Tennis ball in drain pipe?

[Philip S. Mentz]

I have an obstruction in a 3-1/2" diameter plastic corrugated drain pipe,
for which I am at a loss on how to remove. I suspect it is a tennis ball,
as I already removed one (along with lots of other plant matter surrounding
it) at another point upstream from this second obstruction. The difference
is that the first obstruction was not under concrete, the second one is. I
REALLY do not want to have to bring in jack hammers and then repave part of
my exposed aggregrate patio! The obstruction is about 4 feet away, under
the concrete, and is almost certainly at a T intersection. The other pipe
that is a feeder to the T is a drain cast into the concrete patio. I can
run a piece of flexible PVC pipe down the drain pipe and it is pretty
apparent further progress halts right about where I estimate the T to be.
Wriggling the PVC pipe can result in the PVC pipe all of sudden sliding
through, but not without a steady firm resistance. It feels like the PVC
pipe is sliding past the side of the drain pipe and a firm object, like a
tennis ball. Since one was already in there, I suspect another.

Aside from destroying my patio and repaving part of it, any ideas about how
to SEE what it is and then remove it, if a tennis ball? I can find no one
who will rent me a pipe camera, and the cost around here for someone to do
this is $339! I tried forcing the ball out downstream with inflatable
bladders, and that did not work. Using an inflatable bladder from the other
end (to push it backupstream) is impractical as the distance is over 70 feet
and has at least three more Ts along the way. I can push the bladder up
pretty far by connecting 10 foot lengths of PVC pipe (like a drilling
platform does), and pressurize the bladder from a great distance, but I
worry about hanging the bladder up on something over that long of a run.

More than anything, I'd like to SEE what the problem is. I just have to see
inside for four feet. Knowing what I am up against would be a huge
advantage. ANY ideas are welcome.

Thanks,

- Phil

[Charles Self]

Philip Mentz asks:

>rain pipe,
>for which I am at a loss on how to remove. I suspect it is a tennis ball,
>as I already removed one (along with lots of other plant matter surrounding
>it) at another point upstream from this second obstruction. The difference
>is that the first obstruction was not under concrete, the second one is. I
>REALLY do not want to have to bring in jack hammers and then repave part of
>my exposed aggregrate patio! The obstruction is about 4 feet away, under
>the concrete, and is almost certainly at a T intersection. The other pipe
>that is a feeder to the T is a drain cast into the concrete patio. I can
>run a piece of flexible PVC pipe down the drain pipe and it is pretty
>apparent further progress halts right about where I estimate the T to be.
>Wriggling the PVC pipe can result in the PVC pipe all of sudden sliding
>through, but not without a steady firm resistance. It feels like the PVC
>pipe is sliding past the side of the drain pipe and a firm object, like a
>tennis ball. Since one was already in there, I suspect another.
>
>Aside from destroying my patio and repaving part of it, any ideas about how
>to SEE what it is and then remove it, if a tennis ball? I can find no one
>who will rent me a pipe camera, and the cost around here for someone to do
>this is $339!

For what? Why not get your Roto Rooter or similar type in there to bore on
through the tennis ball?

Around here that costs at most $150. You can rent the equipment yourself, but
I've found that unless you've used it enough to develop a touch, it's cheaper
to get the pro in to do the work.

Charlie Self
Word Worker

"I reserve the absolute right to be smarter
today than I was yesterday." -Adlai Stevenson.

[Bill Kitterman]

I fully agree about the RotoRooter or similar firm. Here's hoping whoever
designed all those T's into system also included cleanouts !

[he...@hotmail.com]

Use a shop vac and a 4' 1 1/2" hose and suck it out.

On Sun, 05 Nov 2000 08:27:11 GMT, "Philip S. Mentz" <me...@home.com>
wrote:

