Long! Kitchen Sink Drain Dilemma..UPDATE!
#7394347
11/01/21 11:40 PM
11/01/21 11:40 PM
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Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 7,231 Wisconsin
Moosetrot
OP
trapper
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OP
trapper
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 7,231
Wisconsin
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We live in a very small ranch house in the country. Our kitchen sink drain got clogged up however it is still draining slow. This all started on Friday. I can run the hot water in the sink at just above a trickle and it still drains down to our pipe that runs out to the septic. We do have a dishwasher, which we have not used since Friday, hooked up to that drain as well. When we fill the sink it runs out very slow but it does drain eventually.
I have tried turning on the faucet full blast and it takes a while for it to back up into the sink, so I think the clog is pretty far down. The pipe, which is all 2" copper comes from the sink and drops down about 3 feet to the basement, where there is an elbow that connects it to about a 25 ft. run to another corner of the basement. There is another elbow there with a cleanout plug that is just about impossible to access. From there it has about a 20 ft. run to the main sewer pipe that does to our septic. My best guess is that the clog is somewhere in the 20 ft. run to the sewer pipe
I have put in copious amounts of Liquid Plumr Gel and Drano Gel (money back guaranteed to break through clogs) and nothing has really changed. I have waited everything from 20 minutes to all night before I have flushed it with hot water. Like I said earlier, if I leave the hot water at just above a trickle it does not back up into the sink. I tried a plunger tonight but nothing changed. The clog is confined to the kitchen drain pipe because none of our other sinks or anything are having any problems.
We have just about had it with this. My guess is that all the gunk coming out of the dishwasher has finally formed a partial clog in the 2" copper pipe. I am thinking about stopping after work and getting a snake but am really not looking forward to pulling that cleanout plug. I am planning on pouring a bunch of very hot water down there tomorrow, and then trying the feel the pipe and locate the clog.
If nothing else works I am considering removing the copper pipe at some point and replacing it with PVC. I had to do that with a lot of our copper water lines due to manganese buildup when we had a shallower well. We had a deeper well drilled and the manganese problems went away.
If anyone has any tricks, tips, or magic potions that might help me out I would certainly appreciate hearing about them. One of my duck hunting buddies advised me to cut off the pipe right below the sink and put a 6 gallon bucket in there so I am not wasting duck hunting time with plumbing. Told that to my wonderful, understanding wife and got a good case of stinkeye in return so I think I can forget that plan.
Thanks in advance!
Moosetrot
Last edited by Moosetrot; 11/04/21 06:20 PM. Reason: I won!
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Re: Long! Kitchen Sink Drain Dilemma...Help!
[Re: Moosetrot]
#7394350
11/01/21 11:48 PM
11/01/21 11:48 PM
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Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 4,324 AK
FairbanksLS
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 4,324
AK
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Bucket plumbing is a popular here. Build upper body strength dumping the bucket on the way to the outhouse. Kill two birds with one stone.
formerly posting as white dog
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Re: Long! Kitchen Sink Drain Dilemma...Help!
[Re: Moosetrot]
#7394351
11/01/21 11:49 PM
11/01/21 11:49 PM
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Joined: May 2013
Posts: 5,117 Northern Michigan
J.Morse
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trapper
Joined: May 2013
Posts: 5,117
Northern Michigan
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As easy as PVC is to run, my quick fix would be to run all new from the kitchen clear to where the drain joins the sewer pipe.....assuming it is all accessible from your basement. I hate crawl spaces.
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Re: Long! Kitchen Sink Drain Dilemma...Help!
[Re: Moosetrot]
#7394354
11/01/21 11:55 PM
11/01/21 11:55 PM
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Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 23,750 New Hampshire
Nessmuck
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trapper
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 23,750
New Hampshire
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When’s the last time you had the septic tank pumped ?
It is better to die on your feet than to live on your knees.
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Re: Long! Kitchen Sink Drain Dilemma...Help!
[Re: Nessmuck]
#7394356
11/01/21 11:58 PM
11/01/21 11:58 PM
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Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 7,231 Wisconsin
Moosetrot
OP
trapper
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OP
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Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 7,231
Wisconsin
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When’s the last time you had the septic tank pumped ? Summer. I don't think it is that because nothing else is having problems and the sink drain is the highest pipe coming into the main pipe. Moosetrot
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Re: Long! Kitchen Sink Drain Dilemma...Help!
[Re: Moosetrot]
#7394359
11/02/21 12:04 AM
11/02/21 12:04 AM
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Joined: Sep 2016
Posts: 6,631 MB
Jurassic Park
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trapper
Joined: Sep 2016
Posts: 6,631
MB
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Pour some muriatic acid or sulfuric acid down the drain. That should do the trick!
Cold as ice!
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Re: Long! Kitchen Sink Drain Dilemma...Help!
