How to deal with clogged kitchen sink

spidey07

No Lifer
Aug 4, 2000
65,469
5
76
About ready to turn in my man card. The left sink has the disposal, the right sink just a drain. The plumbing goes from left to right with a U under the right. Then off to the dishwasher. The backup looks like it's from the dishwasher from it's slimy chopped up contents but the dishwasher drained just fine.

I've poured some liquid plumber on the right sink to hit the U joint (which I don't think the clog is in) and tried plunging. Running the disposal only takes the water from the left to the right. After that both side equalize in level.

This is your typical dual well sink, disposal on the left, rinsing sing on the right. Plunging either side just moves water to the other side of the sink, but some water did spurt out the "dishwasher syphon/drain" or whatever that little pop up filter is on the sink next to the faucet.
 

BoomerD

No Lifer
Feb 26, 2006
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Time to dismantle the pipes under the sink. As you've already found out, mere plunging won't do the trick, so you'll have to take the plumbing apart to clear the clog.

Shouldn't be very difficult.
 
Nov 5, 2001
18,366
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be careful with the Liquid plumbr in there.

NEVER use chemicals if you might have to plunge or snake.
 

dullard

Elite Member
May 21, 2001
25,934
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Time to dismantle the pipes under the sink. As you've already found out, mere plunging won't do the trick, so you'll have to take the plumbing apart to clear the clog.

Shouldn't be very difficult.
Exactly. Should be just a few minutes. The plastic stuff is easy to disconnect and reconnect. Disconnect the trap, clean it out, and you are probably done. For a better job, stick something into all the open holes and clean out that way. Screw it all together and get your man card back.

Doing it right is probably faster than getting a plunger or chemical.
 

BoomerD

No Lifer
Feb 26, 2006
65,992
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Serious? Theres like 5 inches of greasy water and lye in the sinks now.

And that's probably exactly where it will stay until you take things apart and clear the clog...

BTW, don't just dip the water from one sink and pour it into another...:p

(I've seen that done in a "D'oh" moment by a friend)
 

nboy22

Diamond Member
Jul 18, 2002
3,304
1
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Serious? Theres like 5 inches of greasy water and lye in the sinks now.

Get a bucket and put it under the pipes when you dismantle. Be careful with taking the horizontal pipe off that goes to the disposal if you need to take it off... I once took it off without realizing there was a very small lip on the end of the pipe, and I broke the lip right off.

It should be pretty easy to figure out where the clog is, just search google and watch a few videos. I had a very similar situation and fixed it myself quite easily.
 

Leros

Lifer
Jul 11, 2004
21,867
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And that's probably exactly where it will stay until you take things apart and clear the clog...

BTW, don't just dip the water from one sink and pour it into another...:p

(I've seen that done in a "D'oh" moment by a friend)

I made that stupid mistake one night. It was late and I was tired. I had a bucket under the trap to collect the water. After I got the trap off, I poured the water down the drain... which promptly went all over the floor :(
 

Rubycon

Madame President
Aug 10, 2005
17,768
485
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If you poured liquid plumbr in the bowl the water probably has a pretty high pH. Dip your finger in it and rub that finger on your thumb. Does it feel really slippery? If so be careful! Wear gloves and goggles.

I made that stupid mistake one night. It was late and I was tired. I had a bucket under the trap to collect the water. After I got the trap off, I poured the water down the drain... which promptly went all over the floor :(

:biggrin:
 

spidey07

No Lifer
Aug 4, 2000
65,469
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The water moves between sinks just fine, although very slowly. Somehow the dishwasher spit everything back into the sink.
 

BoomerD

No Lifer
Feb 26, 2006
65,992
14,395
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The water moves between sinks just fine, although very slowly. Somehow the dishwasher spit everything back into the sink.

That indicates that the clog is "downstream from where the two sinks connect. Could be at the connection for the dishwasher, could be farther down than that.
 

lupi

Lifer
Apr 8, 2001
32,539
260
126
could get one of those small toilet snakes and see if that works.
 

PsiStar

Golden Member
Dec 21, 2005
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I have been here too many times to count. "Someone" overloads the disposer with potato peelings and THEN turns it on.

I fill the sink without the disposer full with water having it stoppered. With faithful plunger in hand and the already ample amount of water in the sink on the disposer side, I pull the stopper & plunge like no tomorrow over the disposer ... turning the disposer on/off. With only a few very manly plunges, the disposer will soon be able to suck it all down.

I'm not married to her anymore. Haven't had the problem since!:whiste:
 

spidey07

No Lifer
Aug 4, 2000
65,469
5
76
Preparing to syphon sinks. Please lord don't let the lye hit my mouth. Should have came atot sioner. Have a cup of vinegar in case it does. Ready to rinse with it.

Cmon reef keepers!
 

Rubycon

Madame President
Aug 10, 2005
17,768
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LOL just a bit stronger than your typical kalkwasser. ;)

Preparing to syphon sinks. Please lord don't let the lye hit my mouth. Should have came atot sioner. Have a cup of vinegar in case it does. Ready to rinse with it.

Cmon reef keepers!
 

mizzou

Diamond Member
Jan 2, 2008
9,734
54
91
Preparing to syphon sinks. Please lord don't let the lye hit my mouth. Should have came atot sioner. Have a cup of vinegar in case it does. Ready to rinse with it.

Cmon reef keepers!

dude, you can siphon with a full hose! :awe:

no need to suck on it
 

darrontrask

Senior member
Nov 23, 2004
529
0
76
I've had sucess with two plungers. hold one over the drain in one sink and plunge with the other.
 

ElFenix

Elite Member
Super Moderator
Mar 20, 2000
102,395
8,558
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sounds like your disposal is on the wrong side. it should be on the same side as the dishwasher. don't know why installers don't get that right to begin with.
 

Leros

Lifer
Jul 11, 2004
21,867
7
81
sounds like your disposal is on the wrong side. it should be on the same side as the dishwasher. don't know why installers don't get that right to begin with.

Don't garbage disposals come with dishwasher intakes?
 

spidey07

No Lifer
Aug 4, 2000
65,469
5
76
Syphon done. Sinks empty. Rubicon knows slippery is highly basic. I'm not one for ppe but on go the shoulder high aquarium gloves and goggles. You don't fuck with lye and all that lye is now sitting in the pipes I'm taking apart.
 

killster1

Banned
Mar 15, 2007
6,205
475
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Don't garbage disposals come with dishwasher intakes?

Yes they do ive installed several. This thread is funny!

"I've poured some liquid plumber" hahha

Just go to hardware store buy a snake and put it in as far as you can. I have one that hooks up to the power drill works fine.. Also just drain it into a bucket jeez..
 

Zebo

Elite Member
Jul 29, 2001
39,398
19
81
... how I've gotten this unblocked in the past is close off air on one side, and on dishwasher overflow. Then I have rubber cup that hooks to air compressor and blow it out.