>I have an obstruction in a 3-1/2" diameter plastic corrugated drain pipe,

>for which I am at a loss on how to remove. I suspect it is a tennis ball,
>as I already removed one (along with lots of other plant matter surrounding
>it) at another point upstream from this second obstruction. The difference
>is that the first obstruction was not under concrete, the second one is. I
>REALLY do not want to have to bring in jack hammers and then repave part of
>my exposed aggregrate patio! The obstruction is about 4 feet away, under
>the concrete, and is almost certainly at a T intersection. The other pipe
>that is a feeder to the T is a drain cast into the concrete patio. I can
>run a piece of flexible PVC pipe down the drain pipe and it is pretty
>apparent further progress halts right about where I estimate the T to be.
>Wriggling the PVC pipe can result in the PVC pipe all of sudden sliding
>through, but not without a steady firm resistance. It feels like the PVC
>pipe is sliding past the side of the drain pipe and a firm object, like a
>tennis ball. Since one was already in there, I suspect another.
>
>Aside from destroying my patio and repaving part of it, any ideas about how
>to SEE what it is and then remove it, if a tennis ball? I can find no one
>who will rent me a pipe camera, and the cost around here for someone to do

[Dan Hicks]

You want to use some sort of snake or auger, but you need to be careful
to not puncture the side of the pipe in the process, as the corrugated
stuff is fairly soft.

[WKRP]

I take it that the 4 foot distance you need to "see" through isn't straight,
huh?

If you're really that determined to see the offending object in situ, you can
buy one of those micro video cameras which will fit through anything that would
have passed a tennis ball for under 50 bucks these daze, and rigging a power
source and a couple of flashlight bulbs for illumination on it shouldn't be too
hard, though some models come with a few LEDs on them for IR illumination.

A little work with some duct tape and that flexible pipe you mentioned should
get you the view you want. You might have to screw around with the lens a bit to
focus close up, but it might be fun project...And, after you're done you'll have
a neat toy to use or give away to your favorite voyeur!

See for example:

http://www.mpja.com/product.asp?product=12179+ST

What are you doing to the kids who are tossing tennis balls onto your roof? My
kids still do that, though I'm lucky; After hearing hooror stories about gutter
cleaning chores, ice dams causing major roof leaks and such, I opted to go
without gutters when I had my current house built in the Boston area. I use
foundation plantings and ground cover (Pachasandra) where the roof runoff spills
down, and except for having to move swiftly through the drips if we're using the
front door in the rain, all is copasetic (sp?). Good luck, lemee know how you
make out...

Jeff Wisnia W1BSV Brass Rat '57 ee

> I have an obstruction in a 3-1/2" diameter plastic corrugated drain pipe,
> for which I am at a loss on how to remove. I suspect it is a tennis ball,
> as I already removed one (along with lots of other plant matter surrounding
> it) at another point upstream from this second obstruction. The difference

--

"Philip S. Mentz" wrote:

> I have an obstruction in a 3-1/2" diameter plastic corrugated drain pipe,
> for which I am at a loss on how to remove. I suspect it is a tennis ball,
> as I already removed one (along with lots of other plant matter surrounding
> it) at another point upstream from this second obstruction. The difference

--

Jeff Wisnia W1BSV Brass Rat '57 ee

[Philip S. Mentz]

I only wanted to see the obstruction as I think it may really help to
determine the next course of action. Suction, water pressure, forceful
ramming, do not work. What could put up such resistance? The tennis ball
is too big to put down the downspouts, so the ball was introduced during
construction or put down one of the ground level drains after removing the
grate. The camera link you showed looks pretty slick, but where does the
output go? How do you see the image?

- Phil

WKRP <wk...@tiac.net> wrote in message news:3A05DEF4...@tiac.net...

[sh...@ecn.ab.ca]

WKRP (wk...@tiac.net) wrote:
: I take it that the 4 foot distance you need to "see" through isn't straight,
: huh?

: If you're really that determined to see the offending object in situ, you can
: buy one of those micro video cameras which will fit through anything that would
: have passed a tennis ball for under 50 bucks these daze, and rigging a power
: source and a couple of flashlight bulbs for illumination on it shouldn't be too
: hard, though some models come with a few LEDs on them for IR illumination.

: A little work with some duct tape and that flexible pipe you mentioned should
: get you the view you want. You might have to screw around with the lens a bit to
: focus close up, but it might be fun project...And, after you're done you'll have
: a neat toy to use or give away to your favorite voyeur!

: See for example:

: http://www.mpja.com/product.asp?product=12179+ST

: What are you doing to the kids who are tossing tennis balls onto your roof? My
: kids still do that, though I'm lucky; After hearing hooror stories about gutter
: cleaning chores, ice dams causing major roof leaks and such, I opted to go
: without gutters when I had my current house built in the Boston area. I use
: foundation plantings and ground cover (Pachasandra) where the roof runoff spills
: down, and except for having to move swiftly through the drips if we're using the
: front door in the rain, all is copasetic (sp?). Good luck, lemee know how you
: make out...

