AT plumbing help request: clogged kitchen drain

[gorobei]

my mom's kitchen drain is clogged and draining minute amounts.

• i've checked the p-trap and it's clear.
• checked the disposal and it is clear to the p-trap at least(found out the hard way).
• so it looks like the clog is in the wall pipe.

she's in a co-op complex on the 3rd (top) floor so the drain pipe isnt just for her unit. there is no indication the downstairs neighbors are experiencing any problems with draining.

Question, is it worth it to buy a drain snake and head up to the roof to try and clear it from the vent pipe or just call a real plumber?

*update
have tried plunger, no results.

*update 10/5
ok, got the p-trap and trap arm off. ran a snake a few feet and cranked. no results.

so i ran it futher down and hit black gold or whatever burned up lard is called. big wad of black goo with some odd bits about 8+ feet down the pipe. the snake bit captures a hunk every time i send it down. either the downstairs neighbor is pouring used lard down the sink or the previous owner of my mom's unit did.

at this point i'm calling it off. no point in me trying to fix the downstairs neighbors issue. anything in the walls is the HOA problem, and if i do any damage it will be my problem. i would need to get roof access to have any real chance of clearing it.

 

[HN]

Have you done the baking soda / vinegar volcano,followed by pot of boiling water yet?

 

[gorobei]

Have you done the baking soda / vinegar volcano,followed by pot of boiling water yet?

yeah 1st thing i did, a day ago. the p-trap was nearly immaculate. i was almost disappointed that there was nothing to pull out of it.

with the clog that far down the line and such a tiny amount of flow, i dont think the effect of the acid/base gets close enough to the clog to loosen anything.

 

[Paladin3]

Snake the pipe from the wall behind your mom's sink?

 

[Greenman]

If the neighbors aren't having a problem the clog has to be in the dirty arm, that shouldn't be over ten feet long, so a cheap hand snake should get it clear.

 

[gorobei]

Snake the pipe from the wall behind your mom's sink?

im considering it, but the p-trap is so close to the wall that the snake would have to do some tight turns at the start. i havent used a snake for decades so i dont know if the newer ones are better about threading the housing.

 

[gorobei]

If the neighbors aren't having a problem the clog has to be in the dirty arm, that shouldn't be over ten feet long, so a cheap hand snake should get it clear.

it is a condo complex built in the '70s ish with metal pipes, will there be any issues with that?

 

[MagnusTheBrewer]

it is a condo complex built in the '70s ish with metal pipes, will there be any issues with that?

If the pipes are metal, you can break out the lye.

 

[IronWing]

Enforcer Build-up Remover works pretty well.

 

[iGas]

It is possible that the building has settled over time, and the trap arm is now have reversed slope. Take the P-trap off and insert a short snake into the trap arm to clean it.

FlexiSnake Drain Millipede Hair Clog Tool for Drain Cleaning

or

Superior Tool 03819 Manual DrainStick-Sink

It is also possible that there is a blockage between floor/s on the main stack, but that is quite slim. You can try cleaning out part of the trap arm and stack by going through the cleanout or up on the second half of the P-trap to trap arm with a hand auger.

General Pipe Cleaners R-25SM Spin Thru Drain Auger

 

[gorobei]

the time it takes for an empty sink to fill up generally suggests the clog is pretty close to the p-trap.

the problem is the 90deg turn down of the trap arm is really short and close to the floor/shelf of the surrounding cabinetry.

ill look into the auger and see if the HOA has any input.

 

[John Connor]

We had a clogged bathroom sink and it wasn't in the trap, but rather the wall. We just poured an extra strength Draino in the sink and it took about two days to clear. Once it did you run hot water. Problem solved.

 

[OVerLoRDI]

Lye

 

[lxskllr]

Try a toilet plunger. If it's a double sink, you may have to plug the other drain with a wet rag or something. A plunger is always my first attempt, and I've only had it fail once.

 

[olds]

Try a toilet plunger. If it's a double sink, you may have to plug the other drain with a wet rag or something. A plunger is always my first attempt, and I've only had it fail once.

This.
Or put a couple of inches of water in the sink and use the palm of your hand.

 

[iwajabitw]

If the neighbors aren't having a problem the clog has to be in the dirty arm, that shouldn't be over ten feet long, so a cheap hand snake should get it clear.

+1

 

[who?]

If it's just in the kitchen the clog isn't even to the main stack. I agree with using the plunger and then sanitizing the sink.

 

[Rakehellion]

Plunger.

 

[gorobei]

Update:

tried plunger, no change.

it's a single basin but local ordinances require an air gap for the dishwashing machine drain line, so even when taped up its hard to get a good airtight seal while plungering.

im trying boiling water and baking soda on intervals right now.

 

[who?]

Why are they worried about raw sewage backing up into your dishwasher? Do they think their employees are idiots who are likely to run a pump backwards by mistake?

 

[Red Squirrel]

When you plunge does it force some of the water in? Try to get as much of it out as possible then pour some javex and let it sit a bit. DO NOT use an ammonia based product after doing this. If you do make sure there's good ventilation (open windows) and don't breathe that shit in! (ammonia + javex = death).

It may be worth to disconnect the dishwasher line and block that port, then try plunger again. If you are brave run a dishwasher cycle. I don't recommend this though, but just mentioning it, if you are brave.

If the P trap assembly comes apart you could try to snake it directly past the P trap as well. Try a coat hanger before you go out and buy an expensive snake. The cheap snakes wont be any longer than a coat hanger.

 

[lxskllr]

One plunger trick is to put more ass into the pull than the push. You push down gently, but yank it up hard. That'll tend to bring the clog back to you, rather than push it down tight. The one failure I had with a plunger, I "fixed" a slow drain by completely stopping it. I had to take the trap off, and pull a bunch of gunk out of the wall.

 

[gorobei]

when i plunge the air gap hisses on the push and phhpts on the pull. a lot of water seems to move and the black bits of crud eventually come swirling out.

the problem feels like the clog is somewhere around the t-joint to the drain line. if the clog is a little below the t-joint then it would leave water free passage to the top vent. so all i would be doing is pushing the water upwards with no resistance on the pull stroke.
does anyone know if sanitary T-fittings were used in the 70's?

 

[iGas]

Take the P-trap off and put a bucket underneath the open pipe and turn on the water to see if it drain into the bucket.

There maybe a clog between the disposal and P-trap.

The other possible clog could be at the marvel connector.

Or, just admit it that you are not handy enough for such a job, and hand in your man card, and call a plumber.

 

[gorobei]

ok, got the p-trap and trap arm off. ran a snake a few feet and cranked. no results.

so i ran it futher down and hit black gold or whatever burned up lard is called. big wad of black goo with some odd bits about 8+ feet down the pipe. the snake bit captures a hunk every time i send it down. either the downstairs neighbor is pouring used lard down the sink or the previous owner of my mom's unit did.

at this point i'm calling it off. no point in me trying to fix the downstairs neighbors issue. anything in the walls is the HOA problem, and if i do any damage it will be my problem. i would need to get roof access to have any real chance of clearing it.