OT - best way to clear a bathroom sink

Re: OT - best way to clear a bathroom sink

Wiley Horne

You’ll be time, aggravation, and ultimately money ahead if you call the plumber and let him take the connection apart and snake from the wall, and put it back together for you, replacing all parts.

It’s the same job you’re up against. He’ll do it for $99 while you have a cup of coffee and get the checkbook.

Wiley….knowing this isn’t the desired answer

Re: OT - best way to clear a bathroom sink

Howard in Toronto

You're right - not my desired answer. But that's usually where I end up.

Thanks Wiley.

Re: OT - best way to clear a bathroom sink

Mark Nowicki

16 inches or 16 feet?

Re: OT - best way to clear a bathroom sink

Mark Mandell - Gone Round In New Jersey

https://www.gocomics.com/closetohome/2021/06/11

Re: OT - best way to clear a bathroom sink

kneale brownson

Because I used to have a dozen rentals, I became used to DIYing these kinds of things. If you feel comfortable about it, take the drain apart under the sink--not difficult, just cumbersome. Look up a schematic of typical sink drains. Put a pail below the trap. Remember lefty/loosey; righty/tighty on the coupling nuts. If you CAN, take it off from the wall/floor drain and the sink without separating the trap assembly and pour the trap contents into the bucket. If you think you'll have trouble remembering how it goes together, take pictures and use a marker. Use your auger inside the wall/floor drain while twisting without pushing hard, to avoid getting the plug farther away.

If this is too intimidating, CALL THE PLUMBER

Re: OT - best way to clear a bathroom sink

Howard in Toronto

16 inches

Re: OT - best way to clear a bathroom sink

Howard in Toronto

Thanks Kneale.

Yes - definitely intimidating.

I'll check the link in the above reply and then prob just move on.

Many thanks.

Re: OT - best way to clear a bathroom sink

Howard in Toronto

Yes

That looks like my results every so often.

Re: OT - best way to clear a bathroom sink

Howard in Toronto

Just checked the above link.

On to Plan B.

Re: OT - best way to clear a bathroom sink

Bill Howatt

While plumbing can be a PITA, this really shouldn't bee to difficult to do yourself assuming you don't have mobility issues affecting working under a sink and it is bound to happen again so it can be a skill worth learning.

Don't do what my friend did though. He drained the water from the trap into a bucket and then decided to get rid of the dirty water. He poured it into the sink to put it "down the drain". Unfortunately, it was the sink he was working on with the removed drain pipe and it all ran out onto the floor of the vanity and house.

Bill

plug the overflow hole and plunge the sink

David Weaver

...every year, my wife and daughter get the main bathroom sink clogged with hair and soap. The drain doesn't have enough room for a snake to go under the drain lid without taking the assembly apart.

A couple of years ago, I found out that what's in there isn't that solid, but it's solid enough to stop the drain and plunging it does the trick. I also learned that if you don't plug the overflow further up the sink, whatever you plunge (generally black hairy soap scummy stuff) will shoot out of the hole into the wall. Blech.

A thumb over the hole and one plunge has unclogged the drain every time since then without drama.

Re: OT - best way to clear a bathroom sink

John McGaw

If it only that far down you might, just in case, disassemble the trap to see what you can find. Takes only a few minutes and doesn't cost anything. (put a bucket under the trap before disassembly!)

Re: OT - best way to clear a bathroom sink

Yonak

I find this is the best way to deal with a blockage from the start.

Re: plug the overflow hole and plunge the sink

Mark Mandell - Gone Round In New Jersey

If it's 16" in, it's likely the plug is beyond the vent stack so a plunger won't work.

In the words of Borat

Howard in Toronto

Great success!

Nearly half a litre of Dawn. About six litres of boiled water. Four separate shots. My sink now drains.

It either cleared it all or it just pushed things further down. But the sink now works (until next time, that is)

Thanks, everybody.

YAYYYYYY!!!  Great work.

Re: In the words of Borat

Buck

Have I lost some of the pride I had in theses HANDYMEN!!! DIDN'T READ all the suggestions, did anybody suggest taking the

little ?trap? off & clean it out, would'aw been my first thing to do!!!! Oh well, WE live & learn!!!!!!!

NO, can't recall PROPER NAME FOR THAT little trap!!!!

Re: In the words of Borat

Mark Mandell - Gone Round In New Jersey

"P"

Re: In the words of Borat

Buck

Thank Ye Mark "P trap" @'s it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Re: In the words of Borat

Larry Clinton At Frankfort, (Central) Indiana

There are two traps used on sinks (Bathroom &/or Kitchen). One is the "P" trap which drains through the floor - other is the "S" trap which enters the Wall.

"P" vs. "S"

Yonak

Logic tells me it's the other way around. I must be missing something.

Re: "P" vs. "S"

Wiley Horne

You’re correct. Also, S-traps are non-code in new construction for many years:

https://homeandgardenmakeover.com/s-trap-vs-p-trap-whats-the-difference/

Wiley

Re: Your correct - my memory fault!

Larry Clinton At Frankfort, (Central) Indiana

Been a long time since I was a state licensed plumber (30 or so years), at that time many older homes had "S" traps.