Stubborn drain clog, help!
December 18, 2010 8:26 PM Subscribe
Got a clogged sink tried several methods with no luck - rather not call a plumber, any ideas?
So the SO dumped ~2 gallons of water pearls down the kitchen sink and it clogged. I've tried hot water, a drain auger/snake and a blow bag attached to a kitchen hose with no luck.
The problem is that the pearls turn into a thick gel when packed together and the auger just pushes through it. Also, it doesn't help when about 5 feet of pipe is clogged. The blow bag didn't have enough pressure to get through. Does anyone have any other ideas on how to clear this clog?
So the SO dumped ~2 gallons of water pearls down the kitchen sink and it clogged. I've tried hot water, a drain auger/snake and a blow bag attached to a kitchen hose with no luck.
The problem is that the pearls turn into a thick gel when packed together and the auger just pushes through it. Also, it doesn't help when about 5 feet of pipe is clogged. The blow bag didn't have enough pressure to get through. Does anyone have any other ideas on how to clear this clog?
Open up the trap or failing that the cleanout and manually remove them as much as possible.
posted by ssg at 8:40 PM on December 18, 2010
posted by ssg at 8:40 PM on December 18, 2010
maybe open up the trap and see if you can suck it out with a wet dri vac?
posted by any major dude at 8:51 PM on December 18, 2010
posted by any major dude at 8:51 PM on December 18, 2010
Best answer: Wikipedia says sodium chloride can liquefy it, so try dumping a bunch of salt in there?
posted by prenominal at 8:52 PM on December 18, 2010
posted by prenominal at 8:52 PM on December 18, 2010
Response by poster: Thanks for the suggestions.
Plunger was the first thing I tried. The trap has been removed and I've been working under the sink. The clog is at least 15 feet down the drain. (My auger is 25 foot) but isn't doing much but pushing through the gel.
posted by wongcorgi at 8:55 PM on December 18, 2010
Plunger was the first thing I tried. The trap has been removed and I've been working under the sink. The clog is at least 15 feet down the drain. (My auger is 25 foot) but isn't doing much but pushing through the gel.
posted by wongcorgi at 8:55 PM on December 18, 2010
Response by poster: Tried the wet dry vac, but mine is really weak and can't get a tight seal.
I will try dumping salt down, thanks!
posted by wongcorgi at 8:57 PM on December 18, 2010
I will try dumping salt down, thanks!
posted by wongcorgi at 8:57 PM on December 18, 2010
Get a cylinder of carbon dioxide with a hose that can handle it, seal that up to the pipe with duct tape or a wet rag or whatever, and blast it out.
posted by Slinga at 9:11 PM on December 18, 2010
posted by Slinga at 9:11 PM on December 18, 2010
Try Liquid Plumber before calling a professional (although salt first sounds like a good plan, if that research is correct).
posted by maryr at 9:19 PM on December 18, 2010
posted by maryr at 9:19 PM on December 18, 2010
1 cup of Borax and a pot of boiling water after it. Works a charm! If you don't have Borax, try liquid dishwashing detergent (like Dawn), then the boiling water.
posted by jenh at 9:31 PM on December 18, 2010
posted by jenh at 9:31 PM on December 18, 2010
Response by poster: Thanks so much, salt + hot water worked - I used to auger to agitate the clogged gel while pouring it down and it worked!
posted by wongcorgi at 10:01 PM on December 18, 2010 [1 favorite]
posted by wongcorgi at 10:01 PM on December 18, 2010 [1 favorite]
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by sanka at 8:39 PM on December 18, 2010