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PEP BB Plumbing.Sand.Tiny.Unclog - Unclog a Drain with Zip Tool

BB plumbing and hot water - sand badge
posted 5 years ago
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This is a badge bit (BB) that is part of the PEP curriculum.  Completing this BB is part of getting the sand badge in Plumbing.

In this Badge Bit, you will unclog a drain with a zip tool. (Note that this BB is part of a 6-part choose your own adventure list BB called the Tiny List. You must complete six Badge Bits in the Tiny List.)

Some pictures of a zip tool:



(source: Amazon.com)

Some Related Articles & Videos:

How to Unclog a Drain Yourself Without Caustic Chemicals



To complete this BB, the minimum requirements are you must unclog a clogged drain, using a zip tool or something similar.

To document this BB, post pictures or a 2-minute video depicting the following:
- Before: A Clogged Drain
- Action: You in progress of using the zip tool on the clogged drain
- After: Your previously clogged drain, now draining properly
COMMENTS:
 
Michael Holtman
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posted 5 years ago
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Much better!!!
DSCN1618.JPG
[Thumbnail for DSCN1618.JPG]
DSCN1619.JPG
[Thumbnail for DSCN1619.JPG]
DSCN1621.JPG
[Thumbnail for DSCN1621.JPG]

"Now he called his name Noah, saying, 'This one will give us rest from our work and from the toil of our hands arising from the ground which the Lord has cursed." -Genesis 5:29 (NASB)

Staff note (Nicole Alderman) :

I hereby certify that this badge bit is complete!

 
Rob Lineberger
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posted 4 years ago
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Here is the undraining drain.



Here is me using the zipper tool.  It has smaller teeth than some because my drain is tiny and has a narrow throat that is split into four by a divider thingie.  



I'm so glad I don't have a thread going in the Permies Singles forum right now.

Please give me your thoughts on my Affordable, double-paned earthbag window concept

Staff note (Ash Jackson) :

I certify this BB is complete!

 
D. Logan
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posted 4 years ago
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I realized that I already did this for the nest badge, but since it applies here too, here are the visuals of what was done. The shallow clog of water is hard to see since it wasn't a full clog so much as a slow drainage at the time though.
thumb-Before.jpg
Before
Before
thumb-Action.jpg
Action Shot
Action Shot
thumb-The-Results.jpg
The mess that was causing the issue.
The mess that was causing the issue.

Outdoor and Ecological articles (sporadic Mondays) at http://blog.dxlogan.com/ and my main site is found at http://www.dxlogan.com/

Staff note (Ash Jackson) :

I certify this BB is complete! Enjoy your new Air Badge!

 
David Huang
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posted 4 years ago
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The kitchen sinks were backing up and draining really slowly thus becoming a badge bit opportunity!  I wasn't sure if it was the P trap or a line clog farther on.  I started with getting out my long zip tool to run it down the line.  To get into the pipes I needed to open up a section you can see in the back of the second photo to get access to the pipe after all front pipe squiggling stuff.
DSC05588.JPG
Here is a photo of the backed up sinks.
Here is a photo of the backed up sinks.
DSC05596.JPG
This shot shows the back plug I need to get into. It's on the left side with the square "nut" end to grab.
This shot shows the back plug I need to get into. It's on the left side with the square "nut" end to grab.
DSC05595.JPG
An action shot of me running the snake down the line.
An action shot of me running the snake down the line.
DSC05601.JPG
After it was all put back together this is running the water to verify it is no longer plugged and drains well.
After it was all put back together this is running the water to verify it is no longer plugged and drains well.

You are welcome to check out my blog at http://www.theartisthomestead.com or my artwork at http://www.davidhuang.org

Staff note (jordan barton) :

I hereby certify this badge bit complete!

 
Rebecca Blake
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posted 4 years ago
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I first saw this BB and thought, "Aww, I just cleaned my drain." But then... a brilliant thought hit me! "I wonder how well my mom's drain is draining?"

