Drain clogged with hard white chunks

[mrvm]

Had a severely clogged drain during this past Thanksgiving gathering. The clogged drain pipe runs about 40 ft to the main. The drain starts at the kitchen sink and the wash machine & garage sink all connects into the same pipe. For the past 30 years minimal if any food or grease is dumped into the kitchen sink. I used a 1” 50 ft snake three times thru each clean out. Instead of finding the usual smelly thick clay-like food waste I found hard drywall compound-like material. Definitely not something Drano-like products would be able to handle. Wondering what this stuff is…..

 

[DGersic]

Don’t know, I’m wondering what it is, and where did it come from?

 

[gizardlizard]

Looks like lime to me.

 

[NUTTSGT]

Looks like lime to me.

I was going to say calcium.

 

[mike93lx]

Have hard water?

That accumulation makes me think that the lines aren't pitched properly. I'd check that

 

[mrvm]

I’ll have the water analyzed but the other drains throughout the home have not had any clogs except for long hair issues. One theory that is not likely is a disgruntled worker stuffed the pipe or washed equipment down the drain 30 years ago

 

[pcmeiners]

Did anyone install tile with an abundance of grout or use a lot of Plaster of Paris. If either, you will be lucky if a cutting snake can remove it, no chemical can remove it. Dealt with the same stuff before.

 

[Fav Onefour]

Initial thought is that it sure looks like hard water deposits. I deal with that issue.

After thinking about it though, the stuff in pipes is typically super hard from slow layer build up.
You mention that the garage and laundry run through the line. Are they both before the trap in the picture?

There is a lot of potential for gunk from garage and laundry. It's tempting to rinse and clean all the project tools etc in the sink. The debris can add up. I've seen grout and sheet rock mud that looks similar to those chunks. Also, some cleaners have pumice and or grit. That stuff can settle and build up over time.

@mike93lx , bring up a good point about pitch. If water slows and sits, that is where any of the above mentioned debris will accumulate. An area to look is a potential spot downstream that is slowing or stopping the flow?
It could be further downstream than you think. I had a line chunk up and the partial block was tree roots seventy feet downstream in the main line. That one took me awhile to figure out. I snaked the drain and lines I pulled out chunks and gunk and things seemed to flow good. Weeks later I was on a project where I ran a lot of water. Turned out that I was just filling the pipe with water most of the time and it slowly emptied before I ran water again. Dishwasher, washing machine, showers, and other basic stuff didn't run enough water to fill the entire pipe.

@mrvm , All the holiday stuff may have run excessive water. It might be worth testing the main line theory now that you have snaked the obvious blocked sections. Turn on the water and let it run. Main lines can hold a lot of water.

 

[mrvm]

Initial thought is that it sure looks like hard water deposits. I deal with that issue.

After thinking about it though, the stuff in pipes is typically super hard from slow layer build up.
You mention that the garage and laundry run through the line. Are they both before the trap in the picture?

There is a lot of potential for gunk from garage and laundry. It's tempting to rinse and clean all the project tools etc in the sink. The debris can add up. I've seen grout and sheet rock mud that looks similar to those chunks. Also, some cleaners have pumice and or grit. That stuff can settle and build up over time.

@mike93lx , bring up a good point about pitch. If water slows and sits, that is where any of the above mentioned debris will accumulate. An area to look is a potential spot downstream that is slowing or stopping the flow?
It could be further downstream than you think. I had a line chunk up and the partial block was tree roots seventy feet downstream in the main line. That one took me awhile to figure out. I snaked the drain and lines I pulled out chunks and gunk and things seemed to flow good. Weeks later I was on a project where I ran a lot of water. Turned out that I was just filling the pipe with water most of the time and it slowly emptied before I ran water again. Dishwasher, washing machine, showers, and other basic stuff didn't run enough water to fill the entire pipe.

@mrvm , All the holiday stuff may have run excessive water. It might be worth testing the main line theory now that you have snaked the obvious blocked sections. Turn on the water and let it run. Main lines can hold a lot of water.

Good thoughts. Hmmm I use pumice hand cleaners in the garage sink but it’s not daily action. Both are before the trap. Wash machine runs liquid detergents. Dish washer was powder years ago but now only liquid gels. Hard water does tend to leave buildup on faucet and countertops so I will look into that issue.

 

[kbuhagiar]

Maybe have it analyzed at a lab, to determine its makeup?

 

[PopcornSutton]

It probably isn't what I'm going to say, but I never use powdered dish or laundry soap. I've seen that cause clogs, but it doesn't look quite like that.

 

[rlitman]

... I found hard drywall compound-like material. Definitely not something Drano-like products would be able to handle. Wondering what this stuff is…..

If it is a hard water concretion, an acid cleaner would work on it. Drano is not an acid, but lots of other drain cleaners are. Are all of your pipes PVC, because acid can be a problem with metal? Also, are you on a sewer (where occasional acid is fine), or septic (where drain cleaners can throw off the system)?

