Morton building with clogged in slab electrical conduit

[GroundLoop]

Have a Morton building and trying to add wires to existing 3/4 EMT conduit. Conduit already has 3 wires in it. Cannot pull on existing wires and fish tape only goes a portion in. Using as shop vac in blow mode there is air coming out of the other end of the conduit so it is not totally clogged. Does not look like they used PVC conduit in the slab - the EMT goes into the slab. If so perhaps some concrete leaked into a connector. Looking for options other than installing a new run - though that can be done. Read about muriatic acid and even coca cola. Any hope of getting this opened up?

 

[Bert_]

If the existing wires won't move then you might be better off just running a new conduit overhead.

 

[kd3pc]

try some wire lube, copious and a fiberglass fish tape, get that in or at least see where (how far in) things stop. As Bert suggests, might be cheaper and less time to run overhead or attic.

 

[472scout]

How long is the run?

 

[alfredeneuman]

Are you sure the conduit is in the slab and not below it?
EMT will rot out quickly when subject to some types of soil

 

[240sxguy]

I had EMT run through the slab of my current garage. It was rusted off on both ends at the floor and the wire was jammed tight. We had to cut it off and run new wire and conduit.

 

[Terry D]

Is the whole run in EMT. Has it been there a long time. It is most likely rotted out. You will never get the wires out. When you say you want to add wires to the conduit, is the existing wires still good? You are taking a chance of damaging them.

 

[alfredeneuman]

I had EMT run through the slab of my current garage. It was rusted off on both ends at the floor and the wire was jammed tight. We had to cut it off and run new wire and conduit.

All underground or in slab conduits (even tightly sealed) collect water due to condensation and temperature differences.

 

[240sxguy]

All underground or in slab conduits (even tightly sealed) collect water due to condensation and temperature differences.

Not to mention the fact that this garage floor pools like crazy in the winter so all that brine water would run down the hole as well. I have no idea why they did that when they built the house, but I guess it was the 60's so anything flew.