Several days ago, a pipe that was used to drain a washer/dryer in our basement (but is no longer used) started to overflow and release water with food particles and other sediment onto our basement floor. Shortly afterwards, our kitchen sink (which is above the basement and is tapped into this line), backed up completely on both sides (it contains a garbage disposal on the left side and a regular drain on the right). This also contained quite a bit of food sediment and sludge.

I applied drano gel to both sides of the sink, and after about an hour, they did clear. However, the pipe in the basement continues to overflow whenever the kitchen sink is used.

Also--and perhaps most importantly-- none of our other bathroom sinks, toilets, shower drains, and the washer-dryer hookup that we use now on another floor are affected in any way by this (no backups or overflows, etc. in these areas). The floor drain in our basement is also draining fine, too.

My questions are:

1. Is this a clog somewhere in the line to/from the kitchen sink and old w/d drain?

2. Should I continue to try to clear this by further applications of either a gel or foaming drain cleaning product, and if so, should I try to apply it through the old w/d drain pipe?
Or, will the line have to be snaked out or will something else need to be done?

Any suggestions you could offer would be much appreciated. Thanks!

Your clog is in your main drain line downstream/after the stand pipe from the washer. It is likely the lowest point in your house drains so it is the first to overflow. Don't waste time or money on any more drain cleaners, get to rodding out the main. Located the clean out and start from there. The clog can be anywhere from the stand pipe to the street riser out at the city main sewer. On some homes that could be 75' or more. Don't know how far you are from the city sewer but you can do some measuring. This is getting close to the point when a DIY turns into a pro job with a good cutter on the end of the rod, sometimes the clog is tree roots growing into the drain.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by ballengerb1

Your clog is in your main drain line downstream/after the stand pipe from the washer. It is likely the lowest point in your house drains so it is the first to overflow. Don't waste time or money on any more drain cleaners, get to rodding out the main. Located the clean out and start from there. The clog can be anywhere from the stand pipe to the street riser out at the city main sewer. On some homes that could be 75' or more. Don't know how far you are from the city sewer but you can do some measuring. This is getting close to the point when a DIY turns into a pro job with a good cutter on the end of the rod, sometimes the clog is tree roots growing into the drain.

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Many thanks for this- 2 quick questions:

1. What would you estimate this would cost to rod this out (just a ballpark figure)?
And
2. Once this is done, should I cap off the unused w/d/ drain line?

Thanks again!

Don't know where you live and that can affect cost. It its all the way at the street and you have clean out you may be in the $250 ballpark. If the drain is never used I would cap it since the trap may eventually dry up from disuse and allow sewer gas into the house.