10 Foot Aluminum Pole dropped down Soil Stack Vent

DEL, thanks for replying to my posting. Yes it sounds ridiculous but I had a slow, swirling, and emptying toilet and the plumbing place I called told me that this is probably because I have a blocked air vent on the roof of my house. They said the only way to unblock this plug was to stick a wood or metal rod down the shaft of this vent to clear away the blockage. So that's what I did and suddenly, by accident, the pole fell out of my hands and down the Soil Stack Vent it went. That's the story. Got any other remedies how to extricate this fu...ing aluminum pole from my stack vent...? Please reply A.S.A.P.

Thanks for your advice so far

Murray Fishman

The plumbing place you called was taking the pis and hoping to generate more work for themselves...blocked air vent <falls off chair laughing> unless maybe you get a birds nest on top of it, I'd think it highly unlikely....Just think about what goes down the waste (nasty solids, paper, all sorts of stuff that shouldn't...) ...compared with what goes up and down the air vent (air and smelly gas). Now ask yourself which is going to get blocked...!

I think you have been taken for a sucker..a set of cheap flexi-rods or a plunger may well have done the trick...or check for rodding covers (like little round manhole covers) along the line of the sewer..

Good luck ...once you have it sorted you should phone the plumbing place and say...

'Thanks for the advice...it cured it really quick'.. It will annoy them no end...

Del

Hello Murray F1950:

the advice you were given was obtuse to say the least.

Just put a whole bottle of drain un blocker in the toilet and flush it. Try not to flush again for 45 minutes. It will give time for the original blockage to get fizzing and melt away.

Get you pole out first though. The fumes from the drain cleaner are poisonous. It is probably sodium hydroxide or similar after all.

stay safe

babybear

You might consider getting about 25 feet of pipe. put a rope on one end, so you can retrieve it. On the other end, put a large wood screw or lag bolt through a cap (screw facing out of the cap) an cap the pipe with it. Push it into your pipe, and screw it into the poly handle. It won't work on the first try, but that's life. When you have it reasonably attached, then gently pull the whole thing up.

Have a helper with you. That way when someone drops the aluminum tube down the vent again just as you get it to the top, you'll have someone to scream at.

If you poke a large enough hole in the top of the handle. you might try using a butterfly nut to insert into the hole. That will not let it fall down again.

A friend with extensive experience as a plumber once recommended the use of a heavy steel chain as a means for checking if an air vent of this type was partially plugged (ans as a way to break loose any buildup).

To remove a shaft, I would think it best to try a hollow pipe of the proper length with a loop made by folding a clothesline and pushing it through the pipe. Could be used to lasso the lost pipe and retrieve it.

I drop a heavey fishing weight down mine and reel it back up when it get a skin over the air vent. The house get taht gas smell if we go away for more than a month in the summer time. A lot of 3 stroy home have that problem with a septic system .

The most likely problem with the toilet is the flapper valve in the base of the toilet is clogged with debris. either try using an enzyme based cleaner, or replace the toilet.

Hello Del the cat,

I like your idea with the folded fingered pipe grip. I did the same thing 20 years ago.

Good suggestion Del!

Certainly sounds like there was some pretty weird advice by the plumbing place though? Though they make have not fully understood what the poster explained?

stay safe

babybear

Is the end of the pole open, or does it have a cap or plug? Can you see it? Would you be able to drop a weight on a string (fishman weight -- pun intended) down the handle? If so, coat a pyramid weight, which would just fit inside the handle, with one of the relatively new polyurethane glues which foam up to fill voids when exposed to air an moisture and wait for two to three hours. It should glom onto it well enough to pull it out.

P. S., I'm as curious as Del is too. To quote him, "HTF did you manage that???"

Thanks Bill for your response. Please read my reply back to Del earlier this morning. In answer to your questions to me, No the pole is NOT open as it does have a cap over the end of the pole which is sticking up in the Soil Stack Vent. Yes, with a High Beam Spot Light I can see the cap at the top of the pole handle which is 21 feet down the Stack Vent. No, I cannot drop a fisherman's line down inside the Aluminum Pole using a fisherman's sinker weight because of the cap covering the opening at the end of the pole which is sticking up. Can you think of any other way I can extract this fu...ing Aluminum pole from my Soil Stack Pipe? Please get back to me A.S.A.P.