[Re: Moosetrot]
#7394362
11/02/21 12:13 AM
11/02/21 12:13 AM
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Joined: May 2011
Posts: 16,698 Oakland, MS
yotetrapper30
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trapper
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 16,698
Oakland, MS
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Never had much luck with that Draino stuff but straight granulated lye usually works. Problem is most stores don't sell it now, although it's readily available online.
~~Proud Ultra MAGA~~
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Re: Long! Kitchen Sink Drain Dilemma...Help!
[Re: Moosetrot]
#7394376
11/02/21 12:28 AM
11/02/21 12:28 AM
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Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 5,461 New York border
Cragar
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Joined: Feb 2007
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New York border
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Other than getting/renting a power snake , which will do the trick right and I know you don't want to go that route , check with a plumbing supply house or a plumber you might know , there are some SERIOUS drain cleaner products available somewhat restricted to the trade.
Can't remember the brand name , but I remember one I've used that after you pour it down , you cover the drain with a 5gal bucket inverted with some weight on it. Within a minute or two stuff comes bealching out almost like the drain vomited. Wild chemical reaction causes this to happen. This is why some of this stuff is a bit restricted use for plumbers only. Too dangerous/too much liability for homeowner use.
NRA benefactor member
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Re: Long! Kitchen Sink Drain Dilemma...Help!
[Re: Moosetrot]
#7394407
11/02/21 05:07 AM
11/02/21 05:07 AM
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Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 3,874 Pa
Wright Brothers
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Posts: 3,874
Pa
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A clogged vent, or no vent can contribute to this trouble. You say it's copper, I say it's old. (assuming again)
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Re: Long! Kitchen Sink Drain Dilemma...Help!
[Re: Moosetrot]
#7394438
11/02/21 06:33 AM
11/02/21 06:33 AM
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Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 21,716 Sandhills Nebraska
Gary Benson
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Sandhills Nebraska
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Does the family clean off their plates and wash it down the drain or put it in the trash. My oldest Son had that problem. When the drain pipe plugged up he cleaned it out in the yard and "requested" that every family member get a real close look at it and maybe sniff it too. No problems since. Food down the drain is a yuge problem. Specially if the slope of the pipe is slight.
Life ain't supposed to be easy.
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Re: Long! Kitchen Sink Drain Dilemma...Help!
[Re: Gary Benson]
#7394444
11/02/21 06:44 AM
11/02/21 06:44 AM
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Joined: Oct 2017
Posts: 5,886 perry co.Pa
wetdog
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trapper
Joined: Oct 2017
Posts: 5,886
perry co.Pa
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Does the family clean off their plates and wash it down the drain or put it in the trash. My oldest Son had that problem. When the drain pipe plugged up he cleaned it out in the yard and "requested" that every family member get a real close look at it and maybe sniff it too. No problems since. Food down the drain is a yuge problem. Specially if the slope of the pipe is slight. This. Pour 2 gallons of boiling water down that drain. It will move that sludge.
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Re: Long! Kitchen Sink Drain Dilemma...Help!
[Re: Moosetrot]
#7394464
11/02/21 07:26 AM
11/02/21 07:26 AM
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Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 5,591 La Crosse, WI
Macthediver
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Joined: Dec 2006
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La Crosse, WI
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All I know is if you have poured all that drain cleaner in there. If you start messing around pulling clean out plugs or cutting that pipe. Make sure you wear safety goggles or face shield. My old man was fighting a drain like that once. Pulled a clean out cap. Almost lost his eyes when took face full drain cleaner.
On another note if you have access and the pipe is copper like I'm thinking. You could try heating it starting at end farthest from sink. When you get to the plug the weight of the gunk up steam might push it threw? My son had similar situation with 2galvinized pipe It was so plugged I cut it out with sawzall replace it with PVC. I got pictures some where of that pipe plugged to maybe 1/4 diameter most the length.
Mac
"Never Forget Which Way Is Up"
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Re: Long! Kitchen Sink Drain Dilemma...Help!
[Re: Moosetrot]
#7394481
11/02/21 07:56 AM
11/02/21 07:56 AM
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Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 4,836 central arkansas
the Blak Spot
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central arkansas
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Sounds like a grease wad plug
the just shall live by faith
member FTA, ATA, EAFT 1776 - the year we told a tyrant we weren't to be under a dictator Caveat ater macula
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Re: Long! Kitchen Sink Drain Dilemma...Help!
[Re: Moosetrot]
#7394485
11/02/21 08:05 AM
11/02/21 08:05 AM
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Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 11,953 Oakland, MS
Drifter
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Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 11,953
Oakland, MS
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P trap would be my first guess. Sounds like a grease build up to me. Oldest daughter gifted me with a plugged P trap from dumping grease off hamburger down the kitchen drain. She remembers not to do that after she got to help fix it.
Some individuals use statistics as a drunk man uses lamp-posts — for support rather than for illumination.
Andrew Lang (1844-1912) Scottish poet, novelist and literary critic
Life member NTA , and GA Trappers assoc .
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