Quote:
Originally Posted by Electric man
Hi,
Go to an electrical supply store and buy a Foam Piston or Foam Mouse for the size pipe you have.
Put a strong string on it and put it in one end of the pipe, then put a vacuum on the other end and that will pull the Foam Mouse through the pipe and will clean it out.
If it gets stuck you can pull in back with the string.
Do this a few times and the pipe should come clean.
This will work as long as the water in it is not frozen
Good luck.
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FYI Dan, this method is usually done with a first year apprentice.
As your vacuum sucks the 'mouse or piston' towards you( or who is holding the vacuum to the pipe) it will force any water in the pipe forward, add the suction factor from the vacuum and the water then comes out of the pipe in a major gush. Do not hold onto the string either, the mouse will take off like a bullet if you have good vacuum. Try a spool of string on a long screw driver and let it spin freely.
Another option of this method that can work in a pinch is to tie a plastic bag to the string. A food store bag, loaf of bread bag, ect... will work, trap a little air inside of it but not to much.
The mouse will clean out debris in the pipe better due to the seal it creates, but they can be finicky and can get caught up on couplings, pebbles, ice, ect...
Some under ground conduits get water in them. The utility cable going in the pipe should be rated for wet locations. Your best bet is get the water out if you can though.