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    jladewig's Avatar
    jladewig Posts: 2, Reputation: 1
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    #1

    Jul 12, 2005, 07:28 PM
    Mystery Drainage Problem
    My first floor vanity sink has a mysterious (to me) drainage problem. If I fill the sink with water, it drains normally until there is about an inch of water in the basin. Then, it stops and the water just sits there. I have not noticed this problem anywhere else in the house. I've used Draino (nothing); I've opened the U-trap and line and snaked (nothing). My guess is that it is a venting issue, but I could really use some advice. Thanks!
    labman's Avatar
    labman Posts: 10,580, Reputation: 551
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    #2

    Jul 12, 2005, 09:08 PM
    Has it always been that way, and does it never drop anymore? I ran into a problem with a custom built vanity to the height of preschooler. The bottom of the sink was below where the drain went into the wall. We compromised by raising the sink.
    jladewig's Avatar
    jladewig Posts: 2, Reputation: 1
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    #3

    Jul 12, 2005, 09:27 PM
    Recent development
    Nope, this began about a month ago - seemingly out of the blue. Also, the sink is at a standard height (as far as I know) and the drainpipe into the wall is about a 8 inches below the sink drain. It sometimes seems to drain very! Slowly, but more often, not at all. For instance, I filled the sink about 3 hours ago. It drained to the one inch level in a few seconds and the remaining water is still standing.
    labman's Avatar
    labman Posts: 10,580, Reputation: 551
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    #4

    Jul 13, 2005, 05:19 AM
    I would have been surprised if that was the problem. If it wasn't always that way, no chance of it being the problem. I guess you will have to wait for Tom to answer.
    speedball1's Avatar
    speedball1 Posts: 29,301, Reputation: 1939
    Eternal Plumber
    		  
    #5

    Jul 13, 2005, 12:09 PM
    Quote Originally Posted by jladewig
    My first floor vanity sink has a mysterious (to me) drainage problem. If I fill the sink with water, it drains normally until there is about an inch of water in the basin. Then, it stops and the water just sits there. I have not noticed this problem anywhere else in the house. I've used Draino (nothing); I've opened the U-trap and line and snaked (nothing). My guess is that it is a venting issue, but I could really use some advice. Thanks!

    The problem with snaking through the trap is that you never know when you hit the drainage tee in the stack if the snake will go up or down. If it goes down you have to put out enough cable to clean the branch, if it goes up the stack you're wasting your time. That's why we always snake from the lavatory vent on the roof. Go up on the roof and drop the snake down until it hits the bend at the base. Then run out about 20' more to be sure you've cleared the branch line. Good luck, Tom
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