Saltwater doubles as liquid plumber?

[Dert42]

so my friend clogged my toilet today.
yes it was actually my friend and not me.

after plunging it for 15 minutes i suggested we use a bucket of saltwater. i figured it was heavier then regular water and i figure thats all liquid plumber is.

so i pulled out about 2 gallons from my tank and threw an extra 2 cups of salt in the bucket to give it some extra oomph.

worked almost instantly!

so i need someone to verify these results...

 

[latazyo]

Dert - please clarify your situation

a lot of the times you can just pour a regular bucket of normal water in there and it'll force the "clog" down

was this a situation like that where you tried normal water, or did you go straight for the number one draft pick

 

[icepick96]

Give me directions and about 15 minutes. I feel a power dump coming from left over turkey:eek2:

 

[Nanook]

:lol:

 

[paulamrein]

I pour all my water change water into the toilet, I wonder what is the long term effects the saltwater has on the piping.

 

[levon15]

Normal drain piping is the same PVC we use on our tanks. I doubt any of our tanks can affect the treatment facilities at all. I do wonder if some algae we might dump in could grow/feed off the the other things we flush? There is no light down there I suppose.

 

[icepick96]

The saltwater probably has little effect on your plumbing. You could have a problem if you have a septic where the change in salinity might kill off some of the needed/benefical bacteria. Depending on how big of a water change you do.

 

[scbadiver]

Many years ago I had a big pine tree growing a few feet from my sewer line in the side yard. I had to get the tree roots chewed out of it twice. The sewer guy tried to sell me a bucket of stuff to mix with water and pour down the floor drain to help keep it from happening as quick. I looked at the stuff and as I asked I saw it on the package. It was mostly salt. He said the salt kills the roots and lets them break off so the don't become a problem. Now all my water change waste goes thru the floor drain into the line. I haven't had anymore problems either. (side note; the tree fell over in a storm about 12 years ago so I really don't know if the saltwater works or not ) I just felt like sharing today.

 

[Dert42]

we tried flushing after the water had slowly drained.
i didn't try pouring a bucket of normal water in suddenly...

that could of been it. i'll try that next time.

cause i'm sure it will happen again...

 

[Nanook]

Hope it goes down and not all over the bathroom floor

 

[latazyo]

yeah, never flush, just pour the extra water in