Question for a plumber

[Fishboy]

I've just about completed a minor remodel of a bathroom. I've replaced the tile floors, toilet, vanity, and other stuff. Right now, I'm having to move the drain and water lines about a foot to one side to accommodate the new vanity. I took the sheet rock off the wall and had to cut the galvanized (the house is old) drain line above and below the "T" to then insert a PVC fitting to route it to one side. When I took out the old "T" I was surprised to see the buildup of gunk in the drain line. No kidding, about 3/4ths of the drain was clogged with a waxy/old hair kind of gunk that I dug out as far as I could reach. The line is likely in the same shape further down where I couldn't reach, and I'd like to know how I can chemically clean that stuff out.

I have a snake I can run through, and I've had to use it once in awhile when this thing clogs up. Anyone know a product that'll clean galvanized pipe without eating it up?

Aloha pumehana,
Brian and Mary
Lynnwood, WA\Discovery Harbour

[DanielP]

Fishboy,

That's plumber to you.

Best is to remove all of that old pipe that you can while you have it opened up. Snake as much as you can too.

Chemical drain cleaners are hell on pipes and fittings, septic tanks too.

[EightFingers]

Don't you have to get a permit for this? I thought a homeowner wasn't allowed to do his own plumbing/electrical?

[DanielP]

UP AGAINST THE WALL! Fishboy

[mprov]

Install a garbage disposal, temporarily, in the new line. Find someone with a lemon / lime / orange (citrus) tree and send a couple of bushels full down while snaking. So says my gramps.

[LavaZone1]

Fishboy, In my experience that 3/4 worth of "gunk" is most like holding the old gal pipe together. I love showing this to my customers, sometimes you can't even see daylight thru a one foot piece, They want me to re-pipe the whole house. If there is a basement or crawl space below, you could try installing a cleanout tee ot wye. Chemicals may eat thru the gunk then finish off the pipe for dessert. I am a plumbing contractor working on hundred year old houses in Portland, Oregon.
Tom

[Fishboy]

Thanks, everyone, this was fun. I've completed this project and am looking for something else to keep me out of trouble. Drives my wife nuts.

No, Eightfingers, I don't need a permit for this. I'm in Washington state and this was a non-structural improvement below the maximum dollar amount. I've posted here before about what kind of work takes a permit and what doesn't. Hawaii County is ridiculous in their permitting requirements, though the motivation is likely full employment.

Lavazone1 (what a prophetic moniker[]), it may amuse you and DanielP that the P trap came out in pieces. It was one of those metal chrome jobs and had likely been in place for a century. Okay, maybe not that long, but a long time anyway.

Dan, P-L-U-M-B-E-R. It's funny that if I didn't have SpellCheck I'd look even worse. I check my posts before sending, but not the title[]

Aloha pumehana,
Brian and Mary
Lynnwood, WA\Discovery Harbour

[DickWilson]

Fishboy; like LavaZone1 says old work plumbing is the most fun, just never know what new and exciting project opens up when you touch old pipes, everything held together with gunk and rust. Any chemical you can find to use will almost certainly enable you to tackle another fun plumbing project.[]

dick wilson

[EightFingers]

Fishboy, I assumed you were on island. Hawaii law regarding home repairs and improvements looked to me like a "full-employment act" for electricians and plumbers.

[Fishboy]

EightFingers,
You're right, Hawaii County law on home improvements are ridiculous. Honestly, I'm saving a ton of money doing this stuff myself, and I'll continue to do this kind of thing when I move over. Oh, there are limitations, such as the main wiring and plumbing, but it just isn't reasonable that you can't do stuff like replace a bathroom vanity or toilet without going through the permit process. Just ain't right.

Aloha pumehana,
Brian and Mary
Lynnwood, WA\Discovery Harbour