Help!

[Kajikit 65]

I've killed our kitchen sink It was running very sluggishly so I scrubbed it out with bicarbonate of soda and then put some down the plughole, washed down with vinegar and boiling water. That's supposed to clear away the grease buildup in the drain and let it go more smoothly... only one problem - it didn't work! The rinsing sink is perfectly clear and clean and water runs down it just fine, but the washing sink didn't drain and all that happened was a little bit of grunge floated up out of the plughole! (GROSS!)

Do I have to call a plumber, or is there some way to fix it ourselves?

[almaty 19]

if the pipes are plastic not hard to fix...are they plastic under the sink?

[chri'stina 190]

our sink got clogged recently...we just bought some extra strength drano and it worked perfectly! not sure if yours is a different problem but I'd definitely try drano etc first before considering calling anyone.

[TracyTN 237]

Does the side that is clogged have a garbage disposal on it? Mine does, and tends to get clogged VERY easily. Frankly I'd like to have it removed one day, but I'll put that on Chas' very LONG 'to do' list when he moves here.

[MichelleandCraig 1]

I'd go with Christina and try the Drano or Liquid Plumber route 1st...good luck Karen!!! M.

[Kajikit 65]

No we don't have a disposal... stupid things that they are! I think the grease has just built up because my new 'extra-gentle' dishwashing shampoo stuff isn't strong enough to dissolve it all when it runs down the drain. I just phond DH and asked him to buy some draino on his way home... now to see if he remembers!

[chri'stina 190]

hopefully it'll be working good again soon! Ours clogged on Easter! We had gotten home late from my parents and I started rinsing things off and the water clogged and was nasty. We had to go out at about 11pm to get the drano!

[MaryandMian 1]

Have you tried to use a bathroom plunger on it to get some suction? I know this might help and then use the liquid plumber. Good luck.

[Kajikit 65]

We don't have a plunger... there's never been a need for it!

I got down and had a closer examination of the underside of the sink... and it solved a minor mystery - I was wondering how the right-hand sink could get all grunged up and blocked while the left-hand sink still drains perfectly... the answer is that the sink does not have a U-bend as such. The pipes are metal, and the left-hand pipe goes straight down into the floor. The righthand sink is of course about a foot over from it, and the pipe is shaped like a flat L - the water goes into the plughole and then has to flow sideways for about a foot before it goes into the straight-down pipe! So it's not surprising that it could get a grease clog The question now is how do I get rid of it, and how do I keep it from happening again?

It also suggests that there is no connection at all between the kitchen plumbing and the bathroom plumbing... they're seperate units entirely.

[canadalaura 0]

Ugh! Our sink clogged up on thanksgiving AND Easter. Fun times. I agree, try draino if it works you save money on a plumber!

Ours was the disposal that keeps getting clogged, and it always picks the worst time!

[Ban Hammer 12,827]

We don't have a plunger... there's never been a need for it!

I got down and had a closer examination of the underside of the sink... and it solved a minor mystery - I was wondering how the right-hand sink could get all grunged up and blocked while the left-hand sink still drains perfectly... the answer is that the sink does not have a U-bend as such. The pipes are metal, and the left-hand pipe goes straight down into the floor. The righthand sink is of course about a foot over from it, and the pipe is shaped like a flat L - the water goes into the plughole and then has to flow sideways for about a foot before it goes into the straight-down pipe! So it's not surprising that it could get a grease clog The question now is how do I get rid of it, and how do I keep it from happening again?

It also suggests that there is no connection at all between the kitchen plumbing and the bathroom plumbing... they're seperate units entirely.

2 choices.

a - take the section of pipe out and clean it (messy)

b - use liquid plumber and wait.

as for grease issues, after i cook something that leaves a greasy pan, i wipe the pan out first with paper towels to absorb the majority of the grease. then i wash it in hot water and dawn which hopefully will keep the grease from sticking.

[babybunny 2]

I've killed our kitchen sink It was running very sluggishly so I scrubbed it out with bicarbonate of soda and then put some down the plughole, washed down with vinegar and boiling water. That's supposed to clear away the grease buildup in the drain and let it go more smoothly... only one problem - it didn't work! The rinsing sink is perfectly clear and clean and water runs down it just fine, but the washing sink didn't drain and all that happened was a little bit of grunge floated up out of the plughole! (GROSS!)

Do I have to call a plumber, or is there some way to fix it ourselves?

GIRL .. its clogged when you put them veggies in the garbage disposal.

the only way to get it fixed. is call maint or plumber. they have to take the pipe off

it dont take long. I know I did this a few months back..btw, DONT USE CHEMICALS

in the Garbage disposal!!!!!!!!!!

Edited May 8, 2006 by shonjaved

[TracyTN 237]

She just said she didn't have a disposal.

You can probably get it unclogged with drano (or my favorite, Liquid Plumber foaming pipe snake) but I would get a plumber to look at it at some point.

[babybunny 2]

my bad.. I did not know every home did not have one of those things.

at any rate no chemicals - the pipe has to come off..there could be anything blocking it not just grease.

[wally 0]

somebody told me a long time ago..go to Walmart and get the strongest commercial stuff that won't harm your pipes...watch out for fumes...that stuff eats up a lot

Edited May 8, 2006 by wally