what is the plaster like gunk that clogs my drainpipe?
finding z0
with white plaster-like material. The cold water from the kitchen is
is unsoftened well water high in minerals. Lately its been clogging
more frequently.We try to put very little grease down the sink. I
suppose the dishwasher is an exception. I expect that the soap that
accompanies it should keep it from clogging.I have a rubber coupling
in the basement through which I shove a 50' blade up the pipe to reach
the clog and eventually smash it open. Then I pour sinkfulls of water
down the sink which flushes the crud into a bucket (mostly). My least
favorite job. RotoRooter will do it for $100/150 bucks. For years i
thought it was congealed grease and not necessarily minerals plating
out. None of the plumbing treatments ever worked, though recently I
tried gallons of boiling hot water/hot vinegar and I think that helps
though I suspect some of my joints gave up with this treatment.
Yesterday I went in the crawl to fix a detached drain pipe which was
also the clogged line and found the clog at that very spot. OK this
was my least favorite job. As I dug the plaster out of the downhill
side of the detached pipe, water came out (uphill?). Now I always
wondered about the slope of this pipe being rather shallow, but water
flowing up? hmmmmm...
I have some chunks of the material and have subjected it to some of
the treatments I've tried in the past. Vinegar does nada. Soap does
nada. Enzymes do nada as well. Still there are things to try. Hot
water hot vinegar. I will take it to the lab and see what I can find
out myself. Is it organic? Inorganic. A mixture? I have the tools. Of
course if I find something that works, it will probably kill all
living things within a 3 mile radius of my house. Any suggestions?
p.s the methylethylketone cleaner/pipe glue failed to hold though the
pipes are popped together and some plumbers putty will have to work
until i can psyche my self into going down there again. I suppose I
should wait until my stiff neck and backache get better as well. Since
I cleaned the clog at the source I suspect it may take a while longer
to happen again.
Norminn
>p.s the methylethylketone cleaner/pipe glue failed to hold though the
>pipes are popped together and some plumbers putty will have to work
>until i can psyche my self into going down there again. I suppose I
>should wait until my stiff neck and backache get better as well. Since
>I cleaned the clog at the source I suspect it may take a while longer
>to happen again.
>
>
Undissolved detergent? Put some of the crud into a bottle of distilled
water, shake it and see
what happens.
Are you on septic or sewer? If sewer, could something be backing up?
finding z0
Interesting suggestion.
If only it were that!
Septic.
I tried boiling water and vinegar. Will let it sit awhile
Oren
wrote:
Why would you put grease down the sink drain, on a septic system.
If so, build an independent grease trap.
finding z0
> On Fri, 28 Mar 2008 16:52:37 -0700 (PDT), finding z0 <j...@excite.com>
>
> Why would you put grease down the sink drain, on a septic system.
>
> If so, build an independent grease trap.
Plates are greasy after dinner dude.
We don't pour naked or even clothed grease down the sink.
We even wipe greasier things with paper towels before washing.
finding z0
>I will take it to the lab and see what I can find
> course if I find something that works, it will probably kill all
> living things within a 3 mile radius of my house. Any suggestions?
> p.s the methylethylketone cleaner/pipe glue failed to hold though the
> pipes are popped together and some plumbers putty will have to work
> until i can psyche my self into going down there again. I suppose I
> should wait until my stiff neck and backache get better as well. Since
> I cleaned the clog at the source I suspect it may take a while longer
> to happen again.
Well it seems that the stuff is organic as it goes right into organic
solvent (ethyl acetate, CHCl3) and not water, or even soapy water??.
The NMR shows an oil-like pattern (vegetable?). Very little
unsaturation. So all I have to do in the future is pour massive
amounts of organic solvents down my kitchen sink. What could possibly
go wrong....hahahahahahahaha.......
smileyface here. (won't matter just you wait....;-))).........)
Norminn
>On Mar 28, 7:32 pm, finding z0 <j...@excite.com> wrote:
>
>
>>I will take it to the lab and see what I can find
>>out myself.Is it organic? Inorganic. A mixture? I have the tools. Of
>>course if I find something that works, it will probably kill all
>>living things within a 3 mile radius of my house. Any suggestions?
>>p.s the methylethylketone cleaner/pipe glue failed to hold though the
>>
>>
Has someone been pouring solvents down the drain (caused the glue to fail)?
