Bathroom sink won't drain, not clogged

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Keyrock

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I've been wrestling with this for a week. All new PVC and it doesn't leak, however it won't drain promptly. My theory is there's not enough downward slope on the tail piece, was wondering what folks thought.

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Terry

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Sometimes the leak is the vertical between the trap the sink. I remove the trap, and wad a paper towel, that gets pushed down the drain into a waiting pan. Then I reassemble.

pushing-paper-down-drain-01.jpg


hair-in-drain.jpg


hair-in-drain-3.jpg
 
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Tuttles Revenge

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Even if that horizontal drain is the absolute worst tube for a horizontal drain... and even if it were slightly backgraded, it should still drain.

Is this a new installation or just a rehab using the worst p-trap that money could buy?

Get rid of the corrugated flexible tubing.. its not legal, its going to cause problems and there is NO reason at all to use it.

Very likely as Terry pointed out, the trap is backgraded and preventing the trap from venting properly.

Did I mention that corrugated p-trap tubing needs to be replaced with a smooth walled p-trap?
 

Reach4

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Does the sink have an overflow? You may have used a drain designed for a sink with no overflow. Overflows have another function in that they pass air to below the stopper.

I suggest putting a soda straw down past the stopper, an see if air via the straw makes the sink drain nicely.
 

Keyrock

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Even if that horizontal drain is the absolute worst tube for a horizontal drain... and even if it were slightly backgraded, it should still drain.

Is this a new installation or just a rehab using the worst p-trap that money could buy?

Get rid of the corrugated flexible tubing.. its not legal, its going to cause problems and there is NO reason at all to use it.

Very likely as Terry pointed out, the trap is backgraded and preventing the trap from venting properly.

Did I mention that corrugated p-trap tubing needs to be replaced with a smooth walled p-trap?
New install using the worst p-trap that money could buy. Yes I bit on the $15 Amazon "kit."

When you say backgraded do you mean the trap is oriented in the wrong direction?
 

Keyrock

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Does the sink have an overflow? You may have used a drain designed for a sink with no overflow. Overflows have another function in that they pass air to below the stopper.

I suggest putting a soda straw down past the stopper, an see if air via the straw makes the sink drain nicely.
No overflow on this sink
 

Reach4

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Tuttles Revenge

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I wonder if they make an AAV for overflows!? Hah.. I think I invented something.

Even if its a quirk with the no overflow sink, you'll want to remove the corrugated trap. And ensure that it is graded/pitched towards the wall
 

Tuttles Revenge

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To fix this, the system would need to release air, not admit air.
OK.. An air Emmittance valve..

SO.. I took a square of TP and got it wet. Pasted that over the Overflow and filled the sink. Rather than sucking in the TP, it pushed it out creating a bubble.

We should have a Mythbusters thread!
 

Keyrock

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Sometimes the leak is the vertical between the trap the sink. I remove the trap, and wad a paper towel, that gets pushed down the drain into a waiting pan. Then I reassemble.

pushing-paper-down-drain-01.jpg


hair-in-drain.jpg


hair-in-drain-3.jpg
I tried this and some gunk did fall out, but it still won't drain
 
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