Hey guys:

Can you suggest an appropriate check valve for a for the horizontal section of 1-1/2' PVC of drain between a double kitchen sink. The left side contains the outlet as well as the dishwasher dump.

The problem to solve is that when the left sink water is suddenly drained, some residual drain water ends up in the right sink.

Any ideas?


Results:

Picked a level of 3" and started on a mark of about 5 seconds.

Both sinks filled, let out at the same time.
1:14 left
1:29 right, air bubbles came out of right sink at the beginning of the drain.

Filled left, Right wide open
Took left sink 46 sec to drain, Water came up briefly on the right.

Filled right, left wide open
Took right sink 46 sec to drain, water didn't come up on left.

The horizontal is 1.5" OD with a seam. So, that probably makes it a 1.5' tube so that will make things ineresting.

I hate on the first website I checked, there are no overall dimensions.


There is a vent nearby ( a few feet) that heads through the roof. Missed it the first time. I was going from memory. Now that vent could be clogged.

Note the "high loop" dishwasher drain on the left sink. That would definitely help the left sink drain a little bit faster.

It hasn't been that long ago that I snaked (1-2 yrs) and I did say that the backup has probably done it for decades.

We are not talking much water. Maybe 2-3 cups max that backs up on the right.

I like the AAV idea or snaking the vent from the roof when the weather gets warmer.

In fact, it could just be the vent for the laundry tub and washer which is maybe 15' away. It may go into an inaccessible area under the basement floor and ties into the main drain.

The last line I snaked was the washer drain. It was a real mess with lots of lint.


I snaked the vent. Actually two small ones (1.5") on the roof. About 15-20 feet. No difference. Cleaned the leaves out of the gutter.

Didn't snake inside.

Hey KISS, that water that gets into the other sink, does it just sit there and stay? We never install check valves inder a double sink. Is it plumbed like this? http://www.nettally.com/palmk/KitchenDrain.jpg

Basically, except no disposal.

Water basically comes up a bit on the non-trapped side when you let water out of the trapped side.

I might have a pic somewhere.

You have clogged drain. Remove trap and snake it.

Hey Kiss,
Milo nailed it! You have a partial blockage in the horizontal drain in the wall.

You have a blockage in the horizontal line that runs from the trap to the stack. You have two options. You can plunge,don't forget to block the other drain with a wet rag jammed in it. Or if that fails you can remove a trap and go up the trap tail with a plumbers snake.(see image) You will meet some resistance at the bend in the wall but you won't have to put out over 6' of cable. Good luck, Tom

Both great answers. Your hex thing looks like a faucet valve wrench that got stuck on a nut so it was left in place. Hit is slideways with a small mallet or hammer.

Good Job Ballenger:

It's the de-install wrench for the faucet. It removes the nut below. It's hung by a tie wrap, so I always know where it is.

Speedball, Milo:

Not sure it's nailed For one, the horizontal is what you see. There is an elbow in the wall and then vertical to the basement. It's always been there for the longest time even when I snaked the entire drain and installed the PVC in place of the metal parts and galvanized pipe.

Additional information. This usually happens when the elbowed side if full of washed dishes. I dumped a pot of water in the drain side and nothing. I'll think of some more tests, like fill the drain side with a few inches of water and let it out.

My guess is, that the drain side sink needs the outlet covered in water for this to happen. I'll do some more tests.

A constricted vertical makes sense since the pipe is galvanized nearly 50 years old. A venting issue is a possibility too. I'm not sure how the vents are laid out.

There are two other drains that are sluggish too, A tub and a sink. That's usually hair in a long horizontal section. It's possibly related. I haven't had time to attack it.

Nice going, ballengerb1... :D ( sorry, I was disallowed to rate your answer )

Ron:

Fill both sinks to the rim with water. Now, drain only one sink.. doesn't matter which one. How did it drain?

Now fill only one sink to the rim with water and then let it drain while the other sink is wide open... how did it drain in comparison to the first test? Here, you are efeectively using the other sink as a vent for the first sink.

If much improved when let sink drain with empty sink next to it then I'm thinking you may a VENT issue and it may be a good idea to install an AAV here... can't hurt to snake the drain, too!

Try this out... let us know...

MARK

Looking at the photo, you have regular white Tubular PVC Two-Part-Waste Assembly under your kitchen sink. There is nothing unusual about the installation.

I am still leaning towards conclusion that you have clogged drain inside the wall, may it be vertical or horizontal section. All drains in your house were installed at the same time - so slow tub and other sink may be indication that your drains are in need of cleaning.

The vent to the roof is not too far away. It's the smallest pipe.

The dishwasher and dual sink were not OEM (so to speak equipment).

Ron...you missed the first test. I wanted you to fill both sinks and then drain only one sink... or fill one sink and plug the other sink off and then drain the one sink... the idea was to eliminate the other sink as a vent. When you drained both you did not eliminate the other sink as a vent.

Fill the sink(s) to same level as last time, drain one sink only and see if drain time is worse... let me know OK.

MARK

Mark:

ODD:

Filled both, drained left; 47 s.

Filled both, drained right; 55 s

Not sure it's nailed For one, the horizontal is what you see. there is an elbow in the wall and then vertical to the basement. It's always been there for the longest time even when I snaked the entire drain and installed the PVC in place of the metal parts and galvanized pipe.
You have just described a "S" trap. With no vent no wonder you have drainage problems. Install a AAV (Air Admittance Valve) (see image) just downstream fron the trap and see if that doesn't help with the drainage.
There's no doubt you have a clog in the system if you are backing up in one tub when you drain the other. How long is your snake? I would put out about 25 feet. I don't think plunging will help. Plumging's for a local clog but this sounds like it's further on down the line. Are there any bends in the drain line before it goes into the basement floor on its way to the main? Woulod there also be a washer that discharges into this line? Let me know. Tom

Definitely a clogged drain or vent problem(most likely drain with galv piping) Just need to snake it. I would put in at least twenty feet, actually I would put in all the cable I had(30 to 40 feet) better to put in more than enough than not enough.

Snake the drain inside and then plan on adding that AAV next, Ron, that should make this drain like brand new! ;)

MARK

Do you have a favorite AAV or all or all of them the same?

They have a couple different kinds...

The AAV in first pic. Is most common AAV... also cheapest model, but pretty reliable overall.

The second AAV is referred to as a studor vent... more expensive but I have never seen one fail... ;)

I use both depending on accessibility and number of fixtures connected to drain line... :)

You could use either.

Snaked the drain. Better. Water doesn't get out of the bottom portion of the strainer on the other side. So I got like a 3" reduction in water level total.

I'll do some biodegradeable drain clear (Drain Care) soon.

Drain cleaner isn't worth much in this situation, it works best if the clog is in the trap where it can sit. How large of a snake did you use and did it have a handle so you could rotate it? http://homerepair.about.com/od/toolhowtouseguides/ss/auger_use.htm

Used one that attaches to a drill and. The Cobra from Lowe's. Has 25' of cable.

I snaked two horizontal drains (Tub and bathroom sink) while I was at it.