Removing concrete from a sewer pipe. Cement cannot be easily removed from a sewer line. Is it possible to clean sewage pipes of concrete? Who would be so foolish to pour concrete into the sewer? That was my initial thought when I heard about the incident. However, contrary to appearances, this behavior is actually rather common. A question about how to remove concrete from a sewer pipe comes up in my inbox multiple times per week. The most common excuse given by homeowners and apartment complex owners is that the foreman who was in charge of the remodeling was careless or made a mistake.
If enough concrete gets into the sewage system, it can clog the drain to the point that new pipes are needed. If you pour concrete down the drain on purpose, eventually you’ll end up in a puddle of murky water since the amount of concrete in your sink, toilet, or shower has clogged the pipe.
Removing concrete from a sewer pipe. Is it okay to dump concrete into the drains?
Definitely not! Concrete can easily clog or even break your home’s pipes, so you should never throw it down the drain, no matter what anyone tells you. Particles that settle and harden adhere to the walls, limiting flow and collecting water—particularly in dry regions with pipe-like bends and corners. Big snags and sky-high repair bills can be the outcome of this.
It seems like a lot of competent builders and homeowners think it’s okay to pour some grout or cement down the drain. The problem, however, can accumulate over time, making it extremely challenging to resolve for the homeowner.
When utilizing self-leveling flooring in wet environments, one typical issue emerges. Clogged pipes are usually the result of extra trash being dropped onto the floor or shower grates.
Even though they know it’s bad for the pipes, some people still think they can get away with dumping concrete down the drain while no one’s looking. The flaws have already vanished by the time they become apparent, making it impossible to provide evidence or seek recompense.
Removing concrete from a sewer pipe. A lot of construction debris ends up in the sewer because people are either too stupid, too uncaring, or both.
Extracting a sewage pipe’s concrete within. Concrete removal techniques for sewage systems
Nevertheless, persist even if it’s past the deadline and concrete has already made its way into your sewers or shower drains. It may be worthwhile to try one of the following methods of obstruction removal—depending on the seriousness of the blockage—before spending thousands of dollars on new pipes.
- Flush: If you’ve just (unintentionally) poured cement down the drain, a simple but effective cure is to flush it out with a lot of water. You should feel fortunate if this works.
- SPECIALIZED FLUIDS: If water is ineffective, a specialist agent specifically made to dissolve dried concrete will be required. We have BETOFF (concentrate), an agent of this kind. Because of its penetrating qualities, this fluid makes dissolving concrete more easier. The majority of commercially available fluids only remove the top layer of concrete, significantly reducing their effectiveness. Many construction firms, businesses that rent out construction equipment, and firms that clean newly remodeled rooms use BETOFF since it is the strongest fluid available. Visit our online store to purchase BETOFF fluid.
- Use a high-pressure cleaner and a CCTV inspection to determine the exact dimensions of the concrete block wedged in the pipe. Next, make preparations to use a high-pressure jet stream for cleaning. You may save money by renting the necessary equipment and attempting the job on your own, but there are some drawbacks to this approach, such as the fact that you could end up hurting yourself or the instrument if you aren’t properly trained. Competency-based training is typically required for the use of high-pressure water jetting equipment by professionals. While it is possible to remove concrete from a drain using a powerful, high-pressure water jet, there is no assurance that it will be effective.
Fixing a Broken Sewer Pipe
4.1 Electronic Instruments
A competent operator is required whenever a mechanical tool is involved. Professional drain cleaners like BETOFF don’t work this way.
The high expense of hiring personnel, lost time, and risk of pipe or rental equipment damage make it clear that doing the work yourself is usually not a smart option, just like using a blaster.
To flush dry concrete, just use an auger to break it up. To remove bigger chunks of concrete, you might need a jet blaster as well. It is imperative, however, that the auger be sufficiently lengthy to get to the obstacle. A closed-circuit television camera could be useful here as well.
Some of the most common issues with this approach are:
It may be impossible to reach the concrete obstruction with a CCTV camera if the pipeline has multiple bends.
Breaking up and removing the concrete will cause harm to the host pipe.
- Soothing Agents for Biodegradable Cement
Concrete and mortar can be loosened using a variety of commercially available biodegradable chemicals. As it travels through the system, the concrete or cement should remain pliable enough to prevent re-hardening. The biodegradable substance BETOFF-BIO is effective on new, somewhat thin concrete stains, but it has limited use beyond that. - ANID
While it’s true that acid may break down concrete, doing so without proper training is a highly risky proposition. The limestone in the cement is attacked by the acid, which breaks it down. Cement, gravel, sand, and water are the four main ingredients in concrete.
Using acid comes with a few risks:
You should use tremendous caution while handling any acidic product and should only use this procedure if you are a professional who works outside.
Because acid can dissolve some pipe materials, including ductile iron or concrete, it is important to identify all of the pipe materials in your system before you begin.
Acid isn’t a problem solver. The chemical is only effective on the surface level for removing obstructions. So, pour it in until it dissolves any major obstacles, lay it aside, and then clean the loosened bulk (you may need to scrape it off around the entry if it’s too stubborn) before you start all over. If you don’t use biodegradable acid and try to use a larger dosage than recommended to speed up the process, you risk hurting your pipes and the environment. In its place of pure acid, a product containing it is preferable.
Fixing a Broken Sewer Pipe A Guide to Keeping Concrete Out of Your Drain Pipes 1.
Before you start any kind of home improvement project, read our article “Cement, Grout, and Adhesive in Pipes: A Recipe for Disaster” for some protective measures. This contains practical tips on how to verify contractors’ legitimacy and reasons to use when your partner attempts to justify leaving cleaning supplies in the sink 🙂
What if cleaning the pipes isn’t enough to remove the concrete buildup from your drain?
There are instances when even expert drain cleaning is ineffective due to the severity of concrete clogs. Pipes can develop fractures due to the strain caused by concrete or other construction material accumulation. Pipes are delicate and can easily be damaged by utilizing power instruments like jet blasters or heavy-duty drills.
In such cases, homeowners frequently find themselves forced to repair their pipes.
By weighing the benefits and drawbacks of cleaning and replacement, you can select the approach that suits you best. If you would want additional information on how to remove concrete from drain pipes, you can also contact us.
Be sure to read our other articles as well:
- Concrete protection layer
- What is the best concrete paint?
- Chaser for concrete walls
- Brick making machine operated by hand
- House made of concrete or wood?