Thanks for your suggestions so far.

Murray Fishman

If the cap on the end has an edge to hook, try a treble hood on a line. If it doesn't have an edge, then Del's plan sounds good, but I'd try a prototype of one design or another outside the vent prior to trying it 21 feet down a 2 1/2" pipe. Perhaps a long tapered cone at the end might wedge on the end of the pole well enough to get a grip on it and lift it out.

hello Murray;it seems like you have a lot of good suggestions, if you can see and reach the pole have you thought of useing another pole with a string tied around the handle to put on your wrist to keep it secure and put an epoxy on the end and let it set than pull it up?plenty of good sticky stuff out there.hope this helps.

I agree with Del and Bill but, if that's your story and you are sticking to it, I guess it's OK but I'd also have a chat with the plumber that gave you that bad advice.

By the way did that fix the problem or is it now worse because you now clearly have a restriction in the vent pipe?

To fish it out, I'd probably try something simpler; like a rope snare near the end of a thin, long pole or rod; preferably flat so you can move the swimming pool pole away from the vent wall and get the rope snare loop around it. Tighten the snare by pulling the free end and hopefully it will grab and hold allowing you to remove it slowly. If you are lucky, the pole has a larger diameter rubber cap or end.

Good luck.

'Fraid I can only add bad news - and add stress to sort it out quickly!

Last place I lived, a previous owner had used to top of the vent pipe to support an aerial mast. This had (somehow, before I moved in) dropped down the pipe, and resulted eventually in a blockage, flooding the bathroom & kitchen below with nasty stuff. Took out the kitchen ceiling on the way through.

It was an old cast iron pipe, and the quickest, cheapest solution was to apply a size 1 electronic screwdriver (AKA f***ing great hammer), smash the pipe, clear up all the crap (literally!) & replace the pipe with a nice new plastic job (with inspection ports).

Sorry, mate.

If you can see the end of the pole in the stack. Y not take another pole and put 5 min apoxie on it and lower it down on top of the end and let it harden,then pull it up.

or just buy another house.

Secure a tomato paste can, 2 1/8",to the end of the pole and fill it with epoxy or silicone. That will give you a lot more surface area to bond with. It should be set up by the time the soup is done.

I don't know the details of your soil stack vent but can you intentionally plug it at the bottom and fill with water and float the pole out. Of course this would only work if the platic handle is air tight. Good luck.

Only here because this sounds like someting I would do.

Wish I could draw a picture of my suggestion

Will try 2 describe what I have in mind

You need a noose that will grab the pole to allow you to extract it

A springy wire in a loop just larger than the pole and smaller than the pipe id with a extension to allow it to reach down around the neck of the cap

perhaps the loop at a slight angle to facilitate its tendency to tighten around the pole/cap

all attached to a 20+ ft rod of some sort

practice first I think would be recommended

the best of luck to you

Iff you have a clean out at the bottom of the stack vent and can reach the pole, then you might drop a fishing line down and tie the pole to pull it up. Good luck.
Vinnie

Sorry -- I think Bluestone was there first with my plan

If there is a cleanout at the bottom then passing a line all the way down and then attaching a hook or toggle might work, otherwise something clever with an electrician's fish tape might be called for. Best of luck.

Try this at your own risk, but if all else fails it might be a solution

Try some caustic "Draino" It will eat the Aluminium from the bottom, but make sure all sources of ignition are kept away, as the hydrogen produced has the potential to explode violently. I mean violently. Switch off all power whilst the reaction is proceeding

I would put in a little at a time, and let it do its job in its own time leaving time for the hydrogen to escape out of the top of the vent between doses

You would of course be left with the handle in the bottom of the trap, but if it is not very long it probably wont matter. The Draino will clean the drain

Cant take any responsibility for my suggestion, best of luck

First, can you get to the stack anywhere near the pole you dropped? If so just cut the stack and attach a line from the top or feed it back up. Then, glue or tape it together to keep the smell in.