 

[ichabod]

I going keep an eye on this thread. I have the same issue. That picture looks exactly like what I am dealing with. I only have this issue from the kitchen sink to where it ties into the rest of the waste plumbing I re pitched the line as it seemed to have a flat section. My guess so far are dried dishwasher soap or dried dog drool. I am leaning towards the dog drool as we never had this problem before we got a big slobbering mastiff. Good luck

 

[mrvm]

If it is a hard water concretion, an acid cleaner would work on it. Drano is not an acid, but lots of other drain cleaners are. Are all of your pipes PVC, because acid can be a problem with metal? Also, are you on a sewer (where occasional acid is fine), or septic (where drain cleaners can throw off the system)?

All drains are PVC and not a septic system

 

[mike93lx]

Don't use drano or any drain cleaner. If you have a clog that they don't clear, it can make it dangerous for you or a plumber to deal with

 

[rlitman]

Don't use drano or any drain cleaner. If you have a clog that they don't clear, it can make. It dangerous for you or a plumber to deal with

One other risk is that an acid cleaner that loosens the gravel at the top may cause a landslide that creates a new and worse clog further down.

That's on top of the risks associated with strong acids.

 

[LOW1]

Combinations of soap, fat and grease can create some weird looking stuff.

 

[The Cobbler]

I doubt that's water deposits. it's more apt to be something from a combination of soap scum, fats, drywall compound etc .

 

[Steve_P]

I have a friend that had this issue a long time ago. The plumber said it was from decades of use of powdered laundry detergent. I have no idea if that's correct, but that's what he said.

 

[MOS3522]

Looks like the **** the doctor says is in my kidneys and that makes me cry when I pass them.

 

[no704]

I have had good luck with a cheep drain jet cleaner that u hook up to a pressure washer. Was having similar issues. A snake only makes a hole as big as its head. Ran the jet cleaner up and down the sewer line from the laundry location a few times. It used to fill up the slop sink when the washer would discharge. Been around 6 months now, no backup and the kitchen sink no longer gurgles when the washer discharges. I ran it through the roof vent after hooking up to a shop vac. Recovered a fair amount of leaves. I really should install a cap or screen on that vent.

 

[Rc_Guy]

Had a severely clogged drain during this past Thanksgiving gathering. The clogged drain pipe runs about 40 ft to the main. The drain starts at the kitchen sink and the wash machine & garage sink all connects into the same pipe. For the past 30 years minimal if any food or grease is dumped into the kitchen sink. I used a 1” 50 ft snake three times thru each clean out. Instead of finding the usual smelly thick clay-like food waste I found hard drywall compound-like material. Definitely not something Drano-like products would be able to handle. Wondering what this stuff is…..

We have a food truck, brisket, pulled pork, ribs, all smoked, even though we wash the dishes in the food truck quickly we run them through our home dishwasher with NSF rinse and just had our septic pumped, the floating chunks looked like your white stuff. Grease in my septic, not sure about your pipes though.

 

[Marsim]

I had a similar situation a few years ago. Turned out my wife was flushing kitty litter without telling me. Kind of looked like op pics. Fun times fixing that one.

 

[BillK]

I have seen reports that the soap "pillows" for dishwashers can cause clogs. Not sure how or what the clogs look like.

 

[The Cobbler]

my wife was flushing kitty litter without telling me

reminds me of when I was involved in a property management company. had a tenant that was having ongoing main sewer clogs.
this was before cameras were as common as now. we hired a company to come camera the line to see why the ongoing issues... turns out the tenant was flushing aquarium gravel down the toilet . it was a pretty yellow & blue. When I confronted the tenant they denied of course. but after that power flush, they never had issues again.

 

[Rc_Guy]

I have seen reports that the soap "pillows" for dishwashers can cause clogs. Not sure how or what the clogs look like.

Those pillows were clogging our drain on the dishwasher, I took it apart when it wasn’t draining good and we quit using those.

 

[Firebrick43]

Looks like drywall compound to me.

I have seen clogs like this before especially with hot mud.

I always wash in a bucket and throw it out in the yard, only the final rinse of the knives and pan should be done in the sink

 

[mreisner]

Does a water softener drain in there?

 

[Norcal]

reminds me of when I was involved in a property management company. had a tenant that was having ongoing main sewer clogs.
this was before cameras were as common as now. we hired a company to come camera the line to see why the ongoing issues... turns out the tenant was flushing aquarium gravel down the toilet . it was a pretty yellow & blue. When I confronted the tenant they denied of course. but after that power flush, they never had issues again.

The 3 P's apply, only pee, poop, & paper, should be flushed down the toilet.