>>pipes are popped together and some plumbers putty will have to work
>>until i can psyche my self into going down there again. I suppose I
>>should wait until my stiff neck and backache get better as well. Since
>>I cleaned the clog at the source I suspect it may take a while longer
>>to happen again.
>>
>>
>
>Well it seems that the stuff is organic as it goes right into organic
>solvent (ethyl acetate, CHCl3) and not water, or even soapy water??.
>The NMR shows an oil-like pattern (vegetable?). Very little
>
>
NMR? CHC13?
>unsaturation. So all I have to do in the future is pour massive
>amounts of organic solvents down my kitchen sink. What could possibly
>go wrong....hahahahahahahaha.......
>smileyface here. (won't matter just you wait....;-))).........)
>
>
I love mysteries, but have trouble with your chemistry.......two things
come to mind: pigment
settled out of paint, and pvc pipe dissolving. Someone in the household
works with dust/powders
and the stuff comes out in the laundry? I have no idea if/how/why pvc
would
dissintegrate....just a thought :o)
finding z0
> Has someone been pouring solvents down the drain (caused the glue to fail)?
The closest I could come to solvents down the drain would be boiling
water/vingar to try to clear the clog. Some connections apparently
didn't like that. The other source of stress would be the snake
(blade) I pound thru the pipe to clear the clog.
> >Well it seemsthatthe stuffisorganic as it goes right into organic
> >solvent (ethyl acetate, CHCl3) and not water, or even soapy water??.
> >The NMR shows an oil-like pattern (vegetable?). Very little
>
> NMR? CHC13?
NMR (Nuclear Magnetic Resonance) is a chemist's tool that we use to
see hydrogen atoms. The Medical profession adopted this tech and
renamed it MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) dropping the "nuclear" as
it scared people. It doesn't refer to harmful 'radiation', but it does
have to do with the nucleus of an atom. We spin a small sample of
compund in a magnetic field. MD's spin the magnetic field around the
sample (you). CHCl3, actually, CDCl3 (D-chloroform) is a common
solvent used to dissolve sample for this procedure.
> I love mysteries, but have trouble with your chemistry.......two things
> come to mind: pigment
> settled out of paint, and pvc pipe dissolving. Someone in the household
> works with dust/powders
> and the stuff comes out in the laundry? I have no idea if/how/why pvc
> would
> dissintegrate....just a thought :o)
We are running a household with 2 daughters, one off to college, and
we aren't home all day. Maybe someone is using our house as a drug
factory during the day....? Wait! That might explain the $1000 in cash
we find once a month on the kitchen table...hmmm....
When I first moved in there 23 yrs ago, my neighbor helped me clear
that clog. He said that stuff is what happens to grease in the dark.
He may be right. It only happens in the pipe from the kitchen sink, so
trace food waste and bits of fat/oil must be the culprits. PVC
wouldn't dissolve in solvents I used (in the lab) and would have a
distinct pattern in an NMR spectra. We try not to put any amt of oil/
grease down the drain. There are dirty plates in the dishwasher, but
you would expect the soap to keep the grease from gunking out. That is
what soap does. I guess the slope of that pipe allows water to sit
over long periods. I expect now that I've actually cleared the clog at
the source, it won't form again as quickly. I mean that stuff was
stuck to the top of the pipe as well and took a crow bar to break
through. Cheers, and thanks for your interest.
RicodJour
What do you use for dishwasher detergent? The white color of the clog
is unusual for any grease or typical kitchen effluent.
R
willshak
Are you using granular dishwasher soap? That's what clogged my 4" septic
tank pipe a couple of years ago. We switched to liquid soap after that.
--
Bill
In Hamptonburgh, NY
To email, remove the double zeroes after @
roxisam
http://www.thestuccocompany.com/maintenance/what-is-the-plaster-like-gunk-that-clogs-my-drainpipe-296647-.htm
:
We are having the exact issue. Did you ever find out what it was and how
to solve or disolve it?
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FindingZ0
>
> roxisam had written this in response to
>
http://www.thestuccocompany.com/maintenance/what-is-the-plaster-like-gunk-that-clogs-my-drainpipe-296647-.htm
> :
> We are having the exact issue. Did you ever find out what it was and how
> to solve or disolve it?
