Is my neighbor clogging up my kitchen sink?

[RbSX]

Hey OP, the pipe that drains your dishwasher is generally connected to your sink.

That pipe is only so big in terms of cubic inches, so if you're running your faucet AND your dishwasher, stuff usually backs up.

 

[Eos]

The length of time it takes for water to appear in the sink can help determine how much snake you need.

Size of pipe will determine how much water it can hold per foot of run. If you know how much water volume you get from the tap, then run the water while a stopwatch is active. Do the math.

I had a blockage this summer from something. It took about twenty seconds for water to appear in the sink. The 25 foot snake was fully doled out and the blockage disappeared.

 

[iGas]

Hey OP, the pipe that drains your dishwasher is generally connected to your sink.

That pipe is only so big in terms of cubic inches, so if you're running your faucet AND your dishwasher, stuff usually backs up.

Plumbing code calculated/engineered for diswasher allowance. The connection is up stream of the garburator to help cleaning out the piping and p-trap, unless there is a clog/partially clog pipe, or an incorrectly install riser that doesn't have sufficient sud zone distance for the clothwasher/dishwasher from above riser so that there is an air lock in the piping (vent).

The length of time it takes for water to appear in the sink can help determine how much snake you need.

Size of pipe will determine how much water it can hold per foot of run. If you know how much water volume you get from the tap, then run the water while a stopwatch is active. Do the math.

I had a blockage this summer from something. It took about twenty seconds for water to appear in the sink. The 25 foot snake was fully doled out and the blockage disappeared.

LOL, length of time * what? == distance? == perhaps it is quasi math that you are doing.

Kitchen sink trap arm can be 1 1/2", or 2" and can be up to 8' long. The riser that the trap arm connected to can be a 1 1/2" to 4", and the horizontal branch can be 2" to 4", building drain can be 3" or 4", and clog also pass water at an unknown rate. How the hell are you going to figure it out how long the pipe is even if you time the sink to fill a gallon bucket?

[edit]
Oops, almost forgot, building code call for minimum of 2" horizontal branch for kitchen sink, while wash basin and stand pipe can be as little as 1 1/4" (however, most if not all do not install 1 1/4" piping, because it cost more than the standard 1 1/2" pipe).

 

[iGas]

my snake is about 5 feet long. Not sure if that is long enough, but I assume that would be long enough to get to the main drainage pipe since the opening I stuck the snake in was pretty much right against the wall.

If you mean the clean out at the bottom of your cabinet....it is there to use as a clean out/snake if there is a clog from your portion of the riser to the building drain. However, the clog is likely above that as I said earlier it is possible that the clog is at the p-trap under the sink.

Pics of said spot against the wall piping, and under the kitchen sink would help.

 

[Eos]

Pipe that is 1.5 inches ID by 9 feet long holds .7 gallons.

Determine how much water flows from the tap in one minute (or until a gallon container is full), then run water until it appears in the sink. Water flows at 3 gallons per minute and if the sink begins to fill from below in 20 seconds, then the blockage is ~9 feet away.

 

[iGas]

Pipe that is 1.5 inches ID by 9 feet long holds .7 gallons.

Determine how much water flows from the tap in one minute (or until a gallon container is full), then run water until it appears in the sink. Water flows at 3 gallons per minute and if the sink begins to fill from below in 20 seconds, then the blockage is ~9 feet away.

Thanks for the basic lesson, however as I said trap arm can be 1.5" to 2" diameter, riser can be from 1.5"-4" diameter, and horizontal branch can be 2"-4" diameter. Too many variables to calculate the distance by calculating volume with out knowing the pipe sizes and how long each pipe are, and then there is the clog letting the water passing by at an unknown rate.

 

[Omegachi]

If you mean the clean out at the bottom of your cabinet....it is there to use as a clean out/snake if there is a clog from your portion of the riser to the building drain. However, the clog is likely above that as I said earlier it is possible that the clog is at the p-trap under the sink.

Pics of said spot against the wall piping, and under the kitchen sink would help.

Its not the p-trap. I disconnected all the piping underneath the sink to check for clogs and found nothing. In fact, my pipes are pretty clean.

 

[Omegachi]

I was in a drain cleaning mood after my failure with the kitchen sink and I cleaned the bathroom sink and found about a handful of hair in the bathtub drain... that was the grossest thing ever! kind of reminded me of the hair of that girl from "the ring" for some reason...

 

[iGas]

Its not the p-trap. I disconnected all the piping underneath the sink to check for clogs and found nothing. In fact, my pipes are pretty clean.

Get yourself a 25'-30' snake.

 

[Veliko]

Maybe he is sneaking in each night. Has a bath in your sink and then leaves silently.

The sink is clogged up with his pubes.

 

[HeXen]

I am the landlord... I own the unit.

your responsibility to fix it then regardless. if the contract states they would be responisble for such, then you need to prove it...then charge them for your costs.
unless your saying you just own your apt and not the building....but then you still need to prove it. someone has to fix it regardless.

alternatively, talk to your neighbor about it...see if you both can't work an agreement to either split the cost or prove who gunked it up, which i doubt could be shown.
but since you both use the same pipe..and if you don't own the whole building. then you share the pipe, share the cost.

 

[Bignate603]

I doubt the clog is from the main drains where everyone's plumbing goes into. If that were the case, then it would back up to the next floor above you - and that means it would be overflowing your sink.

When you said you snaked it out, do you mean 10 inches? Or 15 feet?

It may be upstream of the main drain but still affected by his neighbor. To cut down on the length and number of pipes running to the main drain its likely that the OP's kitchen is on one side of the wall, directly opposite his neighbor's. The line from his sink probably connects with his neighbor's then a single line runs to the main drain. The clog could easily be in that line without affecting apartments on other floors.

 

[Omegachi]

whatever it is, I'll have the plumber document it on the receipt so I can pursue reimbursement if I see fit. I mean, if its massive amount of hair in there, it has to be my neighbors upstairs. Not sure if he can tell if its from my next door neighbor though...At this point I just want it to be fixed.

 

[iGas]

whatever it is, I'll have the plumber document it on the receipt so I can pursue reimbursement if I see fit. I mean, if its massive amount of hair in there, it has to be my neighbors upstairs. Not sure if he can tell if its from my next door neighbor though...At this point I just want it to be fixed.

LOL, haven't you read the landlord/tenant agreement?

And, unclogging drainage is part of the fair wear and tear in most agreement.

The tenant must maintain reasonable health, cleanliness and sanitary standards throughout the rental unit or site, and property.

Landlord is not entitled to charge his tenants the full cost for having any part of his property, or any fixture or fitting “put back to the condition it was at the start of the tenancy.” This would constitute betterment; appropriate remedies available to the landlord might range from:

Replacement of the damaged item where it is either severely and extensively damaged beyond economic repair or, its condition makes it unusable
Repair or cleaning
Compensation for diminution in inherent value of the item or the shortening of its useful normal lifespan

PS. Are you a slumlord?

 

[Omegachi]

what are you talking about? I own the unit i live in. I don't own the building. If the clog is not in my unit I will go to the association/neighbor to get reimbursement.

 

[1sikbITCH]

You never mentioned that you live in a condo. You said you live in an apartment. So when you said that you are the landlord it seems like you own the apartment building.

I figured it out halfway through the thread but I see where the confusion comes from.