That trick with a garden hose unclogged a drain I spent 2 hours on

I had a washer at a customer's house in Springfield last week that was just draining water all over the floor. I pulled the pump, checked the filter, snaked the drain line with a 25 footer, even took apart the standpipe. Nothing worked for like 2 hours and I was about to tell them they needed a plumber. Then I remembered some old timer mentioning a trick where you take a garden hose, shove it down the standpipe, and wrap a rag around it to seal the top. Turned the water on full blast for 30 seconds and heard a loud pop. Something had been blocking the main line a few feet down and the pressure just shot it through. Saved the customer a $200 plumber call and I felt like an idiot for not trying it sooner. Has anyone else used water pressure like this before?

2 comments

2 Comments

ryan6539d ago

I mean I've heard you gotta be careful with that trick on old galvanized pipes since the pressure can blow out a joint.

betty_shah8d ago

Nah, old galvanized is tougher than people give it credit for.