any plumbers here?

[Maximus96]

We have a clog in our 2nd story master bathroom double sinks. I think it slowly developed over time but my wife is convinced there is a mouse in the pipe because we recently cought two small mice in the house. When one sink is backed up, water will rise up in the sink next to it. Both have separate traps and pipe that goes into the wall leading me to believe the clog is somewhere further down the line. The pipe after the trap on both sinks go into the wall at an angle, pointing towards the middle in between the sinks. There are no other clogs in our other sinks or toilets or tubs around the house, only the double sink in the master bathroom.

I tried to use a Ridgid Power Spin attached to a power drill from the above the sink. I'm not sure how far the cable went but it developed a kink inside the drum and the cable will not advance any further. I went to home depot at lunch today and was about to buy the Ridgid Auto Spin, basically the next product up the line. At checkout the cashier recommended me not to buy it. She said she uses it to clear the toilets at home depot but feels it's flimsy. She recommended me renting one from their rental instead.

Does anybody here have any experiences with the Auto Spin or the Home Depot rental snakes or any other experience with clearing a clog? This is my first time dealing with a clogged drain. My competent and handy, just have not dealt with this particular issue before. My wife and I are really hesitant about calling a plumber because they're expensive, we don't want them to mess up the carpet in the house and bathroom because we have young children, and we really hate to have strangers in our house.

btw, its a 9 yr old house, i *think* the pipes are plastic.

 

[MikeyIs4Dcats]

go buy a gallon of lye-based drain cleaner and let it work overnight. it's probably a hair clog.

 

[Maximus96]

Originally posted by: MikeyIs4Dcats
go buy a gallon of lye-based drain cleaner and let it work overnight. it's probably a hair clog.

i don't see how that will help my situation. my clog is not at the trap. if i pour chemicals down the drain, most will sit at the trap. my clog is somewhere further down, after the point where the pipes from the two sinks meet. when i fill up either sink, the water will start to rise in the sink next to it.

 

[iRONic]

Originally posted by: MikeyIs4Dcats
go buy a gallon of lye-based drain cleaner and let it work overnight. it's probably a hair clog.

Lye? In PVC?

 

[Peelback79]

If it's only a partial blockage; if the water fills up and gradually recedes, try using a "Liquid Plumber". It's basically a really acidic compound you just pour down your drain and it's dissolves the clog as it goes by. I can't remember the name brand I used to do a shower drain at my house but other than making my eyes water it did the job without any drawbacks.
If the water doesn't recede any or a total blockage situation it'd probably best to use the rental from Home Depot.
I've never dealt with any really bad clogs in my house but I'd rather put a hole in my wall trying to get at some pipes before I pay my money to some stranger to track mud in my house. I can do that for free.

Good luck.

 

[Maximus96]

When it was still a "partial" blockage, we tried liquid plumber or draino or one of those type. It didn't clear anything up. I removed the trap off of one sink this past weekend and there is nothing there. I suspect there is nothing in the other one as well. I think all these chemical are most effective at clogs at the trap. My situation is different. The water does receed, but at a very, very slow pace, taking hours do drop an inch or so. The bath tub and show that are immediately next to the sinks are not affected at all.

 

[CPA]

You're just going to have to work that snake. I use a hand crank one, that way I can feel the line and manipulate it better. Take off the trap and insert the snake there, instead of coming down the pipe from inside the sink.

 

[Maximus96]

Originally posted by: CPA
You're just going to have to work that snake. I use a hand crank one, that way I can feel the line and manipulate it better. Take off the trap and insert the snake there, instead of coming down the pipe from inside the sink.

i tried a hand crank with the trap off. i found it more difficult because when i took off the trap, there is a 90 degree elbow glued onto the the straight section. I can't remove the elbow and have to up the elbow then into the pipe. i just found it difficult to work the snake upwards while sitting in front of the cabinet. i don't want to lay in the cabinet looking directly into the elbow opening because gunk was coming out as the snake hit the pipe walls. and also i thought it would be easier to tell if i clear the clog since i will see the water go down once its cleared instead of having to reconnect everything. and I actually don't know how to tell if i hit the clog or another bend in the pipe so i just keep cranking.

