Unclogging a pond over flow?

[BellyUpFish]

There are some smart hombres here, so as I get ready to tackle a project, I thought I'd see if any of you had any ideas..

I have a pond, with an overflow that is clogged. It runs under the dam and it the other side and when the pond is full, level stays at the top of the standpipe.

Water is waaaaaaay low so I'm going to unclog it and rework the pond a bit.

Current idea is to rig up something to a pressure washer, there are issues with that, getting clean water to the unit being the first..

Anyone?

 

[VocaTexas]

I don't know about unplugging it, but when you do get it cleared put two elbows on top to make an up-side down 'U' and you won't have that problem again.

 

[WWShop]

How far away are you from a power source? Could rent a power drain cleaner maybe? I don't really know, just tossing out a thought.

 

[greenlizard]

Power drain snake. Run one off a portable generator maybe?

 

[Jess]

You can get a jetting nozzle for a power washer. If you have a small tank in the back of a pickup, run a garden hose to a power washer on the ground, you can use the nozzle to wash out the obstruction. I have a 50' hose and nozzle and use it to clean surface drains and sewer lines on my rentals. A nozzle fitting is also available to go on your hose. A drain auger/rooter might be the best if its really clogged. Let us know how you make out with this...

 

[wasfuzz]

In my part of the country would cost you about $200 to hire a Jetting company to come out and jet the line clear. Then put a double 90 on top as mentioned before.

 

[ssdave]

A pressure washer alone won't do much good. Too small a volume to move material around much, and an inch or two of water effectively dampens all the high velocity cleaning action. However, as suggested, a jetting nozzle might work. It uses a venturi effect to have the small volume and high velocity of the pressure washer move a lot more water from the water surrounding the tip.

Just using a nozzle on a hose with a good high pressure/volume pump will do about the same or better, and the flow will carry a lot of the mud/crud away and help to clear the pipe. A hose will work better than a snake initially if there's branches or wire involved. After the water jet clears out the dissolvable and water floatable junk, then a snake helps clear out the fibrous or stick type obstructions.

This following is NOT recommended, as there are some safety issues.... but clamping a plug with a pass through pipe fitting in it on the outlet end of the pipe and attaching a propane tank to it will give you a substantial pressure/volume of gas to blow a plug loose. There is some fire/explosion danger associated with this method.... there is also an even more substantial danger of the compressed gasses blowing out the plug and hurting you. This has been the backwoods/redneck way of clearing pipes for a long time. You're a lot safer using a fluid in the pipe to clear it.

 

[ssdave]

I don't know about unplugging it, but when you do get it cleared put two elbows on top to make an up-side down 'U' and you won't have that problem again.

If you do this, drill a few holes in the top of the highest point of the elbows to allow air in. This will break the siphon effect. Otherwise, the pond will fill until it gets over the top of the elbow, and then it will siphon the pond down until the lowest pipe clears the water surface, and then fill again and start the cycle again.

 

[BellyUpFish]

Thinking about giving this a shot..

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct...8E-1RRNUngzaZgM9Q&sig2=Cn5X0AqKNBPWsVuAa9VdQw

 

[dfiler2]

I would definitely be working on the outlet side, a jet nozzle has high pressure spray pointing backwards to help pull the hose into the pipe and wash out the mud in the pipe. The double elbow idea will only work if you have a vent in the top of it as mentioned. Depending on the age and condition of the pipe you might want to be careful with the air pressure method although I imagine if you got even a small passage blown through and followed it with water to flush it you would be fine, however, without water to flush it you may make it worse.

 

[sseddon641]

I think ssdave may be on the right track. Just don't use propane. At work I use nitrogen to blow out clogged drains all the time. typically I use refrigeration hoses and plug the rest of the pipe of on the inlet with a rubber glove. If you get adapters down to a size that you could plug off any non flammable gas like nitrogen co2 or oxygen to blow out the clog.

Edit
Never mind maybe I should read all the comments before I post!

 

[matt_i]

If one had a garden hose long enough, and a water source, there are those black rubber bladders which are used to blow out obstructions in drains. Essentially there's some kind of throttle inside of it, the initial pressure expands the bladder to the ID of the pipe and there's a little trickle flow...but...that eventually builds to around 50psi, which is well more than a debris plug sealing off a couple inches of water column (roughly 1/10 to 1/4psi) can handle.

 

[Leaflessshadetree]

Have you tried using a normal gas powered pump, with maybe 1.5" hose. It may take a while to eat through the blockage (I'd work from the outlet) but very portable and simple to set up.

 

[BellyUpFish]

Have you tried using a normal gas powered pump, with maybe 1.5" hose. It may take a while to eat through the blockage (I'd work from the outlet) but very portable and simple to set up.

Haven't tried anything yet, beyond a hickory stick.. LOL