- My Forums
- Tiger Rant
- LSU Recruiting
- SEC Rant
- Saints Talk
- Pelicans Talk
- More Sports Board
- Fantasy Sports
- Golf Board
- Soccer Board
- O-T Lounge
- Tech Board
- Home/Garden Board
- Outdoor Board
- Health/Fitness Board
- Movie/TV Board
- Book Board
- Music Board
- Political Talk
- Money Talk
- Fark Board
- Gaming Board
- Travel Board
- Food/Drink Board
- Ticket Exchange
- TD Help Board
Customize My Forums- View All Forums
- Show Left Links
- Topic Sort Options
- Trending Topics
- Recent Topics
- Active Topics
Started By
Message
I have a bathroom sink drain clog past the p-trap...
Posted on 10/6/24 at 4:30 pm
Posted on 10/6/24 at 4:30 pm
So my bathroom sink has been gradually getting worse and worse, draining slower and slower over the last three weeks.
So I took off the P-trap today to see if it was the source of the issue, and it wasn't too bad… I cleaned it out, but it was not blocked at all.
I determined that the blockage is beyond the P-trap.
Besides calling a plumber, what is the next course of action for me to fix this myself?
UPDATE 1: after I cleaned the p-trap and put it back on, I turned on the faucet and the water didn't drain...the water has actually started to fill up my sink. I do have a A/C drain line that runs to that sink...
UPDATE 2: So, I bought a snake from the local hardware store...25 footer...I could only get it about three feet in before I got stuck...I think the pipes do a 90 degree turn down in the wall, goes down 15" and then does another 90 degree turn, so this cheap snake wasn't up for the task.
I put the p-trap back on and turn on the water, and it still filled up and stayed filled...
So I went back to the hardware store and bought a mini plunger and some heavy duty liquid clog remover. Those two things did the trick.
Thanks for all the advice!
So I took off the P-trap today to see if it was the source of the issue, and it wasn't too bad… I cleaned it out, but it was not blocked at all.
I determined that the blockage is beyond the P-trap.
Besides calling a plumber, what is the next course of action for me to fix this myself?
UPDATE 1: after I cleaned the p-trap and put it back on, I turned on the faucet and the water didn't drain...the water has actually started to fill up my sink. I do have a A/C drain line that runs to that sink...
UPDATE 2: So, I bought a snake from the local hardware store...25 footer...I could only get it about three feet in before I got stuck...I think the pipes do a 90 degree turn down in the wall, goes down 15" and then does another 90 degree turn, so this cheap snake wasn't up for the task.
I put the p-trap back on and turn on the water, and it still filled up and stayed filled...
So I went back to the hardware store and bought a mini plunger and some heavy duty liquid clog remover. Those two things did the trick.
Thanks for all the advice!
This post was edited on 10/7/24 at 6:26 pm
13
Posted on 10/6/24 at 5:00 pm to Chicken
Posted on 10/6/24 at 5:42 pm to Chicken
Buy a cheap snake online. About $20
Posted on 10/6/24 at 5:52 pm to Chicken
Make sure the blockage isn't under the stopper in the sink. That's typically where hair/toothpaste build up.
Otherwise as others have suggested, a hand cranked drain snake should do the trick. I have to do mine every couple of years.
LINK
Otherwise as others have suggested, a hand cranked drain snake should do the trick. I have to do mine every couple of years.
LINK
This post was edited on 10/6/24 at 5:58 pm
Posted on 10/6/24 at 6:34 pm to ItzMe1972
quote:yeah, with the p trap off and bucket in place, I ran the water to make sure it wasn't between stopper and p-trip...water ran down fine.
Make sure the blockage isn't under the stopper in the sink. That's typically where hair/toothpaste build up.
Posted on 10/6/24 at 7:10 pm to Chicken
Assuming you tried a plunger? What about a hose bladder?
Posted on 10/6/24 at 7:53 pm to Chicken
Had the same issue. Bought one of these from Home Depot. Had some kind of waxy gunk built up in there. Got it cleaned out no problem.
Posted on 10/6/24 at 8:02 pm to Chicken
Do you have an overflow drain? It is a hole at the top of the sink. If so pour baking soda in the hole followed by vinegar. Rinse with hot water. The hole is your air vent to allow your sink to drain. Hot water may clear it alone.
Posted on 10/6/24 at 9:06 pm to Chicken
If you follow the vent line into the attic, see if the A/C drain line goes into that line. That could be your problem.
Posted on 10/6/24 at 10:06 pm to Chicken
Get one of those drain cleaner things that you attach to the end of a water hose (bladder type drain cleaner). You can get them at Lowes for ten bucks.
Go up on your roof and find the vent pipe associated with the drain. Drop the hose down until it hits something solid.
Turn the spigot on….problem solved!
Go up on your roof and find the vent pipe associated with the drain. Drop the hose down until it hits something solid.
Turn the spigot on….problem solved!
This post was edited on 10/6/24 at 11:08 pm
Posted on 10/7/24 at 9:24 am to Spankum
quote:
Go up on your roof and find the vent pipe associated with the drain
Is this a real thing?
Posted on 10/7/24 at 9:42 am to OysterPoBoy
quote:
Go up on your roof and find the vent pipe associated with the drain
quote:
Is this a real thing?