Lo and behold, it was sluggish.
Not-Draining.jpg
[Thumbnail for Not-Draining.jpg]
Trying...-but-to-no-avail.jpg
This typical plan of attack did not work on this drain...
This typical plan of attack did not work on this drain...
Cleaning-the-Drain.jpg
So, I had to remove the plug to get to the gunk!
So, I had to remove the plug to get to the gunk!
All-Clean.jpg
I was appalled at how little gunk it took to clog this drain... poor design
I was appalled at how little gunk it took to clog this drain... poor design
Done.jpg
[Thumbnail for Done.jpg]
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I hereby certify this badge bit complete!

 
Rebecca Blake
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posted 4 years ago
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David Huang wrote:I think my submission above may have gotten lost in all the BB event activity so I'll make this little "bump" post.  :)  



David, I believe the proper protocol if your submission has not been looked at is to 'report' the post using the report button on the top right (on desktop) of your post.
Just notify them why you're reporting it- to get reviewed for a BB!

This will make it way easier for a staff member to see your post, bumping the forum thread really has no guarantees.
 
David Huang
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posted 4 years ago
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Rebecca Blake wrote:

David Huang wrote:I think my submission above may have gotten lost in all the BB event activity so I'll make this little "bump" post.  :)  



David, I believe the proper protocol if your submission has not been looked at is to 'report' the post using the report button on the top right (on desktop) of your post.
Just notify them why you're reporting it- to get reviewed for a BB!

This will make it way easier for a staff member to see your post, bumping the forum thread really has no guarantees.



Thanks Rebecca!  I was unaware of that feature.

You are welcome to check out my blog at http://www.theartisthomestead.com or my artwork at http://www.davidhuang.org

 
Ashley Cottonwood
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posted 4 years ago
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Here is my BB submission:

Clogged:


Accessing Clog:



Tools of the trade:


Ew!:


Yay! Sink drains!

Like my shiny badges? Want your own? Check out Skills to Inherit Property!

Staff note (Mike Barkley) :

I certify this BB is complete.

 
Julie Harris
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posted 4 years ago
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Approved submission
Slow draining tub (not mine!).  This is definitely one of the grosser BBs I've done so far.

Now to go clean his bathroom...
Zip-it-01.jpg
Zip tool
Zip tool
Zip-it-02.jpg
slow draining tub
slow draining tub
zip-it-03.jpg
Nasty
Nasty
zip-it-04.jpg
I say zip it, zip it good
I say zip it, zip it good

The soul of the sluggard craves and gets nothing.

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Someone approved this submission.

 
Opalyn Rose
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posted 4 years ago
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Here is my submission for the Plumbing - Sand - Tiny List - Unclog a Drain with a Zip Tool BB.

While washing a load of laundry by hand, my bathtub stopped draining so I got out my Zip Tool and got to work on clearing the clog.

To document the completion of the BB, I have provided the following:
- Before: A Clogged Drain
- Action: You in the process of using the zip tool on the clogged drain
- After: Your previously clogged drain, now draining properly

After finishing the laundry I dumped both buckets (about 8 gallons) and the tub drained quickly  :)
1.jpg
Bucket of laundry, zip tool, and clogged tub
Bucket of laundry, zip tool, and clogged tub
2.jpg
Using the Zip Tool
Using the Zip Tool
3.jpg
Pulling out the clog
Pulling out the clog
4.jpg
debris from the drain
debris from the drain
5.jpg
draining freely :)
draining freely :)

Check out the plans to build your own charka-style spinning wheel from bicycle parts
Explore the intersection of permaculture, community, and the cycle of life at Herland Forest Natural Burial Cemetery and the Windward Education and Research Center

Staff note (gir bot) :

Mike Haasl approved this submission.

 
Kevin Harbin
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posted 4 years ago
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Approved submission

Children, Rabbits, Chickens, Bees

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Mike Haasl approved this submission.

 
Kevin Wilson
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posted 4 years ago
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Approved submission
Unclogged the slow draining bathroom sink with a zip tool...

D2A0F144-610C-4740-BA7B-9142AFAE3FD2.jpeg
Slow draining sink
Zip tool bringing up gunk
CF5B06EA-6F22-4881-9D80-180944666F91.jpeg
Zip tool bringing up gunk
Slow draining sink
B43D434F-4BA0-4EFC-85E9-9F058997E09F.jpeg
Sink draining much better
Sink draining much better

Kevin's offshoot of PEX: http://uhspr.ca/merit-badges/

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jordan barton approved this submission.

