I live in an apartment and my neighbor and I both have a problem with a slow draining bathroom sink. Our bathrooms share a wall on which the sinks are located. As far as I can tell, the vent pipe runs down vertically through that wall before turning and running horizontally underneath the floor. The showers and toilets drain into the horizontal section and drain fine. I'm guessing the sinks drain into the vertical section. Looking down into the vent from the roof, I can see standing water fairly far down (about where the bend is perhaps).

I'm thinking some debris is lodged at that bend and is responsible for the clogged sinks and visible water. Does this sound likely? Plunging and snaking the sink accomplished nothing. Would the solution be suggesting to my landlord that he needs to rent a beefy auger/snake type device and run it down from the roof? The diameter of the vent is quite large and I imagine a regular snake would just twist about uselessly.

Thanks

There's your problem. There should be NO standing water in any vent. All vents should be plumbed like drainage. Yes snake it out and being big as you say is good 3" is usually the norm. when it gets snake out you are going to need water to flush it out after the possible clog is loosened up. The day this is going to be done try a hose in it first. Maybe you will get lucky and the extra weight will flush it trough. Either way it would be hard to pull all of the debris vertically out. Good Luck!

It is defiantly clogged drain and I would suggest to get with your landlord to hire a plumber to snake the vent and drain from the roof it will need a longer snake to reach the floor and 15 to 20 feet more to clear it to the main drain line, Thanks.

John

All answers are spot on. If you can see standing water in a vent line that line's blocked and should be snaked from the lavatory roof vent. You can do the job yourself if you're handy. Rent a sewer machine,(see image)and take iton the roof. Run your snake nbdown the lavatory vent to the base and give it 16 feet more. If you still can see water built up in the vent after snaking it out then you have a trap in the line that must be removed and proper slope ( 1/4" to the foot) maintained. Good luck and thanks for rating my reply. Tom

If for some reason there is a clog of leaf and tree debris and this is an unusual situation, to keep it from happening again add a 90 elbow on it and that would help block more debris later from falling in the vent pipe. Don't glue the 90. If its loose fitting just run 2 small stainless screws through the side of it to hold it on. That way it can easily come off later for easy access if needed be.

You reside in a apartment. Is your vent below some trees. Possible maybe? What I think your problem is... you and your neighbors sinks are back to back. The drain lines run into a tee and than drop vertically. So if your going to repair this yourself. You need to remove the P/trap,the tail piece going into the wall. You need a flashlight, pistol grip rodder with 3/8 inch cable. Shine the light inside the opening. When you see the vertical drop, insert the cable through the opening. And begin rodding. The block can be only a couple of feet. Or it may be further. None the less, it beats going up on the roof, lugging an awkward and sometimes heavy machine. I recommend to never go on the roof yourself. Hire a professional plumber. Good Luck.

I'm thinking some debris is lodged at that bend and is responsible for the clogged sinks and visible water. Does this sound likely? Plunging and snaking the sink accomplished nothing. Would the solution be suggesting to my landlord that he needs to rent a beefy auger/snake type device and run it down from the roof? The diameter of the vent is quite large and I imagine a regular snake would just twist about uselessly.
A regular sewer machine, (See earlier post) would be just fine. If leaves and falling debris are your concern then why not simply screen or vent cap,(see image) your roof vents. Good luck and thank you for rating my answer, Tom