Expert: speedball1 - 7/23/2004

Question
i ask you yeserdayy but did not give you enough detail.  we have a garden level house on a hill.the kitchen  is above a full bath in the basement, which is lower than the sewer line. all the liguid goes into a holding tank then pumped up   about 3 feet to go out side to sewer line..i'm getting some cloging outside, and want to pour some cleaner       in it to get rid of the clog, should i pour it just to the outside or use the tank to help flush it?

Answer
Hi Bill Welcome back.  Ahhhhh!  You have a holding tank and a sewerage grinder pump to lift it up to the sewewr main outside. Since the kitchen is above ground does it still drain into the holding tank?  When you open up the cleanout outside is the clog in back or aheade of the cleanout?  You HAVE opened up the cleanout and checked haven't you?  I'm gonna hafta tell ya man.  Those ads for Liquid Plumber and Draino make it sound like all you have to do is pour a can in the system and forget it.  Personally I don't think drain cleaner is gonna work, but if you're set on using it then put it in the system UPSTREAM from the clog.  If you find it doesn't clear it then click on back with more information about where your cleanouts are located and any other pertinent information on the  system and we'll see about removing the blockage.  Good luck,  Tom