 
Ashkey Lee
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posted 4 years ago
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I love the Zip tool.  I was actually introduced to the concept by someone who uses chemicals everywhere else except to unclog drains.  Before that, had been using similar catchment sieve thing like is in kitchen sink — but it wasn’t 100% — so drains still got sluggish in the bathroom.  Really didn’t have a great solution until that knowledge bomb was dropped on me!

I can’t bring myself to show the ... thing ... that was rescued — hopefully some humor will suffice for the PEP BB!

P.S. Additional knowledge: Zip It Drain Cleaner
 
P.P.S. There are also a couple tangential posts on that site about inventions/patents
54AD95FA-F74E-4443-8713-31F591EFF976.jpeg
steps
steps
7836B4F7-EFE1-4FAD-A7E1-A9C67EB37818.jpeg
before_after
before_after
Staff note (gir bot) :

Opalyn Rose approved this submission.
Note: I hereby certify this badge bit complete and I’m curious about what you pulled out of the drain 

 
Opalyn Rose
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posted 3 years ago
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Approved submission
Here is my submission for the Plumbing Aspect - Sand for Straw - Unclog a Drain with a Zip Tool BB (duplicate).

To document the completion of the BB, I have provided the following:
- Before: A Clogged Drain
- Action: You in the process of using the zip tool on the clogged drain
- After: Your previously clogged drain, now draining properly

The shower started draining slowly while showering so I knew it was time to get a new zip tool and clear the drain line.  
1.JPG
clogged drain and zip tool
clogged drain and zip tool
2.JPG
inserting zip tool
inserting zip tool
3.JPG
extracting clog
extracting clog
4.JPG
drained tub with clog and tool in tub
drained tub with clog and tool in tub
5.JPG
draining nicely
draining nicely

Check out the plans to build your own charka-style spinning wheel from bicycle parts
Explore the intersection of permaculture, community, and the cycle of life at Herland Forest Natural Burial Cemetery and the Windward Education and Research Center

Staff note (gir bot) :

Mike Barkley approved this submission.

 
Jay Girardot
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posted 3 years ago
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Clearing the slow sink drain has been on my to-do list for a while. But it finally stopped draining altogether while my partner was shaving, so getting it cleared went to the top of the list. I expected a lot of hair to come out, but I did not expect to fish out a q-tip, several bobby pins, and a pair of tweezers. I have no idea how those even got down there.

Got the gunk out of the drain and wiped off the sediment from the standing dirty water, and it was good as new.
clogged.jpg
Not draining at all.
Not draining at all.
zip-tool.jpg
Getting the zip tool down the drain was harder than I expected.
Getting the zip tool down the drain was harder than I expected.
removing-clogs.jpg
This stuff is disgusting.
This stuff is disgusting.
gunk.jpg
The hair was expected. The tweezers, bobby pins, and q-tip were not.
The hair was expected. The tweezers, bobby pins, and q-tip were not.
unclogged.jpg
Next step: Clean the sink!
Next step: Clean the sink!

They/them. Autistic and disabled permie newbie in zone 6a.

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Opalyn Rose approved this submission.
Note: I certify this badge bit complete.

 
C Lundquist
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posted 3 years ago
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I don't suppose a sink plunger would qualify? I don't have a zip tool, but I have a plunger that does the same thing.

Little house with a big garden in the city!
"It is no measure of health to be well adjusted to a profoundly sick society." ~ J. Krishnamurti

 
Edward Norton
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Approved submission
I was so happy when my wife told me the bathroom sink wasn’t draining properly. I could unclog it and get a Badge Bit.

I don’t have a zip tool but I do have zip ties, so I made one.


Materials for zip tool


Zip tool hair grabbing notches


Slow draining clogged sink


First haul - gross


I blame my first born who hasn’t cut his hair since 2019


Drain working

So looking forward to ripping out this sink . . . All part of the renovation.

