How To Unclog A Sink?

[SurrealObsession]

All of the information I am getting on the net seems to be contradictory: use a drain cleaner, don't use a drain cleaner, plunge it, don't plunge it, reset the little button on the garbage disposal, don't reset the little button on the garbage disposal, ect.

So, hopefully some more experienced and handy Lit member can help me out here, as I don't like calling my apartment complex's maintenance for anything I could conceivably do myself. Yes, it is embarrassing not knowing how to do this kind of thing.

Some quick info:

It is a double sided sink, one with a garbage disposal, the other with a slotted drain. The disposal is working fine. But dirty water keeps surging up on both sides.

 

[SurrealObsession]

I did try that last time and no difference. It is still doing the flood back with the water.

 

[angelbabe8907]

My sink doesn't have a disposal but is double sided. Plug one side and plunge the hell outta the other side. Good luck!

 

[Cookie123]

My sink doesn't have a disposal but is double sided. Plug one side and plunge the hell outta the other side. Good luck!

This works with disposal sinks, as well. Just PLEASE do NOT use the same plunger that you use in the bathroom! ICK!!!

 

[rosco rathbone]

Go to youtube and put "how to unclog a sink" in the search box. Tutorial videos will come up.

 

[knot_sweet]

Put draino or similar down both sinks.

Let it sit for an hour or so.

Plug one side.

Plunge the other.

If that fails, turn the water off to your place, take the pipe out from under the sink and use a coathanger to fish around the remaining bottom of the pipe to try and dislodge whatever is blocking it.

DO NOT use an air compressor or a high pressure cleaner down the pipe. Had a friend try those once. BAD JUJU.

 

[fgarvb1]

Put draino or similar down both sinks.

Let it sit for an hour or so.

Plug one side.

Plunge the other.

If that fails, turn the water off to your place, take the pipe out from under the sink and use a coathanger to fish around the remaining bottom of the pipe to try and dislodge whatever is blocking it.

DO NOT use an air compressor or a high pressure cleaner down the pipe. Had a friend try those once. BAD JUJU.

LOL!

First are you on a municipal system or a standard septic system or one of those new spray water all over the place systems.

 

[SurrealObsession]

LOL!

First are you on a municipal system or a closed septic system or one of those new spray water all over the place systems.

It is a it's-an-apartment-complex-and-I-know-nothing-about-the specs-of-the-place system.

 

[fgarvb1]

It is a it's-an-apartment-complex-and-I-know-nothing-about-the specs-of-the-place system.

Are you sure you are not taking on a problem that belongs to the manager or maintenance?

It might not be just your drain only.

Other than that something with lye crystals should do it.

http://www.lowes.com/Search=drain+c...wSearch=true&Ntt=drain+cleaners+and+chemicals

 

[mike2010fc]

.....

 

[SurrealObsession]

Are you sure you are not taking on a problem that belongs to the manager or maintenance?

It might not be just your drain only.

Other than that something with lye crystals should do it.

http://www.lowes.com/Search=drain+c...wSearch=true&Ntt=drain+cleaners+and+chemicals

If the basic fixes offered through PM and here don't work, I will be calling them. They are just incredibly busy through the winter season (big complex, understaffed, ect), so I try not to call unless I am sure I can't take care of it.

Thanks for the help, everyone!

 

[njlauren]

If the basic fixes offered through PM and here don't work, I will be calling them. They are just incredibly busy through the winter season (big complex, understaffed, ect), so I try not to call unless I am sure I can't take care of it.

Thanks for the help, everyone!

The best way would prob be to open up the trap on the sink and snake out the drain, but that may be beyond your skills (I obviously don't know you). On modern sinks there is a U joint that is usually PVC and can be taken off by unscrewing the collars that are on both ends of the U. The U itself may be clogged, or the pipe into the wall, and with a snake can be cleared out.

I agree with others, I would try a pluger and see what that does. If you have tried drano and such, be careful, when you plunge it could cause water with the drano to splash back up out of the drain.....

Sometimes hot vinegar solution can work, but you have to be careful, if you used drano it could react badly with that (drano is a base, vinegar a weak acid)

 

[monkeyman057]

These two items have both worked quite well for me and circumvent the need for chemicals that might eat the skin off of your hands:

http://www.homedepot.com/Plumbing-D...splay?catalogId=10053&langId=-1&storeId=10051

http://www.amazon.com/Cobra-Products-400-Zip-It-Cleaning/dp/B000BO9204

The first item I linked there removed a really stubborn clog that I had in my side-by-side w/ disposal. Good Luck.

 

[ayrton]

In general chemicals are a bad idea. The best idea is taking the trap apart like was mentioned before. If you end up calling maintenance, please warn them if you used any chemicals. They could end up with some nasty acid burns.

 

[mike2010fc]

.....

 

[NippleMuncher]

Being a former pro, if the basic chemical or plunger doesn't do the trick, call building maintenance, the clog will likely be way more than you are equipped to handle. I have met very few sink clogs, especially in a kitchen that could be cured with basic efforts, and you don't want to open any plumbing unless you know what you're doing,

The clog may not even be in your lines, it could be in the main trunk from which a neighbor has put something down the drain that shouldn't have been, onion peels are a prime example. Let maintenance remove the traps to check for clogs, then snake the system to clear the lines, it's the only way to truly and completely fix the problem.

As suggested, inform the maintenance worker of any chemicals you've put down the drain, as well as the types of materials you've been running through the disposal.

 

[Que]

I used to do some property management for usually out of state owners. These were hit and miss not part of our core business so the 10% of the gross receipts wasn't worth it financially for the trouble with a few scattered properties.

But for the war stories these places were epic.

One disposal on a rental out by the (then active) airbase was found to be clogged with the remnants of many beer-cans having passed through the disposal.

 

[remy_lebeau8]

Try a pot full of boiling water. It will disolve hair and soap scum and such. I do this every other month on my bathroom sink and tub. I'd assume the water would breakdown grease and food as well but im no plumber.

 

[ToysAreUs]

There's lots of good advice above but since you are renting, I think the management should clear their drain for you.

OTOH, I found a caustic soda (lye) drain cleaner that works better than Drano. It's called RamRod and its available at stores that cater to Businesses, such as Cash and Carry. Use safety glasses.