Hello all. I searched the other questions before submitting this so I hope someone can help...

I have a slow drain in the kitchen. Double side sinks with a garbage disposal on one side. I also have a sink vent located under the cabinet that vents in the cabinet. Here is what I tried:

1. I have a 20' ft snake and snaked the pipes from the kitchen down as far as I could go.
2. Previously created an access in the basement as I have had challenges with draining before, and snaking from this access normally does the trick. Not this time. I did snake from this point to the larger pipes in the house and they do not seem to have an issue with backup.
3. I have a j-pipe on each drain on each sink. These were removed and inspected but nothing found in them. I also snaked the vertical pipes that these attach to.
4. The pipes will gurgle when I run the water so I think this may be a venting issue(?). I did run the snake up the vent under the kitchen sink but no difference was noted.
5. I have noticed the water drains down the pipes when I open my access point in the vent pipe (about 4 inches below it.)
6. Have tried the Drano route without success.
7. Have tried the plunger on the sinks as recommended in other posts without success.

If you need a picture of the under sink area, I can provide but would appreciate any help you could provided. Thanks.

5. I have noticed the water drains down the pipes when I open my access point in the vent pipe (about 4 inches below it.)


If water drains good when cleanout below aav vent is opened, then the aav has failed. Unscrew the aav and replace with a new one. Some people will say that aav do not fail, but they are mechanical therefore they will fail eventually. Please do post a pic of the vent, just to make sure we are on the same page. Also, leave cleanout plug in access below vent, remove vent and see how it drains now. If it drains good, its definitely a faulty aav. Good luck and please let us know how things work out. Lee.

Okay, I camera batteries dead so will post tomorrow. I thought it was the vent too but did not want to cut it off without knowing. I now also have standing water in those sinks! Ugh! Thanks for the help.

Most aav vents are not glued in place, they should have threads so you can unscrew it. Make sure you get all of the water out of the sink before unscrewing aav. Looking forward to the pics. Have a good night. Lee.

Okay, updates since yesterday:

First, I forget to mention there is also a dishwasher hookup.

Following steps were taken:
1. Snaked the dishwasher hose
2. Snaked the pipe from the AAV connection downward with no resistance.
2. Replaced Oakley AAV. The AAV also sits 12" above the vertical pipes.
3. Resnaked the pipes. I did hit some resistance in the second leg of piping but the snake appeared to have cleared.

Okay, turn the water on without the AAv on it seems to be working for a couple minutes then I replaced the AAV. Unfortunately, the water backed up in the both sinks. When I loosened the aav, the water dropped but did not come out of the aav connection. However, when I resumed the running water, both sinks filled up and would not drain.

I emptied the sinks and went back to the second access with the snake. I used all 20' and it took me past the "Y' into the larger pipe. I was able to run water into the second connection of the "Y" without issue or backup into my kitchen sinks so I believe the pipes should be good from that point on. Correct?

Is it possible there is a unique way to install the Oakley AAV? Could it be I am not creating the proper seal on the system with the AAV. It came with a rubber band and foam blocking the air passages and I believe I installed with those on and then removed. Since I have reseated the AAV without the rubber band and foam. Also, I purchased it AAV at HD and didn't notice the package was open until I was home and open the box. I turned the aav upside down a couple of time to hear the valve open and close. It did.

Okay, I need to change my login name to pretty frustrated at this point. I am usually pretty good with plumbing but this has me baffled. ( But no where nearly as good as a real plumber.)

Oh, here is the picture I promised. Thanks for any further assistance you could provide.

You're not having too much luck with your Oatey AAV. You can continue to fight this but if it were me I'd swap my present vent for a Studor AAV and wee if that didn't help. Sounds like you already suspect the AAV anyway. Good luck, Tom

Just to double check your aav, remove it again, then have someone run water while you sit under the sink and see if water overflows from aav area,, if you can run water for say five minutes with no overflow or backup in sink, then put your hand over the pipe where the aav goes and make a good seal with your hand, if sinks start to back up, remove hand and see it they go down. If they do go down then you are looking at another new aav(as Tom suggested). Im guessing you are installing the aav correctly, as they usually just thread in(make sure to use teflon tape on the plastic threads). All an aav does is allow air into the vent pipe.. aav(air admittance valve). Try these things and let us know what you find. Good pic by the way, plumbing under sink looks like it is just fine.

Well, I snaked the line again from the second access point this morning past the y connection but it still backed up. However, after a minute I heard what was ever blocking give way. Ran the water then for 10 minutes without a back up. So it was a blockage but the snake it did not find any resistance this morning. Just glad it is now fixed. Thanks to both you guys. I stayed on the project because of reading the help in this and other posts. Really appreciate it.

Just glad its draining for you. Good job. Lee