Slow draining kitchen sink

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Chewy55

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Our kitchen sink has just started clogging up. If I use just a little water it drains fine but if the water is running too much it will start to fill up. The water will run on one side and fill up and the other side will start to fill also with about an equal amount. It will drain but very slowly.

Also, we don’t have a garbage disposal but there is a dishwasher just to the left of the sink.

Tried using the plunger, vinegar and baking soda with hot water, Draino, etc. No luck. I did see something about possible air in the pipes but I have no idea about that.

We had the entire line cleaned out about two years ago, that was after being in the house for 20 years. I don’t know anything about anything so I was just wondering if anyone had any ideas and if it’s something a person that knows very little about plumbing can handle so I don’t have to bother someone to come out at this crazy time.

Thanks for any suggestions.
 

James Henry

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You probably have a partial clog. Get some Bio clean that Terry recommends, I've never tried it but it sounds unbelievably good.
 

Chewy55

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You probably have a partial clog. Get some Bio clean that Terry recommends, I've never tried it but it sounds unbelievably good.

It's worth a try. I checked my local stores and they don't have it but I found it online and ordered it. Should get it in a couple days. Thanks!
 

Reach4

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We had the entire line cleaned out about two years ago, that was after being in the house for 20 years. I don’t know anything about anything so I was just wondering if anyone had any ideas and if it’s something a person that knows very little about plumbing can handle so I don’t have to bother someone to come out at this crazy time.
Do you have a basement? If so, can you see the pipe coming down from the kitchen into the floor? If you have a basement, the clog often happens where the pipe transitions from vertical to horizontal in the basement floor.

Many plumbers and drain cleaning specialist will come out. Don't be sick. Tell them that. Give them lots of space. Pay in the form they prefer -- cash, credit card over the phone, whatever. When you call, be prepared to leave a message. An independent plumber is unlikely to have an office staff to answer the phone all of the time.
 

Chewy55

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Do you have a basement? If so, can you see the pipe coming down from the kitchen into the floor? If you have a basement, the clog often happens where the pipe transitions from vertical to horizontal in the basement floor.

Many plumbers and drain cleaning specialist will come out. Don't be sick. Tell them that. Give them lots of space. Pay in the form they prefer -- cash, credit card over the phone, whatever. When you call, be prepared to leave a message. An independent plumber is unlikely to have an office staff to answer the phone all of the time.

We do have a basement. When we had it cleaned out a couple of years ago the plumber went down there and took care of that. It was 20 years before things started clogging up so I don't know if it would be clogged up like that again after just two years especially since that first clearing two years ago we've been much more careful about getting food and grease down the drain.
 

Reach4

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On my previous house that clog happened. I cut a segment of the vertical drain pipe, in the basement, that allowed me to feed a medium Brasscraft Drain bladder down. My cut was above the laundry sink, so I could reach the cut fairly easily. After clearing the line, I used two flex couplers to restore the cut-out segment of pipe. A regular snake should have worked too.

Shielded couplers would be the preferred way today, but I did not even know about shielded couplers then.

My pipe was copper, so it would be easier to cut than galvanized. I used a hacksaw, but I might use a cutoff wheel on an angle grinder for galvanized.
 

Chewy55

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That's a little over my head, I may have to call someone. But I'll try the Bio Clean first.

I just ran the dishwasher for the first time since this started and water backed up into the sink. How are these connected?
 

Reach4

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I just ran the dishwasher for the first time since this started and water backed up into the sink. How are these connected?
Usually under the sink. Take a look for a flex hose coming from the general direction of the dishwasher.
 

Reach4

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I understand that but I was just wondering why the water backs up when the dishwasher runs.
The dishwasher pumps water down the drain. The drain line has a restriction, probably where the pipe turns from vertical to horizontal in the floor. That restriction prevents water from passing fast enough, and the water backs up. Your sink is connected to that backed up drain line via the trap, so you get water in the sink.
 
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