Cargo bikes are cool

Staff note (gir bot) :

L. Johnson approved this submission.
Note: I hereby certify this badge bit complete. Nicely improvised zip tool.

 
Rebekah Harmon
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Approved submission
My sink was clogged. I used a little green food dye to see it. The zip tool pulled out a little hair, but mostly beads! Beads!? How did those get down there?? *sigh* kids.
20221012_163715_Moment.jpg
clogged
clogged
20221012_163854.jpg
the tool goes in
the tool goes in
20221012_164349.jpg
yucky stuff, but the water is gone
yucky stuff, but the water is gone

Being weird is easy. Making it mainstream is hard. Be brave! https://www.youtube.com/@healthygreenbrave

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Someone approved this submission.

 
Addy Fletcher
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posted 2 years ago
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While doing this BB, I only realised afterwards that you can't really see the water in the pictures as the undraining water is clear. Looking at the previous post by Rebekah, I will use food dye in future posts about plumbing to make the water more visible! For now, I hope that me circling the water will make it more clear.
Before.jpg
[Thumbnail for Before.jpg]
Dirty.jpg
[Thumbnail for Dirty.jpg]
After.jpg
[Thumbnail for After.jpg]
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Mike Barkley approved this submission.

 
Kevin David
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My submission for the BB.
9FF2D550-C857-4CCA-ACCC-F306C8F25301.jpeg
Slow draining
Slow draining
3B47C5D6-89EC-404F-99CF-99A3A58B4509.jpeg
The cleaning
The cleaning
0CD76192-F7A4-4E67-8486-17C41E05A0DF.jpeg
Smooth flowing
Smooth flowing

“I can think, I can wait, I can fast”-Siddhartha, Herman Hesse

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Mike Barkley approved this submission.

 
Margo Turner
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Approved submission
Bathroom sink was slow to drain out water, so fed a zip tool down the drain. It pulled up some hair and also some weird chunks of mysterious bathroom gunk.  After that, the water went down great! This tool is awesome!
clogged.jpg
[Thumbnail for clogged.jpg]
fixed.jpg
[Thumbnail for fixed.jpg]
gunk-and-hair.jpg
[Thumbnail for gunk-and-hair.jpg]
zipper-down.jpg
[Thumbnail for zipper-down.jpg]

Stay curious.

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Mike Barkley approved this submission.

 
Cal Jorgensen
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The bathtub/shower drain has been getting slower and slower for a long time now. I have, admittedly, been putting off cleaning it for way too long.

I had to repeat the process about 30 times to get it all - the blockage was much too big to grab all at once. Ended up with an enormous pile of sludge, but the drain is totally clear now!
20230901_220102.jpg
drain after a shower
drain after a shower
20230904_151455.jpg
drain cover removed and zip tool inserted
drain cover removed and zip tool inserted
20230904_152111.jpg
clumps removed
clumps removed
20230904_153942.jpg
sludge
sludge
20230904_160702.jpg
cleared drain
cleared drain
20230904_160822.jpg
freely draining
freely draining
20230904_161317.jpg
replace drain cover
replace drain cover

Needs more dirt.

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Someone approved this submission.

 
Timothy Norton
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To complete this BB, the minimum requirements are you must unclog a clogged drain, using a zip tool or something similar.

To document this BB, post pictures or a 2-minute video depicting the following:
- Before: A Clogged Drain
See Attached.
- Action: You in progress of using the zip tool on the clogged drain
See Attached.
- After: Your previously clogged drain, now draining properly
See Attached.

I ordered a zip tool, something that I probably should of done ages ago instead of trying to force needle nose pliers or a flatthead into clogs, and it arrived today. I have been having issues with drainage in this particular sink so I figured why not give it a try. (Spoiler, it had a clog) I found that I had to make several passes to pull up the debris but I also found out that you shouldn't rip it out like a Beyblade unless you liked wearing drainage goo. Yuck. At least it was quick and it worked!
Zip1.jpg
The drain in question. (Proof of clog in following pictures)
The drain in question. (Proof of clog in following pictures)
Zip2.jpg
Insert tool into drain.
Insert tool into drain.
Zip3.jpg
BLEH
BLEH
Zip4.jpg
Sucess!
Sucess!

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Someone approved this submission.

