Common Drain Problems
I get so many questions about drain problems, there is not a standard, simple answer to any drain problem you may be having. But this is kind of a guide to the warning signs, and a "what not to do" plan
Most people will say "I have this clog and I used every kind of drain cleaner from Draino to liquid plumber and I even cleaned out the trap and ran a snake down the drain and nothing, it is still clogged". Let me say this first
"CHEMICALS DO NOT WORK"
If you have a small amount of hair in the trap, yes it will clean that but a plunger will do the same. Please save your money and don't buy that junk. Cleaning out the trap is great if the clog is in the trap. Some times it is, Most times it is further down
the line then the trap. So what do I do?
Lets start with a kitchen Sink clog. |
Ok So your Kitchen sink is clogged. You may have
just a single bowl sink, or a double bowl sink, you may have a garbage disposal
or you may not. The only difference is, in two bowl sinks the water will go down
one and come up the other. Then the standing water will level out in both of
them. A single bowl sink will just have standing water. With all you will have
varying degrease of how slow it will eventually go down.
The point of mentioning
different types of sinks is simply to point out there is no difference. If water is standing in a sink or backing up to the other sink, the drain is clogged. Try a plunger first,
(WARNING if you used chemicals use rubber gloves and eye protection before you take a plunger to the standing water) Maybe you should not try this yourself, Have it done by a professional.
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In a single bowl sink, (with water in the sink) put the plunger in the sink over the drain and push and pull with out letting the plunger come away from the sink un till you pull it away to see if it worked. Don't spend more then 5 minutes on this. If you did not clear it in 5 minutes, you will not
clear it with a plunger.
In a double bowl sink you will need to have someone hold the stopper down tight in one bowl while you plunge the other Bowl. If you have a disposal Plunge the side with out the disposal. If you have a dishwasher without an air gap
(see Air Gap) you may be plunging this dirty water into your dishwasher, and if you used chemicals this can be a bad thing, another reason not to use chemicals. As with the single bowl, if you don't get it in 5 minutes give
up.
Now it's time deal with the fact that this clogged drain is more then just a dirty trap. You have two choices 1 Call a plumber. 2 go rent a snake from the local tool rental store. In the long run, for many reasons, you would be far better off, just calling a plumber. But if you are willing to take the risks and possible end up calling a plumber anyway, Go rent the snake. Maybe you should not try this yourself, Have it done by a professional
Note: drain cleaning machines
can be very dangerous; you can be badly injured with it. You will need a snake
long enough to go from under your kitchen all the way to the main drain line in
the house. So a small hand snake may not do anything, because it did not reach
the clog. If a drain line goes 50 feet and the clogged section of the pipe is
between 20 and 30 feet down the line, A 25 foot snake will not clear the clog. |
When I run water down my sink water comes up in
the sink or tub down stairs
This happens when
the two drain lines are tied together before they run into the main drain. When
the drain gets clogged passed the lower fixture, the water from the upper
fixture has no place to go so it backs up in the lower fixture. To solve this
you will need to run a snake from the lower fixture to the main drain.
When
I
run
my
washing
machine
water
backs
up
in
the
tub
and
my
toilet
bubbles.
This
may
be
a
local
stoppage,
or
a
main
line
stoppage,
If
you
have
a
septic
tank,
it
may
be
full.
I
know
you
want
to
try
to
fix
this
yourself,
but
you
are
much
better
off
calling
a
Plumber
and
or
a
septic
contractor.
This
is
why,
1,
If
your
septic
tank
is
full,
there
is
nothing
you
can
do,
but
have
it
cleaned,
Septic
tank
cleaning.
2,
You
may
need
a
large
powerful
drain
cleaning
machine,
running
a
machine
like
this
is
extremely
dangerous,
the
snake
can
get
stuck
in
the
pipe,
costing
you
thousand
of
dollars
and
damage
to
your
home
to
remove
it.
Not
to
mention
you
may
damage
the
pipe
under
the
ground,
or
your
septic
tank.
3,
the
snake
may
go
the
wrong
way
in
the
pipe
and
destroy
one
of
your
toilet
(I
have
destroyed
a
toilet)
4,
You
can
spend
the
whole
day
fighting
with
this
and
still
end
up
having
to
call a plumber
To see my cheesy animations of some basic clogged drains
please Click Here
To Prevent some clogs, with out the use of harsh chemicals
Use "Bio-Clean" As directed, on a regular bases.
Keep your drains from clogging up in the first place. Follow The
Green Link
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| This website is designed and run by: Thomas Petito Reardon: a Master Plumber. |
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