Oh yes it is. The vent pipes will sometimes get clogged and that will cause issues.
Posted on 10/7/24 at 9:49 am to PerplenGold
quote:
Buy a cheap snake online. About $20
how old is your plumbing?
this is the right answer but DONT FORCE IT, you don't want to punch a hole in your pipe somewhere inaccessible. generally this will work and when turning it will tangle into the clog and you can slowly retract it.
just take an anti-nausea pill before you start.
Posted on 10/7/24 at 9:50 am to CAD703X
i had a clog one time at my kitchen sink and i ended up having to rent a 100' snake from home depot before i finally reach the clog. crazy.
i knew it had to be there because it wouldn't drain..just a little further...just a little...
eta also, be CAREFUL if you get an electric snake. i thought i was being safe but somehow i caught my hand/glove in the thing trying to retract it and got bound up..luckily my wife was standing nearby and when she heard my school-girl shrieks, yanked the cord out of the wall
i knew it had to be there because it wouldn't drain..just a little further...just a little...
eta also, be CAREFUL if you get an electric snake. i thought i was being safe but somehow i caught my hand/glove in the thing trying to retract it and got bound up..luckily my wife was standing nearby and when she heard my school-girl shrieks, yanked the cord out of the wall
This post was edited on 10/7/24 at 9:51 am
Posted on 10/7/24 at 9:55 am to LSUDad
quote:
If you follow the vent line into the attic, see if the A/C drain line goes into that line. That could be your problem.
The one bathroom sink in my house that has a draining issue on occasion is associated with this. Proper dosing of the HVAC condensate line with vinegar or bleach on a consistent basis during summer prevents the problem of that bathroom sink from backing up.
But prior to figuring that out, I would use the product “Liquid Fire” LINK(concentrated sulfuric acid) to clear the drain (recommended to me by the guy at the hardware store) and would add it to the drain after the P-Trap. Worked every time to clear the drain but you have be very careful with it - eye protection, chemical resistant gloves…..Can be be used with PVC drain pipes but not metal or clay (per the instructions).
This post was edited on 10/7/24 at 9:57 am
Posted on 10/7/24 at 10:13 am to Chicken
It’s likely at a Y, that’s a general bottle neck location. Very likely right in your wall behind the sink where it drops down. But yes as others have said buy or borrow a snake. There’s a good chance it’s within 6ft of your sink but if it’s not it could be 100 ft easily.
Best thing to do is to take the P-trap off and put the snake in the pipe right there
Best thing to do is to take the P-trap off and put the snake in the pipe right there
Posted on 10/7/24 at 10:17 am to baldona
Update: after I cleaned the p-trap and put it back on, I turned on the faucet and the water didn't drain...the water has actually started to fill up my sink on its own. I do have a A/C drain line that runs to that sink...
Before I messed with the p-trap, the water would drain, albeit very slowly...whatever I did yesterday made it not drain at all.
Before I messed with the p-trap, the water would drain, albeit very slowly...whatever I did yesterday made it not drain at all.
Posted on 10/7/24 at 11:13 am to Chicken
quote:
the water has actually started to fill up my sink on its own. I do have a A/C drain line that runs to that sink...
Sounds exactly like the issue I have on occasion - water actually backs up into the bathroom sink. Either algae, bacteria, slime (all the above) choking it off. I’d try putting a gallon or 2 of household bleach down the HVAC condensate line to see if that will clear it - give it a little time to work, 1 hour or so? No down side to that as you’re cleaning your condensate line anyway.
Then if that doesn’t work consider trying the “liquid fire” drain cleaner approach adding it to the sink drain line past the P-Trap. You’ll likely need a funnel with a flexible spout to stick a little ways down the drain on the downstream side of the P-trap before adding the acid to the funnel (eye protection & gloves!). In my case, that has cleared the drain line within 15 minutes every time. Just follow the directions on the bottle as to amount to add.
Posted on 10/7/24 at 11:24 am to Chicken
Pull the P trap again and snake it. Gunk builds up over time…hair, beard shavings, whatever combine with oil from washing skin. Creates a slow drain and eventually a clog.
Snaking is a bit herky jerky. As you unwind the coil in the pipe, the tip of the snake will flop around. It will work its way around bends and corners but you’ll need to be patient. Don’t force it. If it won’t continue forward try pulling it back a little and forward again. You won’t really know for sure if you’ve busted up a clog or turned another corner until you pull it out and test drainage…you might find a mess on the tip containing the clog (hair, etc) but you might not.
Snaking is a bit herky jerky. As you unwind the coil in the pipe, the tip of the snake will flop around. It will work its way around bends and corners but you’ll need to be patient. Don’t force it. If it won’t continue forward try pulling it back a little and forward again. You won’t really know for sure if you’ve busted up a clog or turned another corner until you pull it out and test drainage…you might find a mess on the tip containing the clog (hair, etc) but you might not.
Posted on 10/7/24 at 11:39 am to Chicken
Go to ACE Hardware (only place that has it in stock), get a snake and 100% Lye. Attempt the snake, if that is unsuccessful, pour 1/4 of the lye in the sink (after hooked back up without the drain stopper) and run some water it until there is some sanding water in the sink. Retry every couple hours until it drains.
Lye will work!
Lye will work!
Page 1 of 2
Popular
Back to top
Follow TigerDroppings for LSU Football News