clogged kitchen drain

[makken]

I get a call from my mom today complaining that her kitchen sink is draining slowly.

I head over after work, took a look at it and figured it was probably just grease buildup. So I boiled a pot of water and poured it down. It had no effect. Did it a second time and it gets completely clogged. ugh.

So I broke out the plunger and went to work. No luck in getting any drainage at all. Finally I went down and took off the j-trap (it was completely clear) and ran a 25' snake into the pipe. Snake went in all 25', hardly any resistance at all. At this point i'm thinking WTF?

Played with the snake for a while and couldn't get anything to catch onto it. Pulled it out and poured in another pot of hot water. Still no drainage, at all. Finally I brought a bottle of drain-o and poured it in. Currently its sitting there doing its thing.

If that doesn't work, I'm really at my wits end.
Anything else I can try before I give in and call a plumber? and WTF could be causing this?

 

[masterxfob]

did you check the garbage disposal? if that's stuck, bust out the allen wrench!

 

[waffleironhead]

blocked vent?

 

[Rifter]

blocked vent?

this is my guess as well.

Remember with no air behind it water will not drain, and since you went 25' in and the drain was clear ill bet the vent is clogged.

 

[makken]

hmm hadn't thought about the vent. I'll check it out in the morning. Wouldn't a clogged vent affect all drains in the house? (only the kitchen sink has issues)

 

[DaTT]

hmm hadn't thought about the vent. I'll check it out in the morning. Wouldn't a clogged vent affect all drains in the house? (only the kitchen sink has issues)

It would affect any drains that are using that vent. Have you tried one of the "Plumbers in a can"? I think it's just compressed air that shoots through the drain.

 

[Rifter]

hmm hadn't thought about the vent. I'll check it out in the morning. Wouldn't a clogged vent affect all drains in the house? (only the kitchen sink has issues)

there are often multiple vents in a house.

 

[Squisher]

hmm hadn't thought about the vent. I'll check it out in the morning. Wouldn't a clogged vent affect all drains in the house? (only the kitchen sink has issues)

There might be more than one vent on the house. With the use of the 25 foot snake do you think you made it all the way to the main drain line? Any chance for you to rig something up to see if the problem is in the disposal itself?