 

[MikeyIs4Dcats]

Originally posted by: Maximus96
When it was still a "partial" blockage, we tried liquid plumber or draino or one of those type. It didn't clear anything up. I removed the trap off of one sink this past weekend and there is nothing there. I suspect there is nothing in the other one as well. I think all these chemical are most effective at clogs at the trap. My situation is different. The water does receed, but at a very, very slow pace, taking hours do drop an inch or so. The bath tub and show that are immediately next to the sinks are not affected at all.

suit yourself. I had a clog in a main line past trhe trap, and it worked fine for me.

 

[runzwithsizorz]

Is there no way to remove all of the sink trap to give you a straighter shot?, I find that odd.
I too, had this very same thing happen, turns out, that some, *critter* had gotten into the air breather pipe on the roof, which means, that may well be your best approach. You may need a snake longer than 25ft. to do this. Put some type of screens on your breathers, while your up there. BTW, skip the chemicals

 

[Maximus96]

Originally posted by: runzwithsizorz
Is there no way to remove all of the sink trap to give you a straighter shot?, I find that odd.
I too, had this very same thing happen, turns out, that some, *critter* had gotten into the air breather pipe on the roof, which means, that may well be your best approach. You may need a snake longer than 25ft. to do this. Put some type of screens on your breathers, while your up there. BTW, skip the chemicals

only the bend of the trap is removable on the sinks. there is a bend before the straight going into the wall and from the bend on, everything is welded together and not easily removable.

i can try to climb up to the roof, but how does a blocked vent clog up just my bathroom sinks? i'm new to this and don't quit understand.

 

[IGBT]

Originally posted by: Maximus96

Originally posted by: MikeyIs4Dcats
go buy a gallon of lye-based drain cleaner and let it work overnight. it's probably a hair clog.

i don't see how that will help my situation. my clog is not at the trap. if i pour chemicals down the drain, most will sit at the trap. my clog is somewhere further down, after the point where the pipes from the two sinks meet. when i fill up either sink, the water will start to rise in the sink next to it.

..2 gal.of liquid plumber should get well past the trap. worth a try.

 

[911paramedic]

Sounds like the vent to me. If it backs up slowly it means it's further down the line and partial, or you are building up a vacuum.

 

[Maximus96]

Originally posted by: IGBT

Originally posted by: Maximus96

Originally posted by: MikeyIs4Dcats
go buy a gallon of lye-based drain cleaner and let it work overnight. it's probably a hair clog.

i don't see how that will help my situation. my clog is not at the trap. if i pour chemicals down the drain, most will sit at the trap. my clog is somewhere further down, after the point where the pipes from the two sinks meet. when i fill up either sink, the water will start to rise in the sink next to it.

..2 gal.of liquid plumber should get well past the trap. worth a try.

i read many recommendations against chemicals...plus i can't get two gallons of liquid down the drain, it'll probably sit in my sink for two days...

 

[NoShangriLa]

It sound like you have a blockage on the branch/wet vent portion of the drain.

DO NOT! put caustic/acidic chemical into the drain, because it will become more hazardous if someone have to physically remove the blockage if the chemical/s didn't breakdown the blockage.

Try snaking from the cleanout under the basin/lavatory if one is available.

Cut the basin trap arm portion after the P-trap and before the wall off with a hacksaw and snake it from there if there is no cleanout or cleanout isn't accessible.

Purchase a 1 1/4" - 2" coupling (normally a 1 1/2" trap arm is install for basin, but it could be 1 1/4" or 2" diameter) that is the same size as the trap arm, and a small can of ABS adhesive (yellow) to repair the cut off.

Good luck!