[amricca]

Is there a device that I can install under my Kitchen sink that would prevent water from backing up into the sink? I live in a Condo that shares a Kitchen drain line with 5 other units and it occasionally gets clogged and needs to be roto-rootered. My problem is I live on the ground level so I get the back-up first and it can be so bad it will overfill the sink (and it smells bad).

[iamgrowler]

Is there a device that I can install under my Kitchen sink that would prevent water from backing up into the sink? I live in a Condo that shares a Kitchen drain line with 5 other units and it occasionally gets clogged and needs to be roto-rootered. My problem is I live on the ground level so I get the back-up first and it can be so bad it will overfill the sink (and it smells bad).

You could install a swing check valve on the line that would eliminate the problem of the other units backing up into your kitchen sink -- But if there are any other fixtures in your unit sharing the drain line *OR* the vent connected to it, the problem will just migrate to that fixture.

If any of your other fixtures are connected to the vent, then the resulting back-up into the venting system may likely cause huge problems with horizontal sections of the vent piping.

It sounds like the six of you need to put your heads together and start discussing capital improvements for the building.