Clogged Sink
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From: Brampton Canada
Clogged Sink
I've had my house for seven years and for the first time in recent memory my kitchen sink has clogged.
I have no idea what went down the drain, but it fills with water and is really slow to drain.
I've tried Drano and Liquid Plumber - followed the directions and flushed with hot water - but nothing has helped so far.
Anyone have any tips or ideas before I have to turn off the water to the house and open up the pipes underneath the sink? This is a "last resort", as I HATE doing things like that.....
Any help would be appreciated.
Glenn
I have no idea what went down the drain, but it fills with water and is really slow to drain.
I've tried Drano and Liquid Plumber - followed the directions and flushed with hot water - but nothing has helped so far.
Anyone have any tips or ideas before I have to turn off the water to the house and open up the pipes underneath the sink? This is a "last resort", as I HATE doing things like that.....
Any help would be appreciated.
Glenn
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From: topeka
Andym is right you don't have to shut the water off to unclog a drain. If your house is new enough it should have plastic drain waste and vent pipes. The P-trap under the sink should then unscrew easily, that is, only be on hand tight. just put a pan under it before you open it. If you dont want to go to that trouble first try a vac that will pick up water, like a shop vac or a Rainbow to suck the clog out. You have to have the other side of the sink *airtight*, plugged, closed off. Do i have to say Don't have any water in the sink when you open the P-trap.
A plunger works too. Or Open a coat hanger, straighten it out, leave abit of the hook on it, shove in down the drain, twist it around, pull it back up and see what comes up with it.
Since you sound pretty new to plumbing and if your house still has chrome plated brass, DON'T open them up with a pipe wrench unless the hardware stores are open. Because even if the drain looks good when you go pulling on it with a pipe wrench any weakness/corrosion will then reveal itself in the form of twisted and unusable for re-assembly pipes
A plunger works too. Or Open a coat hanger, straighten it out, leave abit of the hook on it, shove in down the drain, twist it around, pull it back up and see what comes up with it.
Since you sound pretty new to plumbing and if your house still has chrome plated brass, DON'T open them up with a pipe wrench unless the hardware stores are open. Because even if the drain looks good when you go pulling on it with a pipe wrench any weakness/corrosion will then reveal itself in the form of twisted and unusable for re-assembly pipes
Last edited by shaggymane; Jun 18, 2004 at 11:28 PM.
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From: norman, okla
also you might try a "snake" you can pick one up at any hardware store. to use it you just feed the wire down the drain until it hits the clogs and then just turn the handle. it just breaks apart the clog and you are good to go... also they make some heavy duty drain cleaner that comes wrapped in plastic... i have heard this stuff works wonders. goodluck
chris
chris
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From: Central Kali
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Joined: Apr 2004
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From: Wausau.WI
Hi there
I have to add this about draino and the like, I work as a maintenance manager at a 120 unit appartment complex, Draino has never worked for me, I have had the best luck with a drain snake and a plunger, after I get the water flowing good with the snake/plunger method I still pull the P trap and clean the gunk out of it that is stuck to the sides of the trap. Using the snake will help knock gunk off of the pipe walls farther down the line. When plunging the sink make sure to plug the other side with your strainer basket our you will get a big mess. Be carfull of any draino that might be in the pipe yet. That stuff is bad news for your eyes, skin, cloths, paint on the wall ect ect. I have it right in the rental agreament (Do not use drain openers but do call for a clog there will be no charge)
I've seen to much bad and nothing good with that stuff.
Shaggymane is 100% right about the chrome/brass pipes and PVC/ABS only need to be hand tight, no sealers on the plastic threads
Hope I helped some
Adam
I have to add this about draino and the like, I work as a maintenance manager at a 120 unit appartment complex, Draino has never worked for me, I have had the best luck with a drain snake and a plunger, after I get the water flowing good with the snake/plunger method I still pull the P trap and clean the gunk out of it that is stuck to the sides of the trap. Using the snake will help knock gunk off of the pipe walls farther down the line. When plunging the sink make sure to plug the other side with your strainer basket our you will get a big mess. Be carfull of any draino that might be in the pipe yet. That stuff is bad news for your eyes, skin, cloths, paint on the wall ect ect. I have it right in the rental agreament (Do not use drain openers but do call for a clog there will be no charge)
I've seen to much bad and nothing good with that stuff.
Shaggymane is 100% right about the chrome/brass pipes and PVC/ABS only need to be hand tight, no sealers on the plastic threads
Hope I helped some
Adam
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From: 3rd Rock
Shape charge....... 
There could be some minor damage else where, if possible close all the toilets and have some friends stand on the lids.
Note to self.....................long fuse.
There could be some minor damage else where, if possible close all the toilets and have some friends stand on the lids.
Note to self.....................long fuse.
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