Second, I would try another pole with a frog gig or similar device protruding from it. Lower the gig pole down and stab the gig into the top of the plastic handle. If the handle has a small hole like most it should be easy providing the barb on the gig is big enough to catch it.

Oh, be sure to add a safety line to any thing you lower from now on!

Good luck

Hello Murray F1950:

oh dear!............Sounds like you have a small problem......

I repeat "small problem".

I would not smash the pipe to remove it. If it is iron and is joined directly onto 4" or 6" salt glazed under-ground waste pipe. While renewing the smashed iron pipe , if you damage the salt glazed pipe you will have to dig it up and replace it. That can go on and on down the length of the salt glazed pipe and digging a trench (6'/180cm) deep or deeper aint no fun....

I would go with Dels idea simply because I have used it and it works The 'natural' spring in the 'fingers' grips well. To guide the 'fingered' pipe over the pole glue a 'jointing' piece onto the end after you have cut the fingers. Letting it overhang the end by a few cm's.

A 2" /5cm plastic water drainage pipe with slits cut in the end about 2cm long, and about 4 or 5mm wide. Folded as Del explained. I had almost the same problem though I was dealing with a single story building...........but it was only just out of reach.

It should not cause any future problems but, the longer you leave it there the more compacted the toilet waste be.

You could also tape a small flashlight to the plastic pipe you use, or (anything else), then you will be able to see what you do with a nice bright light and, will not need three hands!

One thing you may find is the 'fingers' might be too stiff. Just cut of a couple of the fingers and it wont be such a tight fit. But, it does work! And you also have the rod you dropped down there stuck at the bottom so you will be able to push the 'fingered' 2" pipe quite hard to get it over if needed.

Good luck.

stay safe

babybear

cut a piece of pipe whose 'ID' is a little larger than the aluminum poles 'OD' in half (lengthwise)...

attach a couple feet of the gray heavy duty 3M double sided foam tape that you can get at any hardware store. (to the concave inner surface of the 'slit in half' portion of pipe) ... lower it attached to another pipe and fish that stick out.

then wash your hands... that's nasty

just another option

TRY A SMALL GRAB HOOK IN A FISHING POLE AFTER A FEW TIMES THE HOOK SHOULD GRAB THE SIDE OF THE PLAXTIC HANDEL AND LET YOU REEL IT UP. SLOWLY!

Oh, and Murray, when you finally DO get that thing up out of there, please come back and let us know which method worked?

Dell and Babybear have got it.

We "lost" 150 feet of pump and rods down a bore in central queensland. (Pipe rusted through at water surface and took the lot to the bottom.)

We built a similar "trap" with a tube and one way flap in the bottom. Took a bit of patience, but when we hooked up the pump rods there was a great sigh of relief.

As all the other good posts have said, put a safety line onto it though, with something that will not fit down the opening at the top.

Hello Just an Engineer:

just to say thank you sir for the mention, though as you know it was Del who mentioned it first,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,Thanks anyway! It worked for me and am glad it worked for you. Thought I imagine your pipe was very much heavier than the pole mentioned in this post!

stay safe

babybear

If you can access the bottom side and isolate the offending pipe/rod used compresssed air or air blower???

Possibly messy.

Neighbors will see quite the show.

Del's idea, and using the cap to gain a purchase sounds good, but tricky. Depending on lateral clearance from dropped pipe to vent pipe, perhaps a length of 1/4 tubing would fit? A string, twine, or thin wire (rope), extending all the way through the "fishing" tube and out in a loop, could be guided down and dressed around the lost pipe to a level below the cap fitting. Then, make fast one end of the string and pull the other to close that loop around the errant pipe. As fish tube is pulled up, string loop will slide . . . but then catch on lip lip of the end cap. If someone already said this, sorry 'bout dat.

Perhaps an improvement to this suggestion would be to drill some holes and put some nails or screws into the wall of the "funnel" such that the points stick into the inside and will grip the handle of the pole when you engage it onto the top of the pole.

And to the guide the "funnel onto the top of the pole, stretch a piece of thin rubber diapphragm with a central hole over the funnel so that the pole finds the centre of the funnel via the rubber diaphragm.

