clogged kitchen sink help
 

Our kitchen sink is very slow to drain. It happened all of a sudden. One moment it drained properly, the next moment running the garbage disposal sent effluent into the adjoining bowl. After sitting overnight, 2-3 gallons will go down the drain before it backs up into the bowls. Two treatments of Drano MaxGel didn't help.

The sink has two bowls with the disposer teeing into a vertical pipe with the p-trap. There is an access port on the exterior wall about 3 feet from the p-trap at about the same level.

Should I send an auger through the p-trap or the exterior access port?

Thanks,
Sixto

Have you tried just removing the trap to see if it's clogged?

Well, I would at least open the access point to see what side of the blockage you are on. Grease is a big problem with kitchen drains. Make sure you aren't putting grease down there...

Then, yeah an auger is about the only way to go AFAIK.

We actually had this happen a couple of days ago with the garbage disposal & adjoining sink in our apartment. We normally use the normal drain side for draining dishes. The girlfriend was not pleased when it spewed all kinds of stuff over the nice clean dishes when she ran the disposal.

Same symptoms, running the garbage disposal would simply flush everything to the other side. Then, the water would slowly equalize on both sides (and not drain). What a mess.

Here's what I did, not wanting to deal with the maintenance people during dinner. I used the appropriate stopper on the non-disposal side, filled up the other sink with sufficient water, and held on tight to the stopper. I ran the disposal in a couple short bursts, and sure enough it forced everything down the drain. The sink is now draining like it was before. I kinda figured a chunk of food got stuck in a trap or something.

Use at your own discretion :P

the exterior access port

The trap is apart and the only water that poured is what was in the trap. Less than a cup. The pipe continues into the wall at an angle towards the exterior port. I guess that's next.

Everything from the sink bowls through the trap is clean and clear from when I replaced the garbage disposer some months ago. Nothing here to excite even the hardiest WVO'er.

Now where is that auger...

Thanks,
Sixto
87 300D

I have used a device, don't know what it's called, to successfully accomplish this.
Available at most hardware stores. It looks similar to a vibrator. But it's made of rubber, even has a slit at the end. You attach it to the end of your hose, I have a ball cock on the end of mine. Close off the the ball cock, turn on the water, insert into the wall section past the trap. SLOWLY open the ball cock, let it fill up with water thereby sealing, mostly, that pipe, then open the bc all the way releasing the built up pressure through the slit, blasting whatever out.
Something like this, comes in different sizes.
http://www.google.com/products/catalog?hl=en&q=drain+opener&ved=0CCkQzAMwAw&cid=7667024145767101564&sa=title#p

Run a snake up through the pipe at the trap and down the line. Usually 15 feet or so is enough to get you into a larger diameter line. When you are done, replace the trap and run the hottest water possible down the line for about 10 minutes.

Pour some bleach in it; if that doesn't work go for the heavy stuff and the snake.

Good luck sixto. I had a similar issue on a previous property. Used my auger, no luck. Brought in a pro with a larger auger, no luck. Ended up cutting the pipe and it was chock full of grey, compacted grease. Disgusting. I had to cut the pipe back about 10' to get it clear. Ran new plumbing.

I think an auger can help with a localized blockage, but if you have heavy grease buildup, it may not be as effective. YMMV.

I think some people dump everything but the, er, kitchen sink...

Anyone have a cigarette? :D

Lye = Sodium Hydroxide = skull & crossbones = easy grease breakdown in kitchen sinks.

Go easy with the auger - old cast iron pipes can be punctured from the auger's action.

Run it gently as possible.

if you puncture an old cast iron pipe, plumber's epoxy will repair it on short order.

It's plastic/PVC as far as I can see but I can't see very far.

I went to Home Depot to get a hand operated auger. The fellow said if you're to the cleanout port (I learned a new term!) you likely need something more powerful. I'm in a tactical retreat now.

What's the relationship between the kitchen drain and the cleanout port? The cleanout port is a horizontal 3" pipe that tees into a vertical 3" pipe. It goes down, obviously, but there is a branch that goes up (vent?). The drain fitting under the kitchen sink is about 4" higher than the exterior port. Where do they meet?

Sixto
87 300D