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hellodolly · Feb 16, 2008, 05:46 PM

I have a kitchen sink drain that has been "snaked" by a plumber 4 times in the last 8 months... it is black gunk that comes out when they pull out the snake and now it won't drain at all... the last guy said it looked like someone has poured motoroil down.
We have tried every chemical known to work and bacteria concoctions... we need help please??

massplumber2008 · Feb 16, 2008, 06:30 PM

Tell us more Dolly... you on 1st floor? Basement?

Single bowl... double bowl? Cleanouts under sink? Cleanouts in basement? What kind of pipe... pvc, copper, galvanized??

Answer these questions and we will get right back to you.

hellodolly · Feb 18, 2008, 01:26 PM

Good Morning, 1st floor, double kitchen sink, galvanized pipes, crawl space...
Black, stinky tar

speedball1 · Feb 18, 2008, 01:54 PM

Galvanized drain pipes tell me that you have a older home. Both water and drainage can "pack up" over the years. Crud can build up from the grease and food particles and block a galvanized line to the point of having a snake punch a small hole through the blockage and start to build back up as soon as the plumber leaves. This is what I think's happening to you. The solution would be to replace that galvanized line with PVC and watch your problem drain away. 4 clogs in less then a year. Time to bite the bullet and replace that old drain line. Good luck, Tom

massplumber2008 · Feb 18, 2008, 03:23 PM

Here! Here! Got to agree with Tom (as usual ;) )... time to get that plumber back and replace those galvanized pipes. Let us know how it works out. Good luck.

ballengerb1 · Feb 18, 2008, 03:59 PM

How far have the plumbers been able to rod? Are you aware of any clean outs along the drain pipe. Since you don't have an issue with other sinks or tubs it must be in the one pipe that drains that sink and the plug is before that pipe reaches your stack. I am not saying to not replace the drain but I'd like to know this info if you have it.
Thanks,
Bob

hellodolly · Feb 19, 2008, 06:40 AM

Snake goes out 50-60 feet. Comes back with the end having black hard rubbery stuff stuck in it... I've poured boiling water down the sink and it eventually goes down.
Home built in 1971. We think the kitchen line goes down 4-7 feet then goes straight out back under the concrete patio and on out into a separate holding tank for it... could that place just be gunked up and needind cleaned out?
We were also told that the previous homeowner had tied into the septic... so we don't know where the pipes are... we live in town, but the back yard is out of town and we have septic system for everything else... and the laterals in it are over loaded already and surfacing in the back... what a mess. We need a new entire plumbing sysytem in this place.

hellodolly · Feb 19, 2008, 06:42 AM

Hey, no clean outs... we've tried to find them.

ballengerb1 · Feb 19, 2008, 12:19 PM

I'd cut the drain pipe just before it leaves the house and install a clean out. You talked about "a seperate holding tank for it....." and also a septic tank. I'm not sure what a holding tank would do in this situation but I'd have my septic tank pumped and inspected. This oily junk may have crippled your septic.

blackflubber · Feb 10, 2009, 03:28 PM

To save myself & "answerers" a lot of time, I'm going to pick up with an identical problem I have in hopes of finding an answer.

My house is only 4 years old & I have the same thick black tar stuff in a sink where the counter has two faucets & basins. The one at the end of the line is the only one in the whole house that has this goop. I already have PVC pipe.

I cannot for the life of me figure out why this one drain only, has this problem, and I cannot seem to get it cleared out. The sink has been gradually backing up for about a year. The stuff seems to be gradually accumulating.

I noticed this thread is a year old, so don't know if anyone is even monitoring.

Help!