Draino

[LEDAdd1ct]

I don't understand how the bladder/hose attachment works. Could someone please explain it? :stupid:

 

[Launch Mini]

If draino is still in the pipes, you can use a turkey baster to suck as much out as possible.
When using a plunger, a trick it to PULL up on it with as much force as possible rather than trying to PUSH it down.
And as mentioned, cover the overlfow hole with something. I flat piece of wet rubber to seal that up , then pull pull pull

It's usually something going DOWN the pipe that clogs it, so pulling it back & breaking it up is often easier.

 

[KC2IXE]

Really wet cloth over the overflow, air line part down the drain, wet cloth over drain, open air valve at 100 or so PSI - tada - no more clog (warning can spray water out of every drain in the house, and blow pipes apart at those PSI numbers - 5-10 is actually a LOT more safe, and tends to work too)

 

[gcbryan]

Since I started this thread, I'll add what worked for me so as to add to all the good info now contained in this thread.

My problem was with a clogged kitchen sink that also has a disposer installed. I've never had any problems and all of a sudden it just wouldn't drain. I turned on the disposer and if anything it made it worse.

I took the trap off under the sink and it looked fine. A gallon of water drained out (into a plastic trash can). I ended up buying an auger to put in the exposed pipe leading away from the drain...nothing.

I tried Draino. I went through 2 cans. It would take 5 hours to drain. Finally it didn't drain at all. I was ready to test to see if the problem was with the disposer (in which case I was going to call a plumber to just remove it and reconnect the existing pipes) or if it was a clog beyond where I couldn't reach with the auger.

This time when I removed the trap, after having Draino stuck in there for 24 hours, the trap had a bunch of crap in it. I cleaned everything up and the problem is solved.

I don't know much about disposal units. It seems like they should have a trap in the unit itself but that doesn't seem to be the case so I don't know where the crap gets stuck exactly.

I've had this disposal unit for 15 years and I've never had a problem at all.

Anyway, that seems to have fixed the problem. I'm going to use the disposal more lightly from now on but that's about it.

I've learned some things to try if other plumbing problems crop up so thanks for all the responses.

 

[Launch Mini]

Since I started this thread, I'll add what worked for me so as to add to all the good info now contained in this thread.

My problem was with a clogged kitchen sink that also has a disposer installed. I've never had any problems and all of a sudden it just wouldn't drain. I turned on the disposer and if anything it made it worse.

I took the trap off under the sink and it looked fine. A gallon of water drained out (into a plastic trash can). I ended up buying an auger to put in the exposed pipe leading away from the drain...nothing.

I tried Draino. I went through 2 cans. It would take 5 hours to drain. Finally it didn't drain at all. I was ready to test to see if the problem was with the disposer (in which case I was going to call a plumber to just remove it and reconnect the existing pipes) or if it was a clog beyond where I couldn't reach with the auger.

This time when I removed the trap, after having Draino stuck in there for 24 hours, the trap had a bunch of crap in it. I cleaned everything up and the problem is solved.

I don't know much about disposal units. It seems like they should have a trap in the unit itself but that doesn't seem to be the case so I don't know where the crap gets stuck exactly.

I've had this disposal unit for 15 years and I've never had a problem at all.

Anyway, that seems to have fixed the problem. I'm going to use the disposal more lightly from now on but that's about it.

I've learned some things to try if other plumbing problems crop up so thanks for all the responses.

We have a similar problem that occurs with quite frequency. In our case the plumber left one drain line at too horizontal a plane, with an elbow not going down at 90 degrees, SOOO if we grind a bunch of stuff and DON"T let enough water drain afterwards, the crap settles in that horizontal pipe. PULLING on the plunger works best in our case.
Don't like putting draino in a disposal as it could fly back at you if you turn in on with stuff in the lines.

 

[gcbryan]

We have a similar problem that occurs with quite frequency. In our case the plumber left one drain line at too horizontal a plane, with an elbow not going down at 90 degrees, SOOO if we grind a bunch of stuff and DON"T let enough water drain afterwards, the crap settles in that horizontal pipe. PULLING on the plunger works best in our case.
Don't like putting draino in a disposal as it could fly back at you if you turn in on with stuff in the lines.

I didn't like doing it either and I liked it even less when it still didn't drain and I had to take the trap under the sink off!

However, nothing else worked including the plunger and even Draino by itself didn't let the water drain until I took the trap off (for the second time).

 

[was.lost.but.now.found]

Here's a list of don'ts I've learned the hard way over the years. Feel free to learn from my mistakes.

Don't fill the disposal before turning it on.

Don't try to grind up any amount of any variety of shellfish, shrimp, crawfish, etc.

Don't try to grind up potato peels.

Don't treat your disposal as if it's a hungry goat, just waiting to wolf down anything you throw at it.

Don't try to grind up any amount of raw chicken or pork bones (like from pork steaks).

 

[J-FRAME]

I live next door to a plumber. Problem solved.

 

[asdalton]

Don't treat your disposal as if it's a hungry goat, just waiting to wolf down anything you throw at it.

That reminds me of a headline from The Onion:

Cheap garbage disposal can't handle femur

:p

 

[Launch Mini]

Here's a list of don'ts I've learned the hard way over the years. Feel free to learn from my mistakes.

Don't fill the disposal before turning it on.

Don't try to grind up any amount of any variety of shellfish, shrimp, crawfish, etc.

Don't try to grind up potato peels.

Don't treat your disposal as if it's a hungry goat, just waiting to wolf down anything you throw at it.

Don't try to grind up any amount of raw chicken or pork bones (like from pork steaks).

Don't let your wife grind up all the old cereal, flower, nuts , baking supplies etc WITHOUT enough water to rinse it down. Do the math.:sick2:

 

[Radiophile]

A sink full of ice with just enough water to allow it to flow will usually clear up garbage disposal problems - as long as it turns.

I saw a segment on This Old House where they toured a factory that makes garbage disposals. The stuff they put through them during a test would make most people cringe. I was amazed at the quantity of 2" wood blocks they sent through with no problem. Basically you can put anything through them except metal. And if it clogs up, push through lots of ice.

 

[TorchBoy]

I've heard of using ice to get rid of smells, but hadn't heard it's good for unclogging as well.

 

[csa]

It sounds like some people just need to get better disposals! I was sad that I had to take mine out after the neighbor complained about the noise though...

 

[LuxLuthor]

The last "In-Sinkerator" disposal I had leaked water into the wiring coming in the bottom from rust damage over years, which was brought to my attention by a rudely awakening shock. I didn't have a drain blockage problem, but rather a undershorts changing issue. :o