Please help me, slow draining sink

Captainrivera

I have a problem with a clogged bathroom sink. It's not in the trap and the toilet and the shower work fine. I tried chemical cleaner but that doesn't seem to work. The water just drains very slowly but nothing is making it go faster. I tried using a snake but it won't go any farther in and still won't drain normally.

Adam_M

Un hook the ptrap then put your snake in. If your using liquid plumber good luck try using Zonk.

Captainrivera

I have already unhooked the ptrap and I used a chemical called zed I got from homedepot. The snake only goes about a foot into the wall but doesn't seem to go any further.

Captainrivera

I mean zep not zed. Zep crystal heat is what I used.

Mrdippy

It's the Internet so I can give out a stupid idea with little fear, but if it drains some maybe a low flow of hot water for a few hours every day for a week will loosen it up? I'm only giving the idea because you tried/have a snake it seems. If the snake can't get through I wouldn't think chemical dissolvers will. Sounds like you're dealing with something much worse than some hair clogs.

Captainrivera

I don't know what it could be. Does it help that the pipe is cast iron?

Mrdippy

I have seen mud like and gritty kludge that won't dissolve with chemicals and poking wouldn't work on. One was a washer drain with gritty dirt particles, and the other was grandma's 80yo cast iron drain pipe. If you poke a clogged pipe the kludge redirects the force sideways against the pipe sides, and doesn't push it through

loftezy

I recently had the same problem. The final solution included installing new pipe from the sink all the way to the main stack. I had to cut a hole in my drywall under my sink so that I could cut out the sanitary tee; went under my house and cut the sink drain line as close to the main stack as possible; then ran new pipe back up to the sink and vent using ABS and Fernco fittings. Final cost was about $50 and that included a new sink pop up assembly.

The cause of my slow/non-draining sink? My two-inch cast iron drain pipe had so much gunk in it that there was less than a 1/4" of effective cross section left that wasn't blocked. Yuck...I kind of wish I had taken pictures.

plumberinlaw

you need a larger more powerful snake, and the experience to make it turn 90 degrees. frequently the pipes are galv. and the fittings are cast. that is where rust forms to start the obstruction