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kutra · Jun 3, 2007, 06:16 PM

Hi:

Not sure how to best describe my problem. The water that is being drained from my kitchen sink (on 1st level) is ending up in the two (laundry) sinks directly under the kitchen sink in the basement. When I tried to use the plunger in the two laundry sinks, black water came in through the drain.

If I turn the kitchen sink on, I can see the two (laundry) sinks filling up. There is no accumulation at all in the kitchen sink. What do I do? I have guests coming over tomorrow night. PLEASE HELP!

BTW, my plumbing skills are non-existent, but I am willing to try whatever it takes. PLEASE PLEASE HELP!!

Thanks,
K

ballengerb1 · Jun 3, 2007, 08:07 PM

Your drain is blocked after the lower level sink. When you drain you upper level sink its just going into the lower sinks because the whole drain line is plugged. Hang up the plunger , it is worthless for this problem. You need to snake out the drainthrough a clean out. If there is no clean out remove the traps under the basement sink and rod through the lateral pipe. Can you safely reach your vent stack on the roof? If so try rodding the vent all the way to the basement.

kutra · Jun 4, 2007, 05:53 AM

Originally Posted by ballengerb1

Your drain is blocked after the lower level sink. When you drain you upper level sink its just going into the lower sinks because the whole drain line is plugged. Hang up the plunger , it is worthless for this problem. You need to snake out the drainthrough a clean out. If there is no clean out remove the traps under the basement sink and rod through the lateral pipe. Can you safely reach your vent stack on the roof? If so try rodding the vent all the way to the basement.

Hi ballengerb1 and speedball1:

Slightly OT, but speedball1, you had walked me through the process of installing a compression faucet last year, and the report on it is that it's one of the most beautiful job I have ever done! Hope you can bail me out again along with ballengerb1.

ballengerb1, thanks for your reply. I cannot get to my roof, so I guess the only thing I can do before bringing in the professional is to try and use a drain auger to unclear the clog from the drain line.

I am attaching a picture of how the bottomside (pipes) of the lower-level sink looks like. Can you tell me which part do I need to remove and from where do I insert the auger?

BTW, should I be using a drain auger or a plumber's snake or are both the same?

Thanks,
K

speedball1 · Jun 4, 2007, 06:47 AM

Hey Kutra, Welcome back.

Bal was doing so great on explaining your options that I didn't think he needed help. But since you ask, I would remove the horizontal pipe running from the trap to the street 45 and direct my snake down the sanitary tee.
Both a auger and a snake are the same animals. Make sure the snake goes down and not up when you insert the snake. Good luck, Tom

ballengerb1 · Jun 4, 2007, 07:01 AM

Speedball nailed it again but I do have another thought. I see a white pipe hidden behind that black hose. Not sure what it is but it may be a PVC that would come out easier than the galvanized horizontal. If not then remember to remove the trap first but leave the chrome 90 on the end of the horizontal. May take some effort but the galvanized pipe should break free with a pipe wrench.

kutra · Jun 4, 2007, 07:12 AM

Originally Posted by ballengerb1

Speedball nailed it again but I do have another thought. I see a white pipe hidden behind that black hose. Not sure what it is but it may be a PVC that would come out easier than the galvanized horizontal. If not then remember to remove the trap first but leave the chrome 90 on the end of the horizontal. May take some effort but the galvanized pipe should break free with a pipe wrench.

Thanks, ballengerb1 and speedball1 for your prompt and patient replies.

ballengerb1: The white pipe behind the black hose is all metal. The only PVC pipe is the one coming from the sink to the trap.

In response to what both of you said, I am attaching an updated picture with questions. So you are saying remove the horizontal pipe (shown in red in the picture) and insert the snake down the white pipe. But what do you mean by "If not then remember to remove the trap first but leave the chrome 90 on the end of the horizontal. May take some effort but the galvanized pipe should break free with a pipe wrench." What is the chrome 90... is that the area in green attached to the trap?

Also, all I need for this job is an adjustable wrench and a snake, correct?

