Dedicated half bath line with sludge build-up
Good morning,
Plumbing is my least favorite home problem. I never know who to believe or what to do.
We have a 1/2 bath with a sink and toilet. There is no other plumbing on this line. Over the last few months, I would smell something strange when I entered the house after it was closed up for the day. I now believe this smell is associated with our sewer sludge in this line as this smell has improved after a bleach treatment.
Rota-Rooter was unable to clear the line after snaking twice. So then we had them camera the line, thinking there was a collapse or obstruction. Fortunately or unfortunately, the line is just full of sludge and the resistance on the snake was a double 90 angle (poor design IMO). Rota-Rooter made the situation sound very bleak. I was told if that much sludge is sitting in the line, then the bottom of my cast iron pipe is most likely deteriorated. It is pointless to clean (hydrowash) because he could not visualize the bottom of my sewer pipe due to sludge. I watched and it is full of crap, literally. The drain is now open and we have only been using the bathroom for liquids, no solids. I am running hot water down the drain periodically, treated it with 4 cups of bleach for eight hours, then flushed with several gallons of boiling water. I am also flushing the line with 10 to 15 gallons of hot water every few days. The line does seem to be working well now and no longer stinks.
I cannot find much information about sludge in sewer lines other than San Francisco is having the same problem due to low flow toilets, which I have in this 1/2 bath. Is there any home remedies to clear the cast iron sewer line or should I write the line off? Does bleach and hot water really work or should I do a hydrowash of the line? Will sludge really rust and cause the bottom of my cast iron pipe (42 years old) to be gone? We are not experiencing any other drain issues.
Thanks in advance!
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