Using a pressure washer & vac to dig a hole so the pipes don't get damaged

[rcjordan]

https://old.reddit.com/r/oddlysatisfying/comments/zo4tkw/using_a_pressure_washer_to_dig_and_flush_a_hole/

[ergophobe]

As our resident pressure washer expert...

After your thing about getting the attachment that lets you unclog a pipe, I thought, "Great" when my neighbor's pipe clogged. But then realized that it was in the kitchen and the would be water all over the place if we started running the pressure washer and also that the hose probably wouldn't turn the 90-degree bend (small radius, standard drain pipe, not a nice long sweep).

Thoughts?

[rcjordan]

I've cleared a small drain in a bathroom sink.  They make a small diameter PW hose.  I used a 1200 psi electric PW, put the hose a foot or two down the drain, put a towel over the drain, then turned on the power. Had someone standing by to pull the plug if it went crazy, but it didn't. I forget how I rigged up a water supply --probably adapted the shower arm to a hose thread.

Xiny Tool Sewer Jetter Kit for Pressure Washer, 1/4 Inch NPT Drain Cleaning Hose, Orifice 4.0 Button Nose and Rotating Sewer Jetting Nozzle, 4000 PSI (50 FT)

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08BNR9M8G

[ergophobe]

Nice! thanks.

Do you worry about getting the hose stuck or is it more a what goes in comes back out type of thing?

[rcjordan]

I've jetted a few drain lines and never had a problem with getting stuck.  That bathroom sink has an 1-1/4" p-trap then steps up to 1-1/2" at the wall --which about as small as a drain gets (except for condensate drains).  If I thought it might catch, I would remove the trap and go directly into the wall (p-trap) or floor (s-trap).  Containing the blow-back if working in the cabinet might need more than a towel, though.   

[ergophobe]

Until your previous post, I hadn't even considered leaving the P-trap in place and going in from the sink drain itself.

If needed (eg downstream of a garbage disposal in a single hole sink... not that I have one of those), I bet you could catch blow back in a basin. I'm guessing the volume isn't that great.

[rcjordan]

>guessing the volume isn't that great

It hasn't been so far, in my experience. Just a light, misty spray while getting started.  That goes away once you get down the drain two feet or so.

>trap

The hose I have is about the diameter of a pencil and the jet is small but removing the trap is probably a better routing idea.  Besides, traps are often part of the problem.

[ergophobe]

Got it. I'll have to get me one. As you mentioned before, anyone with renters should have a means of clearing a drain that does not involve a plumber.