--
Terry Coombs
--
Snag
The Daring Dufas
TDD
FindingZ0
>
> Oh heck, I thought I saw "lame" deposits. I had to adjust my eyeglasses.
o_O
> TDD
--
The Daring Dufas
TDD
Rob Amey
Do you have AC or a humidifier that drains the excess water from these items
into your drain pipes.?
That could be your problem
--
for full context, visit http://www.homeownershub.com/maintenance/what-is-the-plaster-like-gunk-that-clogs-my-drainpipe-296647-.htm
findingzzero
Nothing goes into that part of the drain pipe but the kitchen sink/ dishwsher.
I solved the problem by having a professional drain cleaner snake out the pipe
once ever 4 yrs..
Rick
I just read an article about this... it sounds like what they are calling
"FOG", Fat, Oil, & Grease', however if i read it correctly, it is a
misnomer... It's basically a type of soap that doesn't dissolve in water, but
rather, Fats, oils, & grease mix with calcium from hard water, (or maybe old
milk poured down the drain). The fat/oil/grease mix w/ the calcium and I
guess kinda turn into a dense foam that sticks to the pipes. The article did
not say how to get rid of it, and they are still unsure why so much of it
forms in city sewers when all food establishments are required to have grease
traps...
--
for full context, visit https://www.homeownershub.com/maintenance/what-is-the-plaster-like-gunk-that-clogs-my-drainpipe-296647-.htm
Nat
I have the same white plaster look junk clogging my drain pipe coming from my
kitchen. I've built my house about twenty five years ago and over the past
three or four years I have to ram pipe snakes up my pipes to get the white
plaster like stuff out. I have a problem in that my laundry room pipes
connect the to pipe from the kitchen and then go about 25 feet with a very
small slope. I have had to cut the pipe in three different places to be able
to run the snake in it. And lately I'm having to do it about once a month. I
am on a well and a septic tank and my water is a little hard, lime deposits
form on the sink and shower nozzles. Has anybody figured out what will
dissolve this gunk?
Ed Pawlowski
> replying to Rick, Nat wrote:
> I have the same white plaster look junk clogging my drain pipe coming
> from my
> kitchen. I've built my house about twenty five years ago and over the past
> three or four years I have to ram pipe snakes up my pipes to get the white
> plaster like stuff out. I have a problem in that my laundry room pipes
> connect the to pipe from the kitchen and then go about 25 feet with a very
> small slope. I have had to cut the pipe in three different places to be
> able
> to run the snake in it. And lately I'm having to do it about once a
> month. I
> am on a well and a septic tank and my water is a little hard, lime deposits
> form on the sink and shower nozzles. Has anybody figured out what will
> dissolve this gunk?
>
Won't be cheap but saves a lot of work and other potential problems.
Your clothes will be cleaner and softer too.
carey
I have soft water and do NOT send oil or grease down the sink with the
exception of leftover olive oil from a daily salad. We bake, but I minimize
the flour that goes down as well. Yet, the level 8" pipe from my garbage
disposal to sink drain pipe has been clogging up with the white junk... almost
solidly the whole length. This pipe drains to the U-pipe that comes up about
the same level to the final pipe drain at the wall... Meaning, the water may
not drain cleanly unless pushed along. I'm starting to guess it's the small
amounts of olive oil collecting over the months between cleanout. What else
could it be? I thought it was the flour, which may be the other part of the
gunk. Fortunately, this section is plastic/PVC pipe that is easily unscrewed
and cleaned (takes about 1/2 hour total since I take everything apart, clean,
and back together).
John Grabouski
No disposal, no DW. Appear to have same stuff, I too am a chemist, but no
longer have lab access. In my case, I live in the rental formerly Single
Family residence now 8 plex. My kitchen sink stacks up with the one above it
and nothing else on that line. Also (unfortunately) when the plumbing for
these sections was done (before my time here) the drains were in copper.
Supply lines in Galv pipe. Having been working on a clogged drain today in
the kitchen (runs through the basement. I have been under the impression,
the white chunks are grease which have come out of solution when the hot water
containing the grease cools as it feeds away from your sink. We also have
very hot water in this area, so that could help with the process.
Generally sticking any acid (even vinegar) is not a good thing for a copper
drain, so I have refrained. I have had luck with KOH/NaOH. That is...until
today. When even that didnt work. SO I am in the process of cutting out the
12 ft copper section now (12 years on my todo list) and replacing it with
PVC....and a couple of cleanout plugs strategically placed. Ask me again in
another 10 years. THis thread was started in 2008?? So 10 years might be
around!
