagement.

If it's solvent welded forget that, just saw it off a little shorter until you can get your hand in.

metalfirecracker_

cyclonebri1 wrote: »

Stop smoking, that should cure it

But on a serious note, you should be able to clear the ubend of the trap even though it may be at arms length.

My 1st shot is always the open ended hose pipe pushed as far as poss down the drain.

The try a flexible rad or wire cable.

Having a compressor I would then bang the hose down the drain as far as poss, block the drain with wet rags and let go with 60 psi of compressed air, never failed with that one yet.

A flexible wire drain cleaner for under a £5 is your best bet.

Just to add even if the waste from the washer is "too long", you should still be able to pull it downwards into the drain and then remove it, there is only about 20mm of engagement.

If it's solvent welded forget that, just saw it off a little shorter until you can get your hand in.

Thanks cyclone, if you notice in my first post, I actually stopped smoking a week ago so I'm extra disgusted! Is there any way you could tell me what you posted but in layman's terms? Haha, I did mention I'm an idiot.

The pipe outside goes right down into the ground, but the pipe is very wide and I can't get anything down the sides of it. I also don't have an outside faucet so I can't even use a hose on it.

Where is the U bend? Under the ground? I don't have a compressor but will try to find a pipe cleaner tomorrow.

Thanks for your help so far.

spacey2012

Boil the full kettle and tip it down.
failing that those flexible fibreglass tent poles can work.

metalfirecracker_

Just tried going at it with a binbag, found the ubend in the drain and got 2 handfuls of gunk out, but can't reach any further. also fell over in the process and my whole right side was soaked in overflow. Ughhhhh

metalfirecracker_

Just heard a huge 'GLUGGGGGGGSHHHH' outside, and all the water that had overflown surged right back down the drain. Does that mean it's cleared?

cyclonebri1

Very much sounds like it, now, get as much water down the drain as possible to dissipate any large chunks that could lodge else where.


A good tip as it sounds like you have a drain that is susceptible to blocking, would be to flush a bucket of soaky, OK, SOAPY, , water down there once a week, ;);)

Kiran

Cylconebri1 I have seen your email signature about the grammar police but I think the idea of "soaky water" is absolutely awesome

cyclonebri1

Kiran wrote: »

Cylconebri1 I have seen your email signature about the grammar police but I think the idea of "soaky water" is absolutely awesome

Always expect the unexpected too:o:o:o:o:o:o:o:o;);) Now corrected