Yup, you have an even better idea !

Your idea was my mouse trap when I was a kid, and current MT as well. Plastic butter tub with hole the size of your thumb near bottom, with pins all pointing in at a slight angle, one way valve, with peanut butter and honey mixed glop in middle.

Cheers

Hello Murray F1950

Just found this Topic and thought about a solution.

Forget the spotlight idea, and use an "Electric Mouse" = A 5 watt torch bulb soldered to the end of twin flex, connected to a lantern battery.

Lower the bulb down the pipe until it arrives at the top of the handle, and because the light is directly at the work area, you will see clearly right at the critical level, even in the daylight.

Tools Required:

1. "Electric mouse" as above, ready to use.
   
2. Cut a piece of steam pipe 12 inches longer than you need to touch the top of the handle, ensure the ends are threaded.
3. Braze into a steam pipe coupling a 1/4 inch drill bit.
4. Braze into a steam pipe coupling a large "Ezyout", with the small end sized so that it can enter the 1/4 inch dia. hole.
5. Braze into a steam pipe coupling a large hexagonal piece of steel, a piece of a larger allen key will do.
6. Electric drill.
7. Extension power cable, if needed.
   
8. 4 lb "club" hammer.
9. 2 pair pipe tongs, to do up/undo the steam pipe couplings.
   

Method:

1. Lower Electric mouse down the hole, until work area is clearly visible.
2. Lower the drill ended steam pipe down, until central on the handle 'cap'.
3. Mark the steam pipe position with insulation tape 6 inches above the outer vent pipe.
   
4. Fit electric drill to hexagonal adaptor screwed onto upper steam pipe end.
5. Switch on the electric drill, bore the 1/4 inch hole into the cap of your pool pipe.
6. Ensure by measurement from vent pipe top, to the ring of insulation tape, that 2 inches of hole has been drilled into/through the cap of the handle, far below.
7. Withdraw the steam pipe, clean it as it comes out.
8. Unscrew the drill end (bottom coupling).
9. Screw on the "Ezyout" coupling.
10. Lower the steam pipe, ensure the small pointed end of the Ezyout enters the drilled hole in the handle.
11. Using the 4 lb hammer, give several sharp hits to the hexagonal ended pipe adaptor.
12. The Ezyout with the very coarse spiral will penetrate into the cap/handle assembly.
13. Withdraw the steam pipe, along with the handle/pool pipe assembly.
14. Withdraw the electric Mouse, disconnect from lantern battery.
    
15. Clean all, use disinfectant and rubber gloves.
16. Unscrew the Ezyout from the drilled cap.
17. Retain equipment, just in case of future needs.
18. Be more careful next time.

The method has worked for me, and I have used the system, with variations, to do odd jobs far down ventilation ducting, walls, and other places.

Advise progress or lack thereof, with

Kind Regards....

Hello Sparkstation:

I think you are 'cheating because this is a different answer! LOL!

If I was him I would clean the 'tool' used afterwards, frame it and put it in a glass case!

Yours and perhaps mine (though mine was not so engineer-ish) are what an engineer would do. A non-engineer would just use a big hammer and smash the pipe?

Take care

Stay safe

babybear

Why not just leave it there. This only a vent pipe for sewage gas to rise up. The aluminium pole will not have any impact.

If you really want to remove it, you will need to access the pipe where the pole is. Either by removing a joint, or breaking a hole in the pipe. Then lower a piece of wire down from the top and tie it to the pole. Then pull the pole out from the top

Give yourself a break. Forget the pipe

What about connecting a powerful shop-vac to a long length of swimming pool hose and droppping down the stack? Just want to be sure the vac is vented outside or you won't score any cleverness points with the missus.

I'm used to retrieving tools from wells and similar. You can make a simple tool using stiff but bendable wire. Make a "spring" like shape of variable dimension and about 5 feet in length and lower it into the pipe/stack(make sure your "spring" is less diameter than stack). Use something rigid to lower it in, maybe a long piece of pvc pipe or similar, and once the tool is at the depth of the handle, spin it around until your "spring" binds up the handle. Then pull it all back out. This has worked for me numerous times at vary depths and in pipes of different diameters.

