Recently, my bathroom sink stopped draining. Seeing as I am a Do-It-Yourself kinda girl I plunged it and the clear water became gray. The water did start draining very slowly so I let it drain completely. I left the fluffy looking gray sediment in the sink. When I touched it it was kind of filmy. I then removed the U shaped pipe. It was not clogged but there was this black filmy stuff lining the back half of the pipe (the part closest to the wall), but not the part directly under the drain.

I then removed the drain pipe and pulled out the stopper and discovered a bunch of hair and mystery gray gunk all around it. I removed this and went to reassemble the pipes. As I was putting the U shaped pipe back on I noticed black stuff on my hands so I stopped and ran my finger around inside the pipe in the wall under the sink. Can I just say EWWW! I pulled my fingers out with this black sludgey, slimey stuff on them. The nearest thing I can compare the consistency to is bearing grease. (Sorry my dad was a mechanic...not a plumber...alas) It did start draining a lot better after I put it back together, but the bathtub doesn't drain overly well and the toilet doesn't flush well either. The toilet does occasionally overflow, but does respond to flushing in so much as it returns to its normal slowness that never seems to completely flush except on the miraculous rare occasion.

I tried finding info online, but everything kept mentioning well systems and I am on city water. I do know the house was built in the 40's or 50's, but I don't know the exacts because I rent. I guess what I'm really needing to know is if that sludge is dangerous healthwise or just a nuisance and do I need to tell my landlord about it?

speedball1

Hey Luna,
What you have are normal problems for a house over 50 years of age. the gray gunk will turn black in time and the black gunk is grease from the soap that you use. Don't worry it won't hurt you. It just mats up with rotting hair and clogs up drains. The bathtub/shower has the same problem and the drain should probably be snaked out from the lavatory vent and the tub overflow, ( I added this for your landlord to see.)

As for the toilet I have one that most repair plumbers miss.. Look down at the bottom of the bowl. If there is a small hole, then that is a jet that starts the syphon action. If it's clogged the water will just swirl around and slowly go down leaving solids behind. Take your finger,(UGH!!) and run it around the inside of the opening. Over the years minerals build up and cut down on the syphon (flush) action. If it is rough or you feel build up, take a table knife and put a bend in it to get around the curve in the bowl and chip and scrap it clear. Next take a coathanger and clear out the holes around the rim. They start the swirling action. And last, check the water level in the tank. It should be 1/2" below the top of the over flow tube. And speaking of the overflow tube, Make sure the small 1/8" tube from the ballcock to the white overflow tube is connected so it discharges in it and that it's flowing when the ballcock fills. This is what raises the water level in the bowl. For a good solid flush they all have to work together. Hope this helps . Tom