If I encourage it with the plunger, it drains fast until the water is gone. When I turn on the tap again, the drain is slow again. When I disconnect the drain, the sink drains into a bucket fast. When I took out the trap plug, it drained fast. Put it back together and then it's slow once again.
Please don't say "Call a plumber"; I get that. I just wanted to know if anyone has had a funny slow drain like this before, where it will drain fast if it gets a sinlge pulse with a plunger then return to slowness.
2006-09-05 15:09:17 · 10 answers · asked by n0witrytobeamused 6 in Home & Garden ➔ Maintenance & Repairs
It's a bathroom sink with 1¼" drain line. It was no Niagara Falls before, but it takes almost a full minute to drain a gallon of water. I agree with the vent comments but I'm not sure what to do about that. I already put a shop vac down the drain to see what would happen (nuthin). Hard to believe it's a clog since one tap with the plunger makes a gurgel then the water flows fast. Thanks for yuor comments so [Except one ;o) ].
2006-09-05 15:26:02 · update #1
Well the plumber came by, gave the pipe a good cleaning with the snake, checked the vents and wound up putting my little set of pipes back in. He had never seen anything like it in 14 years, so the next step is to open up the wall or...just put up with it. He thinks there might not be enough slope in the pipe; but it drained before.
Thanks for your help!
2006-09-06 06:57:07 · update #2
Try loosening the faucet and move it slightly back or forward so the water flow hits in a slightly different place on the drain.
If you changed the sink and not the faucet, try a new aerator. The new ones have less flow.
It sounds like what's happening is the water from the faucet is falling dead center on the stopper causing an air bubble to form at the drain outlet.
2006-09-05 15:21:20 · answer #1 · answered by Dave 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I am not a plumber, so I will answer with a question instead of an answer.
How is the drain vented? A drain needs to be vented so that pressures are equalized in the pipe. If trapped air can not escape from below the water you are draining, it will oppose the flow. If a vacuum forms above the water, it will also oppose the flow.
Vents are a required by the plumbing code to prevent septic gasses from pushing back through the traps and entering living spaces.
2006-09-05 22:14:07 · answer #2 · answered by Carl M 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Probably a clog in the main line. Are all the drains in the house slow, or just this one? If just this one, probably something just behind the sink in the line, like an old q-tip, that is collecting debris and leading to a slow drain. If all drains in the house drain slow, probably something a little further down in the line. Try buying a drain snake, and stick it down the drain pipe, the one coming out of the wall, and snake that main pipe to remove debris.
2006-09-05 22:14:22 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
I had the same problem. When I opened the plug under the sink, it drained right out, but if I kept running the water for 5 min or so, it would back up to the plug. Try that and see what happens.
I fixed it by pouring lye crystals down the drain. Just follow directions, lye can be dangerous.
2006-09-05 22:19:38 · answer #4 · answered by normobrian 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
(I am a female and may not know much but--) Try pouring some boiling water down the drain--enought to warm the pipes. Then pour some bleach down. (use plenty of bleach) Let it set for an hour or so. Then try water. This may not work but it wont cost you a lot. I use bleach quite often to keep my drains clean. Also, do you have trees nearby. The roots can damage your drains. Sorry if this doesn.t work and Good Luck.
2006-09-05 22:25:03 · answer #5 · answered by old_woman_84 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Maybe you should run a plumbing snake into the pipe a little deeper it sound like the clog is further than just in the P trap. Try some Drano.
2006-09-05 22:12:27 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
my question is what is a trap plug? is this in your kitchen with a garbage disposal or in a bathroom. the line should not have an obstruction once it leaves the plug in the sink. the trap is just a S curve in the pipe to keep gases from entering the house from the sewer. hope that helps
2006-09-05 22:12:16 · answer #7 · answered by gsschulte 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
that's weird sounds like there is no air intake for the water to drain properly, it seems not to be breathing right!!
2006-09-05 22:11:31 · answer #8 · answered by Alucard 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Was it draining b4???
2006-09-05 22:17:37 · answer #9 · answered by koorvetteken 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Liquid Draino. Just do it dam it!!!
2006-09-06 10:31:04 · answer #10 · answered by Danny Z 2 · 0⤊ 3⤋