Use a snare or noosing wand on the end of a long wire, snake or rod

You should be able to get the stack cap off the vent pipe which would make accessing the problem easier.

The light down the pipe via the light mouse seems like a good idea too.

My recommendation for a retrieval tool would be an extra long dog catcher. A dog catcher is a pole with a wire loop on the end that is drawn tight by pulling on the wire while pushing on the pole.

So, specifically, 25-30 feet of the smallest PVC tube you can get or perhaps electrical conduit if that is handy. 30-40 feet of 1/32 aircraft cable. At the end of the joined pipe drill a cross-hole insert one end of the cable and crimp or glue. Feed the other end through the PVC pipe.

Down the hole with the dog catcher and catch the end of the pipe. Tighten the noose clamp and retrieve.

A plain looped length of whatever wire you have handy doubled back through the pipe might work as well but the side hole mount will make it a lot easier snag the pipe.

The only problems I can fore see with this rig are; you will be on the roof with a long pole so be careful, and you may not be able to the the two poles through the 2 1/2 inch cover hole if they are side by side.

If that is the case - Go with a lighter wire like copper wire or piano wire and fashion a slip knot in the end with will not pass the small hole you drilled in the PVC end cap on the pipe you just made. Catching the pole in hole will be more difficult this way. But, once the slip knot is well set you should be able to draw the pole you made for fishing the pole you lost from the stack and then bring up the pole you lost on just the line you made.

Fine copper wire should be strong enough and ties and takes a set pretty well. Piano wire is stiffer and springier and you will have to use a whipping knot like a hangman's noose to make a slip knot that works.

Best wishes,

Mr. Gee

I accidentally dropped a 10 foot Aluminum Swimming Pool Pole

Too late now............but I clean all vent stacks with a high volume/pressure hose...landlord...do it to all vents annually.........on straight drop sticky ones I put a pound of salt on a small sub- diameter double paper bag and drop it............any thing sticks....back to the water.......bag goes down when wet...contents same or desolves.........

You have a years worth of tries in previous posts...... next time use the water.

Warning...watch the overhead clearance if any power lines near.....

MR. GUY

I am not so sure I would want to chance that expanding foam contacting the walls of that pipe.

I have seen those finger traps on the local electric company trucks. They are made of braided steel wire. Stainless I think. Unless there is access to the pole through a clean out, I do not think the ones that I have seen would grip the pole from just dropping it over the pole. It might be possible to use a noose to snare the pole. Similar to the style used to capture stray dogs.

Glue 25 feet of 1\2, or 3\4' PVC pipe together. Drill a hole in the side of the pipe about an inch from the bottom. Feed the middle of a 50 foot length of rope about 3\16" down the middle, and out the side, leaving a loop about 2" sticking out the side. Tape the two ends of the rope sticking out of the top of the pipe o the outside of the pipe. If you can find a thin penlight, duct tape it to the pipe about two feet from the lower end. Probably best not to line it up with the hole in the side, you will want as much visibility as possible.

Now lower the pipe into the vent, with the light turned on. Drop the loop over the pole, pull the upper ends of the rope till tight around the pole. Tape the rope tightly around the pipe, and pull it up and out.

Sounds easy don't it. Good luck.

Some day I'll tell you the four things you need to know to be a plumber.

Whoa, bob c, I'm not letting that offer go. I bestow a tribute to you in the form of a GA. Please, "the four things you need to know to be a plumber".

I will forever be in your gratitude.

And it is a good answer anyway.

OK OK OK enough ! Get 14 big boys together for Mexican / Thai food night, pickled herring and pork snouts and kimchi and popcorn. Advise NASA that there might be an alumimum pole on radar about 02:00 h.

I like this idea, however I would not stab it to hard. What you can do is get you pole ready with a one barbed end on it. If you have a small blow torch ( or something similar) heat the end of the hook to almost red. Then slide the pole down the vent and push slightly on the plastic cap. The hook should melt right in the top. As soon as it penetrates, rotate the barb 90 degrees, then let cool for about one minute. The plastic will re-harden and you should be able to pull right up.

long spiral brush like a bore brush slightly bigger than the ID of the handle on a long rod or pole inserted into the handle will pull it right up.

