Whats a good way to snake a kitchen sink? - Page 8 - Plumbing Zone

Redwood · 09-01-2010, 08:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kevan

If a roof is pitched like a European cathedral which most of them are in the northern climate for snow loading, if the vent is two stories up, if the roof is slick with frost which is typical from the beginning of October until mid April, ice or snow typical from mid November to mid April, if it's raining heavily, if the old asphalt shingles are little more than storage sheets for millions of tiny ball bearings or, if the roof is a slate roof, or if the roof is a wood shingle roof over with moss on it or if the roof is wood shingle over plank -- then the roof is not a good option for that particular job.

There Kevan I fixed it a little and I can live with it now...
You see on the average we get about 10X the amount of snow you will ever see.
This snow has weight so buildings are constructed differently to prevent the snow loading on the roof from collapsing the roof.
http://www.eng.uab.edu/cee/faculty/n...r/hartford.htm
This design involves a steep pitch on most buildings.

So yea, in the north the last place we look is up to the roof.
Besides, what good would it do when there is a house trap in the basement.
It's all part of the size up! Here it is seldom an option...

plbgbiz · 09-01-2010, 09:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kevan

Maybe I can restate my point in a more agreeable way. Avoiding the roof is like taking a tool out of your box. A pipe wrench can do pretty much what channellocks do, but we all understand that some things are harder with a pipe wrench, so we don't want to drive up to a house without slip-joint pliers in the toolbox.

Maybe my statement that I always avoid roofs was misunderstood. I never said I never go on a roof. I was on a roof yesterday assisting with a locating job. But I did avoid it and I did not like it (for me or my employees).

So yes, it would be like removing a tool from my tool bag...a 48" Stillson is an awesome pipe wrench. Although I AVOID using it there is a place in my shop just in case I HAVE to use it. I guess citizens in Montreal aren't allowed to have stopped up sinks from late December to April since Santa is the only fellow on those roofs.

There are several factors that determine what the best solution is but fast and easy seldom make the list for consideration.

Kevan · 09-01-2010, 09:39 AM

Quote:

So yea, in the north the last place we look is up to the roof.
Besides, what good would it do when there is a house trap in the basement.
It's all part of the size up! Here it is seldom an option...

Quote:

Originally Posted by SewerRatz

Some will tell me that many plumbers rod the main from the roof and they do not want their water closet pulled. I thank them hand them the estimate for the proper clean outs and leave.

Whom should I believe?

It sounds to me like some drain men in the north do roofs and others don't. Did I miss something?

SewerRatz · 09-01-2010, 09:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kevan

Whom should I believe?

It sounds to me like some drain men in the north do roofs and others don't. Did I miss something?

When I was young and dumb I did rodded mains from the roof. I used to think I had to get the main open no matter how dangerous it was. But as I got older I got a little wiser. I tell people the truth, rodding from the roof is not proper, nor is pulling the water closet really. Code states pulling a water closet is not an alternative to a clean out. So I explain to them the benefits of having a proper clean out installed and that for now I can pull the water closest to get them open. Again if they do not want me to pull the water closet, and insist on rodding from the roof, I say thank you for calling, and leave.

Kevan · 09-01-2010, 02:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SewerRatz

When I was young and dumb I did rodded mains from the roof. I used to think I had to get the main open no matter how dangerous it was.

Who taught you to do the work that way? Was it someone who ran mains from the roof in the north?

The original topic was a kitchen sink drain, which I think we agree is not so dangerous as a main line. Even still, I run mains from the roof when it seems to be the best approach for a particular job.

I think I can identify with the young, dumb, and dangerous stage you referred to. That's what I was talking about earlier when I confessed to doing stupid and dangerous things. But I cannot agree that working on the roof is dangerous in itself. When I've said that the roof is the best option sometimes, that obviously excludes a situation that could be described as "no matter how dangerous." If there's something particularly dangerous about that particular roof, then it cannot the best option for that particular job.

AssTyme · 09-01-2010, 03:23 PM

SewerRatz · 09-01-2010, 04:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kevan

Who taught you to do the work that way? Was it someone who ran mains from the roof in the north?

The original topic was a kitchen sink drain, which I think we agree is not so dangerous as a main line. Even still, I run mains from the roof when it seems to be the best approach for a particular job.

I think I can identify with the young, dumb, and dangerous stage you referred to. That's what I was talking about earlier when I confessed to doing stupid and dangerous things. But I cannot agree that working on the roof is dangerous in itself. When I've said that the roof is the best option sometimes, that obviously excludes a situation that could be described as "no matter how dangerous." If there's something particularly dangerous about that particular roof, then it cannot the best option for that particular job.

Rodding a kitchen sink from a roof around here is not an option 99% of the time. The kitchen sink vent ties into the main stack. But no matter what its still to dangerous to rod from the roof.

As who taught me to rod a drain period is my father which has been drain cleaning for over 50 years. I been at this for over 20 years.

Kevan · 09-02-2010, 02:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SewerRatz

As who taught me to rod a drain period is my father which has been drain cleaning for over 50 years.

Since your father taught you to clean drains and you used to clean them from the roof, it sounds like you learned the roof technique from your father, and that both you and he were doing things this way back then. If so, I'm sure that each of you chose that approach because you thought that it was the best option for that particular job.

You said in an earlier post that your competitors run these drains from the roof. Those competitors apparently think that the roof is the best option for those particular jobs.

These men, who at one time included you and your father, are not idiots and they are not Southerners (I do not mean to repeat myself). They just have a different outlook. It is an outlook I share and that I recommend to other drain men. That said, I would add that I have a high degree of respect for those who differ, so long as they forged their opinions on the anvil of experience and are committed to treating the customer fairly; and I believe that both of those things are true of you.

retired rooter · 09-03-2010, 05:09 AM

any machine that will hold 50' of 1/4" open hook cable I buy from draincable direct will go thru strainers with a few tricks send me message for details I gave better answer on other post disreguard this one

09-03-2010, 05:09 AM	#79
retired rooter Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Posts: 497 My Photos	any machine that will hold 50' of 1/4" open hook cable I buy from draincable direct will go thru strainers with a few tricks send me message for details I gave better answer on other post disreguard this one __________________ rode hard put up wet Last edited by retired rooter; 09-03-2010 at 05:18 AM..

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09-01-2010, 03:23 PM	#76
AssTyme Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Wisconsin Posts: 405 My Photos