Foo - What Was in My Pipes?

So, the bathtub drain finally clogged. I ran a heavy-duty snake down the drain and only got about 12" before it wouldn't go anywhere. I took the pipe apart below the tub, and the pipe was completely clogged with a dark red, hard sludge. It was so hard that I had to actually chip away at it with a screwdriver to clear the pipe out. It had no odor. It had been there a loooong time. But it stopped before it got to where the sink drain joined the line, so it was very specific as to where it was in the line.

What could it be?

Additionally, I couldn't get ALL traces of it out (though the pipe itself is pretty much clear). Anything I can do to get rid of it, other than just running purely hot water down the drain for 15 minutes?

I thought maybe it was something the kids put down there like clay, Play-Dough, or even poop, but it had been there for a long time given how hard it was--longer than we had been living there.

I tried Googling but didn't find anything.

Thoughts?

Rust and lime scale?

Decomposed hair, skin, excrement, soap products, calcium, other minerals from your water supply. All the normal stuff. Life is messy.

Rust and lime scale?

Yup.

Does the house have a water softener?

Decomposed hair, skin, excrement, soap products, calcium, other minerals from your water supply. All the normal stuff. Life is messy.
Ya, that is what I figured. I was hoping it was more exciting than that. Also, it stopped at the drain from the sink, probably because the water from the sink washes it back a little bit.


Does the house have a water softener?
Yep.

Anyway, my wife wants me to put a real ceiling in the basement, but every time I do these repairs requiring access into the basement ceiling, I remind her how much money we save by not having to rip out the ceiling several times a year. :) The drop-ceiling is just perfect for houses almost 100 years old.

Get a nicer ACT ceiling. Something like: http://www.armstrong.com/resclgam/na/ceilings/en/us/prod_detail.asp?itemId=44552.0 in a color to work in the surroundings.

Then you still have access and it doesn't look like cheap ACT.

Didn't you have water softener issues too?

Didn't you have garbage disposal issues too?

I believe so.

Lemmiwinks?

Anyway, my wife wants me to put a real ceiling in the basement, but every time I do these repairs requiring access into the basement ceiling, I remind her how much money we save by not having to rip out the ceiling several times a year. :) The drop-ceiling is just perfect for houses almost 100 years old.

Our basement ceiling has clearly been torn out and patch very poorly by the previous owner numerous times. I've thought about a drop ceiling, but all the ones I've seen would reduce the clearance to less than 7', which isn't to code.

Rust and lime scale?
This, and does your water have heavy amounts of iron?

I had something similar, though not to such an extreme, in my last place. I think it was rust/hair/mineral buildup combined with a sort of mold. We would always get a red tinge around the drain when the bath hadn't been scrubbed down really well for more than a few weeks. And I wasn't even killing people back then.

Use a better acid on the bodies

I believe so.
Ya, garbage disposal. Those pipes are on the other side of the house, though, and don't intersect with these pipes until they each join the bigger six-incher and then under the cement basement floor.

House is old + previous owner never maintained anything for 14 years + previous owner didn't use anything most of the time so stuff just sat for 14 years + my wife does all the crazy things I tell her not to do = plumbing threads.

Our basement ceiling has clearly been torn out and patch very poorly by the previous owner numerous times. I've thought about a drop ceiling, but all the ones I've seen would reduce the clearance to less than 7', which isn't to code.
I used to sell "drop ceilings" that would go up against the ceiling, or only need three inches of space. But you end up boxing in practically everything in your basement if it's an older house and is low to begin with.

Go see one of the mushrooms in the orange apron at Home Dopey plumbing dept.(I prefer Lowes)and purchase the snake you can hook to your drill.Not very expensive,simple to use.
With those musician muscles you barely can flush the toilet with 2 hands much less use a manual snake.

I used to sell "drop ceilings" that would go up against the ceiling, or only need three inches of space. But you end up boxing in practically everything in your basement if it's an older house and is low to begin with.

Owens Corning basement system?

Sounds like hard water and normal use. Pour baking soda down the drain then white vinegar and let it do it's magic every month or so. This will keep the pipes flowing nicely and not hurt your septic system (if you're on one)

What could it be?

http://cdn-1.nflximg.com/images/6743/1096743.jpg

Sounds like you need to pee more in the shower.