BTW, any rookie mistakes that I should know ahead of time? :-)

Thanks for your patience.
K

kutra · Jun 4, 2007, 08:26 AM

One thing that I forgot to mention is that the white pipe in which the horizontal pipe is going is the pipe to which the washing machine unloads its dirty water. So I guess, if I just remove the washing machine hose, I should be able snake down the white pipe without having to remove the horizontal pipe. Correct?

Thanks,
K

speedball1 · Jun 4, 2007, 09:42 AM

"I should be able snake down the white pipe without having to remove the horizontal pipe. Correct?
You'll have to work your way around the washer trap, ( the washer is trapped, right?) but that would give you a clear shot at the drain line without having to take anything apart. Good luck, Tom

kutra · Jun 4, 2007, 12:04 PM

Update:

I snaked 25ft of cable (Ridgid Power Spin Drain Cleaner) into the drain line and it went in (all the way... 25ft) without hitting any resistance! When I pulled the cable out, there were a few strands of hair and some gooey stuff, but nothing really substantial. So my problem still exists! :-( But. ballengerb1 and speedball1, thanks for your prompt and patient replies

I guess I only have the following options:
1. Try a 35 - 50ft cable if such a snake exists? Does it? This I could attempt myself.
2. Call a professional plumber. Will he use a snake with a longer cable or you think he will have other methods?
3. Try the vent stack on the roof. This is beyond my reach, so will a plumber get on the roof or do I need to call someone else?
4. Anything else I can do?

Thanks,
K

ballengerb1 · Jun 4, 2007, 01:10 PM

You did as much or more than most home owners, 25 ft. is respectible and normally would have reached your problem. Do any other drains in the home run slow or gurgle? 25 ft should involve other fixtures as well as the washer drain. Pro go any wear up to 200+ ft and would be capable of rodding the roof vent. He might even use a SeeSnake which is a TV on a rodder to see what's going on if his 3-4 inch cutter doesn't open things up.

kutra · Jun 4, 2007, 02:29 PM

Originally Posted by ballengerb1

You did as much or more than most home owners, 25 ft. is respectible and normally would have reached your problem. Do any other drains in the home run slow or gurgle? 25 ft should involve other fixtures as well as the washer drain. Pro go any wear up to 200+ ft and would be capible of rodding the roof vent. He might even use a SeeSnake which is a TV on a rodder to see whats going on if his 3-4 inch cutter doesn't open things up.

-- Do any other drains in the home run slow or gurgle?
Yup! The tub in the upper level bathroom is a slow running drain. It hasn't bothered me so far since if I use the shower (in the tub), then the water drains normally. The tub drains slowly only if I fill it with water. And one more thing, if the sink in that same bathroom is being used, I can hear the tub gurgle.

Thanks,
K

ballengerb1 · Jun 4, 2007, 05:10 PM

You have a blockage in your vent stack. If its safe to get up on your roof rod the stack.

kutra · Jun 5, 2007, 12:53 PM

Thanks, ballengerb1. I shall call a professional plumber. I learned a lot from you and speedball1.

Regards,
K

kutra · Jun 6, 2007, 11:33 AM

Update: Called a professional and he fixed the problem. He had to use a 35ft snake to clear the clogged drain line. As for the gurgling of the tub drain, he fixed it by snaking that drain as well. All drains work beautiful now. :-) I did ask him if snaking the vent stack was required. He said he would do it only if snaking the drains yielded no result.

BTW, the pro said that I have galvanized pipes and the build-up can lead to such clogs, in addition to hair and other debris. I should think about repiping in the future... he wasn't pitching his company so I found him to be trustworthy. But it is true that my pipes are old... 52 years old!!

Until the repiping happens, how do I maintain them so they don't clog again?

Thanks,
K

ballengerb1 · Jun 6, 2007, 11:39 AM

I love this one. Speedball likes to talk about toilets but I like to talk about grandpas home brew. Mix 1/2 cup of baking soda with 1/2 cup of salt and dump into a drain then add a cup of vinegar. Let the bubbling mass sit overnight followed by a bucket of hot water in the morning. If you do this once or twice per year at the highest drain in you home it should help a great deal. Heck, do it at all of your drains if you like seeing the bubbles.