: Jeff Wisnia W1BSV Brass Rat '57 ee

An excellent idea, re your gutters!! I have long felt that most
gutters/eavestroughing was NOT necessary. Once one has properly prepared
the "drip" area, no problem. Of course, once assumes that one's yard has
good gradients away from the house or one heck of a good weeping tile
drainage system at the base of the basement walls. Of course, if one has
NO basement to leak, also, no problem.

: > I have an obstruction in a 3-1/2" diameter plastic corrugated drain pipe,

: --

: "Philip S. Mentz" wrote:

: --

--

[Bob]

I like this one. Just slide the shop vac tube in until it hits the ball.
Then wiggle it around until the ball gets caught by the suction, and pull it
out. If the ball is stuck, wash out around it with a blaster nozzle on your
water hose.

Bob

<he...@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:1coa0ts8ghd92a6o6...@4ax.com...

> Use a shop vac and a 4' 1 1/2" hose and suck it out.
>
>
>
> On Sun, 05 Nov 2000 08:27:11 GMT, "Philip S. Mentz" <me...@home.com>

[sco...@webtv.net]

We use a 80 psi. vac. that usualy gets them out.

[WKRP]

Wherdja get the extra 65 psi from Scott?

(A perfect vacuum is a bit less than 15 psi here on the surface of the
earth.)

Methinks ya meant 80 inches of water.....

Jeff

[sco...@webtv.net]

Sorry folks I should have explained more.

We have an industrial Vac. dry wet with 2 motors it has about 25 ft. of
hose. If used as the above post this thing will pull all kinds of debrie
out.
I'm not sure but it might be possible to rent one from a tool rental
business.
The name of the vac that we use is New Matic.

[jjo...@my-deja.com]

In article <3A078B33...@tiac.net>,

WKRP <wk...@tiac.net> wrote:
> Wherdja get the extra 65 psi from Scott?
>
> (A perfect vacuum is a bit less than 15 psi here on the surface of the
> earth.)
>
> Methinks ya meant 80 inches of water.....
>
> Jeff

A perfect vacuum??? A vacuum is 0 lbs Pressure and lower. Atmospheric
pressure is positive pressure.

Sent via Deja.com http://www.deja.com/
Before you buy.

[WKRP]

Ya got me, I left off the minus sign!

Atmospheric pressure is nominally 14.7 psi higher than a perfect vacuum, and
it's that atmospheric pressure which "pushes" water up a straw when you suck
on the top. If you have a near "perfect" vacuum you can suck water up about
30 feet, but no higher. That's why you can't put a suction pump at the top
of a well where the water level is 50 feet below the surface and expect to
get any water out the top.

IIRC the common units of measure in the USA (defining how high the vacuum
will pull water "up a straw") for mild vacuums like those created by a
vacuum cleaner is inches of water, for stronger ones inches of mercury, and
for damn "hard" ones like what's left inside a TV picture tube, it's
measured "in reverse" in tiny fractions of a millimeter of mercury "down"
from the height mercury would get pulled up by a "perfect" vacuum.

I just can't resist showing off how smart I am...I've tried to quit for over
60 years and just can't do it!

Jeff Wisnia W1BSV Brass Rat '57 ee

[sco...@webtv.net]

Thanks Jeff and everybody else. I spoke to the
vac. repair man and I'm wrong - it is not psi.- it
is inches in water.

[brian galien]

whoever suggested the leaf blower, many thanks!! i just got a 2 3/4" rubber ball my grandson dropped into our 3" outdoor drain! tried everything without success. was going to rent a snake, then filled the pipes, leaf blower fit perfectly into the drain pipe, water, debris and the ball all came shooting out of the end. yay, saved by butt!!

[micky]

In alt.home.repair, on Wed, 28 Apr 2021 14:04:22 -0700 (PDT), brian

This is outrageous. Sue the original plumber. A 2 3/4" ball should
have fit easily in a 3" pipe.

[gfre...@aol.com]

On Thu, 29 Apr 2021 11:15:48 -0400, micky <NONONO...@fmguy.com>
wrote:

It depends on how much crud is built up in there.