Front Page Forum: Feeling a Little Backed Up
Our kitchen sink has gotten clogged over the last couple of days and a double dose of Drano didn’t do the trick so we’re casting about for other DIY options. Any suggestions?
Our kitchen sink has gotten clogged over the last couple of days and a double dose of Drano didn’t do the trick so we’re casting about for other DIY options. Any suggestions?
Snakes and drano hurt your pipes. I suggest going to the hardware store and buying an air gun. You put it over the drain, pump it up like a bee bee gun and then it shoots pressurized air down the drain. Very fast and effective. It’s what plumbers use now instead of snakes. It’s not a cheap item, but then you’ll never need to buy all this other stuff again.
Treehugger.com had a tip about pouring baking soda and vinegar into the drain then plugging it with a cloth for several minutes. Follow with hot water.
I was also told that pouring bleach down the drain and then running the hot water immediately afterwards for a couple of minutes helps (same effect as drano).
Try using a wet/dry shop vac.
Actually, a plumber from Aladdin once told me that the only drain cleaner I should use is Liquid Plumber – according to him, that’s the only one that won’t hurt the pipes.
plunger usually does the trick for me. what’s this about garbage disposals? why were they illegal here?
I had a bad clog that was the result of a build up of cooking grease that had been poured down the drain over the years. If all of the above doesn’t quite do it. Boil a large pot of water and pour it into the sink with a bit of liquid dish detergent (to cut the grease). That combined with plunging and unsrewing the trap, should do it.
after you get it fixed, consider having a plumber install a gargage disposal .. they are now legal in NYC.
Try plunger idea above first.
If that doesn’t work, pick up a $25.00 hand snake (probably no need to get a more expensive electronic one)and open the trap underneath the sink and snake away.
I also suggest buying a 99 cent wire mesh strainer and using it in the future so solid food doesn’t enter the drain line.
I always give them to me tenants after something like this happens and as long as they use the strainer it doesn’t happen again.