 

[RoninB4]

-This sure looks like what I'm going through right now. Bought house 7 years ago, kitchen sink would clog every 6 months with same looking deposits. Water is from a well, was analyzed at purchase and identified as hard water. Never dumped fat, grease, or oils down the drain yet it would appear every 6 months. I installed a water filtration system and a softener system, no problems for several years. For some stupid reason I stopped using salt earlier this year, just stopped buying it. Kitchen sink clogged up a week ago, removed PVC pipe sections to remove similar substance as the OP. Last Friday I noticed the water wasn't getting very hot. Am in process of cleaning ALL my strainers/filters in filtration system and doing a full flush to the water heater. I had no problems until I stopped using salt in my softener system tank. It duplicates the problem I had before water treatment and mirrors the problem others in the area have had. I cannot think this is merely a coincidence.

-If this is hard water mineral deposits (sure looks like mine) there's every reason to believe your water heater is the next disaster waiting to happen. Water treatment is a big industry loaded with hype, expensive solutions, and BS artists. Read up on this, test your water to know what you're facing, contact me off list if you wish to. Don't throw caustic chemicals in your systems, they're dangerous later on if/when someone works on the piping. Cut out some sections and re-attach with rubber connection boots (readily available) or simply replace the sections of PVC if the deposits won't come out. It's a far easier solution for servicing this problem that will likely happen again. My deposits were so hard the PVC shattered when attempting clear them out. If this is the result of hard water deposits I can about guarantee you'll get this again some months later. Cleaning vinegar, not household vinegar, may help soften the deposits but it will take several hours/days for it to work. CLR didn't seem to do anything like I'd hoped it would even letting it work overnight. Your water heater is the next target, your water won't seem as hot or the tank might start leaking. Yeah it ***** but you can do something about it besides call in the plumber. Hope this helps someone.

 

[toolmiser]

Many years ago, my parents kitchen sink clogged. Long run to main. Dad walked a couple blocks to the plumbers business to ask him to come up and clean out the pipe. (Dad didn't have two pipe wrenches big enough to unscrew them). Plumber went to the back room and came back and handed Dad two big wrenches and said "good luck".

 

[Skooterj]

Pour some CLR or vinegar on a piece and see if it dissolves. If so it's calcium build up.

 

[NUTTSGT]

Good thoughts. Hmmm I use pumice hand cleaners in the garage sink but it’s not daily action. Both are before the trap. Wash machine runs liquid detergents. Dish washer was powder years ago but now only liquid gels. Hard water does tend to leave buildup on faucet and countertops so I will look into that issue.

Make sure to rinse plenty of hot water down the drain after using grit hand soap.

Simply runny plenty of hot water down the drains help alot. I generally let the hot water run as I brush my teeth at night.

 

[Fav Onefour]

Make sure to rinse plenty of hot water down the drain after using grit hand soap.

Simply runny plenty of hot water down the drains help alot. I generally let the hot water run as I brush my teeth at night.

Isn't that the truth.
My wife is trying to save the world by not running more than a splash of water. I'm chasing around and cleaning drain lines because they are gunked up.
The real kicker on that whole deal is the fact that she used to be fine with pouring drain cleaner down the pipes. (It still amazes me that she thought using drain cleaner was a good alternative to running hot water.)
She primarily uses one bath to get ready in the morning. She mentioned the drain was slow and drain cleaner didn't seem to help. It had one of those fancy looking chrome traps.
When I started taking it apart the assembly was corroded so thin that it basically fell apart. The fancy trap was just a few years old.
Best part of the whole deal. There must have been some cleaner left in the trap. That stuff is a real burner on cuts.

We do not have drain cleaner in the house anymore. She is getting used to letting some hot water carry soap and toothpaste through the drain and trap.

 

[Norcal]

Reminds me of when a cook in a commercial kitchen thought is was a good idea to dump food thickener down the sink to get rid of it, it plugged the tail pieces completely.

 

[mrvm]

Isn't that the truth.
My wife is trying to save the world by not running more than a splash of water. I'm chasing around and cleaning drain lines because they are gunked up.
The real kicker on that whole deal is the fact that she used to be fine with pouring drain cleaner down the pipes. (It still amazes me that she thought using drain cleaner was a good alternative to running hot water.)
She primarily uses one bath to get ready in the morning. She mentioned the drain was slow and drain cleaner didn't seem to help. It had one of those fancy looking chrome traps.
When I started taking it apart the assembly was corroded so thin that it basically fell apart. The fancy trap was just a few years old.
Best part of the whole deal. There must have been some cleaner left in the trap. That stuff is a real burner on cuts.

We do not have drain cleaner in the house anymore. She is getting used to letting some hot water carry soap and toothpaste through the drain and trap.

Thats a nice story. In my household the non-kitchen slow drains are due to hair. Each shower/tub has a strainer and drain weasel-type hair clog tool to help reduce the occasional clog/slow drain. Keeps the family drama low concerning who's hair is it

 

[mrvm]

Pour some CLR or vinegar on a piece and see if it dissolves. If so it's calcium build up.

hmmm so far not dissolving…. ;(

 

[PWC Repair]

That's soap scum for sure. I bet it would break down in a solvent.

 

[nicholsmf]

Powdered laundry soap buildup

 

[gba2331]

Water softener + too much laundry detergent?