[Chewy55]

Our kitchen sink has just started clogging up. If I use just a little water it drains fine but if the water is running too much it will start to fill up. The water will run on one side and fill up and the other side will start to fill also with about an equal amount. It will drain but very slowly.

Also, we don’t have a garbage disposal but there is a dishwasher just to the left of the sink.

Tried using the plunger, vinegar and baking soda with hot water, Draino, etc. No luck. I did see something about possible air in the pipes but I have no idea about that.

We had the entire line cleaned out about two years ago, that was after being in the house for 20 years. I don’t know anything about anything so I was just wondering if anyone had any ideas and if it’s something a person that knows very little about plumbing can handle so I don’t have to bother someone to come out at this crazy time.

Thanks for any suggestions.

 

[joecaption]

May be just the trap under the sink is plugged up.
Place a bucket under the trap and remove the trap to check for a clog.
The trap will be full of water, it acts like a check valve to keep sewer gas from coming into the home.

 

[Chewy55]

That's a little over my head, I may have to call someone.


I just ran the dishwasher for the first time since this started and water backed up into the sink. How are these connected?

 

[daveb1]

If plumbed correctly, the dishwasher is connected to the drain between the sink and the trap that joe mentioned. So much the same as if the dishwasher drained into the sink.

 

[SeniorSitizen]

Remove the trap and snake the horizontal line.

 

[Drachenfire]

The fizzy combination of baking soda & vinegar just produces CO2 gas. It is ineffective when it comes to cleaning fat, oil and grease from drains because neither product are surfactants, so they do not emulsify the oil and grease so water can carry it away the same way that detergents can.

Give this a try:

- Bring two quarts of water to a rolling boil.

- Add 6 tablespoons of dish-washing detergent to the water and mix thoroughly. I recommend using Dawn.

- Pour the hot water mixture down the drain.

- Flush the drain with hot water from the faucet.

 

[SeniorSitizen]

Give this a try:

- Bring two quarts of water to a rolling boil.

I was not aware PVC drain pipe was rated for boiling water.

 

[Drachenfire]

I was not aware PVC drain pipe was rated for boiling water.

I have never had any problems with boiling water down my PVC drains.

Consider when you drain pasta, that is also boiling water going down the drain.

 

[Alismith]

I wouldn't hesitate to reach out to a drain company to take on the task of cleaning your drain... I'm sure your call would be welcomed. Thanks to current technological advancements, specialists can see what is exactly interfering, what connections are failing, and if there are any cracks in the drain lines. This allows plumbers to set on a solution that will not only effective but economically sound.