Thanks in advance to anyone who can offer some advice!

My wife and I just moved in to a 1984 home. The other day, after peeling some potatoes in the sink, the water began backing up. After investigating, I was able to find the potato skins clogged up in the pipe just before it went back in to the wall.

I verified that the garbage disposal itself is working, and after consulting with a plumber he suggested that it's just from the natural build-up of 20 years worth of grease and junk. So now instead of the pipes being X inches in diameter, they are now half of that. He showed me a plug just above where the pipe enters the wall that he would remove and he would auger all of the junk out and it would exit the pipe there.

My question is, is this something that I could do myself with the right tools? Which tools would I need?

Thanks!
Brian Rhea

Hi Brian,

No problem. This is a homeowners job. Since the lateral, (the pipe inside the wall) is only about 5' you may use a hand held crank auger. Purchase a auger from your local hardware store. Now remove the clean out plug and began to auger. You will run into a ellbo just inside the wall, push and auger around it. You now have a clear shot at the drainage tee in the vent stack. Put about 6" of cable out and you can pull it out, (Careful! It's dirty and greasy). Now pour two large of boiling water down the disposal. You have loosened the gunk with the auger and the boiling water will loosen the grease and flush it out into your house main.
Good luck and Happy New Year, Tom