 
Joy Hancock
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The sink was draining, but I knew it had not been cleaned in many years and it looked like there was some black gunk down there. Well there definitely was!
IMG_7725.jpeg
sink
sink
IMG_7726.jpeg
black gunk even near the top
black gunk even near the top
IMG_7728.jpeg
yick
yick
IMG_7730.jpeg
clean and running smoothly
clean and running smoothly

"Despise not the day of small things."

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Paul Fookes approved this submission.
Note: I certify this BB complete.  Well done

 
Mark Hancock
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Unclogged a sink that had alot of sediment buildup with a zip tool!
1.jpg
before shot
before shot
2.jpg
action shot - removed alot of sediment that was built up after several runs
action shot - removed alot of sediment that was built up after several runs
3.jpg
after the water flowed more quickly
action shot 2
4.jpg
completed
completed
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Patrick W Kelly
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posted 1 year ago
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These zip tools are great. First time using one and it did the trick!
20240104_223921.jpg
Clogged sink
Clogged sink
20240104_224319.jpg
After zip tool work
After zip tool work
20240104_224509.jpg
Unplugged sink with running water
Unplugged sink with running water
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Note: This BB is complete!

 
Kathryn Cesarz
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This is my submission for Unclogging a Drain with a Zip Tool.


Here's the sink draining properly, post-zip:

Video of sink draining properly.

IMG_2759-copy.jpg
Before shot of Tool and Sink
Before shot of Tool and Sink
IMG_2761-copy.jpg
Action shot with all the pretty stuff
Action shot with all the pretty stuff
Staff note (gir bot) :

Someone flagged this submission as not complete.
BBV price: 1
Note: Missing the following: Before: A Clogged Drain

Staff note :

Sorry, the before photo does not show a clogged drain.

 
carsten hügel
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posted 1 year ago
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Edge case submission
I used a old bike radius arm were I bent a hook at one side. I hope that is ok as well.
wip.jpg
cleaning Work in progress
cleaning Work in progress
before.jpg
before starting
before starting
after.jpg
finished cleaning
finished cleaning
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Someone flagged this submission as an edge case.
BBV price: 0
Note: This BB is not complete. If you can provide a better photo of the tool and the gunk it removed this BB would be approved.

 
J Garlits
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It was better than I thought with the amount of hair that goes down there, but I did get up some bleh...and the water isn't backing up into the sink...

j

Passionate advocate for living at a human scale and pace.
Help me grow the permaculture presence in Indiana https://permies.com/t/243107
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Francis Scott
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The shower pan was filling up FAST. In this photo, it's about 1/2" deep, but it'll just keep filling up if I let it run longer.



Going at it with a zip tool got the drain to, well, drain.



But when I tested it, the drain filled up again. So removed the drain cover and brought out the big gun: my manual auger. And this terrifying creature came out. My wife said we should name it.




After a second test, it drains! No more standing water.

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Bethany Paschall
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Had a clog in our bathroom sink and it was really needing taken care of. With as many people as we have in our house, that bathroom sees a lot of use.
IMG_20240422_102804.jpg
Before
Before
IMG_20240422_102854.jpg
Inserted Zip tool
Inserted Zip tool
IMG_20240422_102958.jpg
I don't know who decided to stick a hairball down there...
I don't know who decided to stick a hairball down there...
IMG_20240422_103027.jpg
All done!
All done!

"And we urge you, brothers and sisters, warn those who are idle and disruptive, encourage the disheartened, help the weak, be patient with everyone. Make sure that nobody pays back wrong for wrong, but always strive to do what is good for each other and for everyone else."
1 Thessalonians 5:14-15

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Matthew Woods
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Location: Miami Valley, Ohio
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posted 9 months ago
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One basin of my two basin kitchen sink hasn’t drained well for awhile. The zip tool, unexpectedly, brought up an oil waxy cottage cheese like substance. It did improve drainage noticeably. The stench was pretty foul. I don’t typically put a strainer in that basin and I think some food gunk must’ve gotten lodged in there.
IMG_7726.jpeg
Slow draining sink
Slow draining sink
IMG_7727.jpeg
Eww! Smells awful!
Eww! Smells awful!
IMG_7728.jpeg
When the drain started to “breath” I had to take a step back!
When the drain started to “breath” I had to take a step back!
IMG_7730.jpeg
Flows freely, now.
Flows freely, now.
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Jeremy VanGelder approved this submission.
Note: Good job, much better now.