No disposal, no DW. Appear to have same stuff, I too am a chemist, but no
longer have lab access. In my case, I live in the rental formerly Single
Family residence now 8 plex. My kitchen sink stacks up with the one above it
and nothing else on that line. Also (unfortunately) when the plumbing for
these sections was done (before my time here) the drains were in copper.
Supply lines in Galv pipe. Having been working on a clogged drain today in
the kitchen (runs through the basement. I have been under the impression,
the white chunks are grease which have come out of solution when the hot water
containing the grease cools as it feeds away from your sink. We also have
very hot water in this area, so that could help with the process.
Generally sticking any acid (even vinegar) is not a good thing for a copper
drain, so I have refrained. I have had luck with KOH/NaOH. That is...until
today. When even that didnt work. SO I am in the process of cutting out the
12 ft copper section now (12 years on my todo list) and replacing it with
PVC....and a couple of cleanout plugs strategically placed. Ask me again in
another 10 years. THis thread was started in 2008?? So 10 years might be
around!
WHile I dont put any grease down the sink, I can guarantee my tenants above
have not. And as some grease is dissolved by the hot water soap solution,
that could still hold with my theory.
PS..dumping hot water down the pipe will likely only move the problem farther
down the pipe....but perhaps that is far enuff.
I have heard plumbing is designed to last 50 years in a new construction
house. This one dates to the 1890s. Much of my maintenance involves
plumbing (or roofing)....Wont be building my own anytime soon. GOOD LUCK.
Unfortunately I have not replaced this section of Feed pipes (galvanized pipe)
with PEX, so water pressure isnt great either. Which means, anything WASHED
down the pipe, doesnt get very far.
Would be curious to know what anyone else has found out.
John Grabouski
Meant to say....we have very HARD water here. [Not so much HOT water.] BTW.
MrRooter website also has some thought, I am NOT employed (nor ever have been)
with Mr Rooter. I did find several points applicable to the original post.
https://www.mrrooter.com/greater-syracuse/about-us/blog/2017/march/find-and-fix-the-clog-common-causes-of-drain-blo/
One more thought. My parents lived in a house built 1950s. Had the original
stool in place when I finally remodeled to a 17inch high model. Folks were
there 35 years and during that time, NEVER had the stool been removed. It
always seems to drain slow, and an occasional overflow was not uncommon. So
we used the other bathroom (more often than not) for multiple (number 2)
reasons.
So when I finally removed it (about 2001), I was surprised to find a "tongue"
of hard water deposit which extended past the middle of the 4 inch hole and
was nearly 4 inches wide. YEP, it prevented a full flow of waste down the
hole. Reminded me of a stalactite (which forms over 1000s of years?).
Apparently flushing a half dozen times daily is the near equivalent. How is
this RELEVANT. Hard water deposits which accumulate. [Although I still
subscribe to the grease coming out of solution when the soap solution cools
from the original HOT solution which helped dissolve the grease, but it could
be helped to come out of solution by those same minerals which help with hard
water deposits.
Philip1942
> until
I have The same problem. It showed up on a sag in the pipe. A white chalky
kind of greasy plaster like slab on the bottom of the pipe. It doesn’t
dissolve in hot water.
Gabriel101777
I have the same problem. I had to take all the drain pipes out from my kitchen
sink and power wash them to get the stuff out. I just replaced my pipes about
a year ago as well. I cannot find anything to dissolve it.
K&M
--
For full context, visit https://www.homeownershub.com/maintenance/what-is-the-plaster-like-gunk-that-clogs-my-drainpipe-296647-.htm
findingZ0 aka findingzzero
I'm guessing that since our pipes reflect our diet, that what we have here, me drooges, is the plumbing version of atherosclerosis. I would therefore like to suggest one of the statin drugs that lowers blood cholesterol in humans.
Since the price of snaking a pipe has come down from $300-400 to about $99, I don't mind paying this once every few years. The date on my pipe says 3-19-2019 (last time it was snaked). My hand snake job never got to the major clog and therefore the clog would reappear more often. They snake from the stack vent on the roof above my kitchen sink. Good luck out there. At the age of 78, I don't expect 2B around for the next 14 yr old query. I leave it to one of you. Cheers.