How to Diagnose Plumbing Drain Problems

Ask This Old House plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey tracks down the source of a clogged drain using some high tech equipment.

by Richard Trethewey

Skill

Hard

Cost

$10,000 in tools

Estimated Time

1-2 hours

Steps:

Use a drain camera to look for possible obstructions in the main drain line of the house. Ensure the distance meter is reset before entering the drain to give an accurate measurement of where in the pipe a clog may be located.
Use a line locator to confirm the location of the camera under the floor.

Tools:

Gloves
Drain Camera
Drain Locator Tool