 
Jesse Lane
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My bathroom sink drain was super slow. So I used the zip tool on it.
IMG_8844.jpeg
Super sluggish
Super sluggish
IMG_8849.jpeg
Zipping
Zipping
IMG_8851.jpeg
The hair gunk
The hair gunk
IMG_8857.jpeg
Free flowing
Free flowing

J Lane

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Paul Fookes approved this submission.
Note: I certify this BB complete.  Well done

 
Mark Miner
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Hey PEP-folks,
This is a companion post to my drain saga partly detailed here: https://permies.com/p/2856463

This aspect of the saga is using the snake to clean clogs out of the deeper drain. The P-trap was disassembled and repaired in the above post, but when reassembled the first time, the drain still backed up. Gunk further down. Yeesh.

While browsing on Amazon and not wanting to spend money on a drain snake, I recalled an auspicious tool left hanging on the wall in the garage by the former owners. It had looked like a drain snake at first blush, but upon inspection, it was a flex-shaft power take off with a hand wheel. I squinted pretty hard at it, and it looked like a drain snake again, so I figured it was worth a try, being free.

I had to modify the end into a tight hook that would allow both forward and backward motion through the pipe joints, since I had no interest in getting this thing stuck down my pipes. However, a little pliers work, and a nice hook with tucked tip was formed and ready to go. Down she went, a couple times, hauling up nasty sludge each go. After a few back-and-forths, I decided to try the drain again, buttoned it up, and thankfully, it flowed freely. Previously, it had made a "filling up" noise as water went down, which is not a sound I like to hear from drain pipes. Now, just a healthy gurgle.

This house does have pretty long drains, so a powered snake is probably somewhere in the future, but at least the heat is off for now, and the sink is usable. More fun on the DWV stack in another BB.

Happy homesteading,
Mark
snake.jpg
[Thumbnail for snake.jpg]
snake_in_the_hole.jpg
[Thumbnail for snake_in_the_hole.jpg]
gunk.jpg
[Thumbnail for gunk.jpg]
shipshape.jpg
[Thumbnail for shipshape.jpg]
waterflow.jpg
[Thumbnail for waterflow.jpg]
noleaks.jpg
[Thumbnail for noleaks.jpg]
20250125_094207.jpg
[Thumbnail for 20250125_094207.jpg]

Christ is Risen!

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Jeremy VanGelder approved this submission.
Note: That's some gross gunk. Good job!

 
Alexandra Malecki
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Ash Jackson wrote:To complete this BB, the minimum requirements are you must unclog a clogged drain, using a zip tool or something similar.

To document this BB, post pictures or a 2-minute video depicting the following:
- Before: A Clogged Drain
- Action: You in progress of using the zip tool on the clogged drain
- After: Your previously clogged drain, now draining properly



This sink was pretty clogged, only a trickle of water was passing through before my kid realized that it wasn't going to get better on its own. Based on earlier submissions, I used blue dye to help see the water in the photos.
1_before_clogged-drain.jpg
[Thumbnail for 1_before_clogged-drain.jpg]
2_in-progress_unclogging-drain.jpg
[Thumbnail for 2_in-progress_unclogging-drain.jpg]
3_after_draining-properly.jpg
[Thumbnail for 3_after_draining-properly.jpg]
3b_after_draining-properly.jpg
[Thumbnail for 3b_after_draining-properly.jpg]

I'm pursuing SKIP to inherit property, check it out for yourself: SKIP book or maybe you're my Otis/Otessa match?
I love that Rocket Mass Heaters are Carbon-Nuetral. In Erica's and Ernies Art of Fire Presentation, Erica explains the chemistry of how that's possible!
I attended Helen's Garden Master Course in January 2022 and give the lectures 10/10 acorns! Fortunately for you, you can also see the Garden Master recordings but unfortunately you'll miss out on the fruit Helen brought to sample.

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