It's capped and has no opening into which to push the brush.

Hello erssk

Read my Post here, please: http://cr4.globalspec.com/comment/261846/Re-10-Foot-Aluminum-Pole-dropped-down-Soil-Stack-Vent

I note that the Topic Poster's surname is Fishman, so he should be able to get the correct angling technique to complete the removal of the pole.

Kind Regards....

Hello Sparkstation:

I didn't notice the connection between his name and predicament there Sparkstation!

I wish he would do something.................my nails are down to my Wrists!

I know It worked for me but, I did need the extra joining sleeve fitted after the fingers had been cut to (in my situation) help slip and guide the gripper over the end of the pipe I was recovering.

The only difference is that, as I remember it, I had no small torch I could tape to the side of the gripper pole.

stay safe

babybear

He can remove the cap first, then use the brush to get it out !

It's been awhile...

You think he fell off the roof?

Murray posted this twice - once in the Mech. Eng. section. I think he's probably safe. His most recent post there said:

"To all my concerned partners out there about my above mentioned predicament, thank you from the bottom of my heart for all your useful suggestions how to remedy this problem. It's comforting to know that I am not alone out there in this real world without knowledgeable and ingenious people who are truly interested in solving other peoples problems. Your responses have been overwhelming to me and I can't believe all the support that you all continue to provide me. I felt so stupid when I dropped this Aluminum Pole down the Soil Stack Vent but now I feel that I am not alone in making this mistake. I have not proceeded with any suggestion as of this moment because I am going out of town for a few days, and I do not have enough time to review and try any of your suggestions right now, but when I return back home, I will be reviewing all of your suggestions to see what solution (or solutions) make the most sense to me. I have to get this Aluminum Pole out of my Soil Stack as quickly as possible or risk blocking up my Waste Pipe to my Sewer Drain. Please continue to e-mail me your suggestions how to remove the Aluminum Pole from the Soil Stack Vent. "

Hello JE in Chicago:

last I heard he was peeing in the gutter......................................and slipped off the roof!

They say the 'old' ones are the best?

stay safe

baby bear

Is it out ?

Electrical supply houses can sell you a "gripper" that is mounted on a long pole and is used to change burnt out light bulbs in high ceilinged places.

Some of the grippers available allow you to adjust their opening size and the tension of the springs that make it grip the glass of the bulb.

You may be able to lower it down your plumbing stack and slip it over the plastic end of the pool pole then slowly... pull it out.

But please, have a safety line on the pole you use to get the first one out. I would really hate to see a thread called... "Two poles in my stack".

"Two poles in my stack". I just can't write anything that I would want my mom to see.

I now have another thought. Go to the local building supply superstore. Find the thin wall pvc that is just too small to go over the handle of the relocated pool pole. Buy 20 plus feet of it. Saw a slit into the pipe about a foot up the side. By varying the slot width you will be able to slide the new pipe over the old pole and have it grip the pole.

If it wasn't for the two remaining members that still have some decency, I would like to end this by sneaking over to his roof and removing that damn pole. Let him come home and wonder where it went. But the two of you would just have to tell him, and ruin the joke.

To all concerned parties that e-mailed me their suggestions how to remove the 10' Aluminum Swimming Pool Pole from my Soil Stack Vent Pipe, just a short note: I PULLED IT OUT TODAY, IN THE AFTERNOON. WHAT A RELIEF!!!! Details of how I did it are to follow sometime tomorrow along with photos, Monday, August 18, 2008.

Thank you everyone for your help and suggestions.

Murray Fishman

Hello EnviroMan:

I like your audiance!.........it must have been a bit embarrassing having all those people watching while the job was done!

stay safe

babybear

And y'all don't look the least bit embarrassed by the applause! Good job - which method proved successful?

Hello Murray F1950:

Did I miss a post?...................What method did you use to get it out then?

Well done by the way.

stay safe

babybear

Ah! The old tried and tested method.

Put a German near the vent and the pole will be outa there in no time!