Name something you don't want to hear at a gynecologists office:



What Was in my Pipes?

Clay pipes with a crack?

Sounds like hard water and normal use. Pour baking soda down the drain then white vinegar and let it do it's magic every month or so. This will keep the pipes flowing nicely and not hurt your septic system (if you're on one)
Does this really work?

Does this really work?

sometimes baker's yeast will work.

sometimes baker's yeast will work.

That type of treatment could give Sonata a yeast infection.

With those musician muscles you barely can flush the toilet with 2 hands much less use a manual snake.
Nice try, but do you know any semi-professional pianists in real life? We are like cyclists...look skinny and wimpy, but we have extremely strong hands and upper bodies. So, that AND I am cyclist, and I can definitely flush the toilet with ONE hand...sometimes.

What sort of sign does the conductor make with his baton to signal you to flush?

What sort of sign does the conductor make with his baton to signal you to flush?
Depends on their style. Most of them are so hard to follow that you just wait for someone to toot their horn.

Nice try, but do you know any semi-professional pianists in real life? We are like cyclists...look skinny and wimpy, but we have extremely strong hands and upper bodies. So, that AND I am cyclist, and I can definitely flush the toilet with ONE hand...sometimes.

I agree. Flew Diana Krall to the Juno's once and when she was deplaning shook my hand but her grip was so hard she snapped the tendon in my pinky finger. True story!

I agree. Flew Diana Krall to the Juno's once and when she was deplaning shook my hand but her grip was so hard she snapped the tendon in my pinky finger. True story!

Well hoser,
Don't bring your limp hands to the Lumberjack arm wrestling tournament at the Moosesquat Bar in Saskatoon.

Nice try, but do you know any semi-professional pianists in real life? We are like cyclists...look skinny and wimpy, but we have extremely strong hands and upper bodies. So, that AND I am cyclist, and I can definitely flush the toilet with ONE hand...sometimes.

Just get the drill-snake Rambo and let's clean out that drain trap OK?

I agree. Flew Diana Krall to the Juno's once and when she was deplaning shook my hand but her grip was so hard she snapped the tendon in my pinky finger. True story!

Did she bring her husband?
I treated this guy years ago that was a pro percussionist. His upper body was solid like a rock.

Did she bring her husband?
I treated this guy years ago that was a pro percussionist. His upper body was solid like a rock.

No, this was before Costello. She did have a guy she was dating at the time. Don't remember his name.

Well hoser,
Don't bring your limp hands to the Lumberjack arm wrestling tournament at the Moosesquat Bar in Saskatoon.

Taken into consideration. I am glad you look out for me spry.

Taken into consideration. I am glad you look out for me spry.

You're welcome hoser.Next stubby beer is on me:thumb:

Does this really work?

Works great. The two combine to make a nice fizzy bubbly and clean out most of the crud. Won't remove huge stuff but is a great maintenance tool. And it's kind of fun!

Only twice in the last ten years have I had to get the real chemicals out for wifey hair in the drains.

Works great. The two combine to make a nice fizzy bubbly and clean out most of the crud. Won't remove huge stuff but is a great maintenance tool. And it's kind of fun!

Only twice in the last ten years have I had to get the real chemicals out for wifey hair in the drains.

Huh, wifey hair is an issue, so I may have to give that a try. My big wifey hair problem is with the beater bar on the vaccuum. If every 4th or 5th time I sweep I don't cut all the hair off or pull it out (take a while), eventually, I get so much drag that I burn up the belt that powers the bar.

Huh, wifey hair is an issue, so I may have to give that a try. My big wifey hair problem is with the beater bar on the vaccuum. If every 4th or 5th time I sweep I don't cut all the hair off or pull it out (take a while), eventually, I get so much drag that I burn up the belt that powers the bar.


you could put nair in the shampoo bottle.

you could put nair in the shampoo bottle.

.....mow the lawn

Yeah, but I'm not sure making her bald is the right solution to the problem.

Yeah, but I'm not sure making her bald is the right solution to the problem.

With 7 different wigs you could be sleeping with a new women every day of the week instead of always fixing the vacuum.

With 7 different wigs you could be sleeping with a new women every day of the week instead of always fixing the vacuum.

Interesting. Very, very interesting hypothesis my good man.