Sink Nightmare !!! HELP !!!!?

Question

I just moved into a beautiful home one month ago, thinking it was so perfect in everyway. But yesterday night i was finishing up dishes and the retractable hose detached from the fauset head. I managed to get the spring, plastic and ribber bits before they went down the disposal. But to top it off, the next morning when I finnished putting 2 egg shells, and one orange peel. Then around lunch I put down some tiny left over bits of tomato and celery(never had prob w/ it before) after making tuna sandwiches, I noticed the drain was working a little slower in the side sink without the disposal. I didn't think too much of it till this morning when i wanted to wash off a small fry pan. The water in both sinks started to rise. I quickly turned off the water and checked the disposal. everything fine. Ran some water and turned it on, it looked like it was going down, but then i realised it was just filling the other sink! I have put the drano gel maximum strength down...nothing...

I have tried again...and still nothing...the water is barely going down at all and its been 3 hrs!!! HELP!!! My husband blames me and says he guesses i won't have a sink!!! Because he sais i shouldn't ever put orange peels down the disposal!!!and he wont pay for my mistake!!!I thought orange peels were good for disposals?!?! Please help me, i am quite a deasperate house wife, in the literal way!!!

I took out the pipes and cleaned them with one of those bristled brush things to clean glasses with. there was a little grime, but not enough to clog the pipes. apon further inspection, i saw some gunk in the plumbing part in the wall...so i started to clean that with the brush and ugh!!! my landlord, who lived in this house before me, must have put down a bunch of grease...i can't believe it. How can i call her and say"Oh, YOU put a bunch of grease down the pipes and now my sink isn't working, oh and the sink hose and topper fell apart at the exact same time!!!!"

So can you fix it now...it looks like I broke the hose and poured grease down the pipes all day for the whole month i have lived here!!! I'll look like some slob!!! i've put the drano max gel down just the sink side, never the disposal side since the sink side conected right near the wall, where the clog is located. My disposal is fine, nothing wrong with it.

Answer 1

get a pan and loosen the p-trap, remove the junk and put it back, all fixed, YIM for more help

Answer 2

From your usages, such as "bits", I gather you are in the UK. My references to measurements and materials may therefore not be exactly consistent with your situation.

Sounds as if you have two issues:

1. If your "retractable hose detached from the fauset head" the parts were not installed correctly in the first place. Call the contractor and ask that a service person come and complete the job.

2. Celery, being stringy, is probably the culprit in the sink stoppage. Check your disposal owner's manual for information on foods that might clog the drain. Open the doors to your sink base. You will see a 1 1/2" plastic drain pipe coming out of the disposal, and the same kind of pipe coming from the other sink. At some point those two pipes are attached to a fitting from which a single drain pipe of the same type emerges. In order to prevent drain water from one sink going into the other sink, the fitting into which the two pipes connect has a septum which narrows the space through which the drainage flows. This is the point at which you will find the celery. All the pipes attach to fittings with "slip nuts." Slip nuts are designed to be easily removed by hand or with the assistance of adjustible pliers. Clear everything from the sink base. Place a large pan or bowl under the drain pipes to catch the water, etc., when you disassemble the pipes. Loosen the slip nuts and separate the disposal and sink drain pipes from the fitting, remembering how the plastic washers fit in the joints. Clean out the fitting and reassemble the pipes.

Your husband is probably not the jerk he is acting, he is simply intimidated by the idea of tackling the problem. He will probably pout when he realizes that you can handle a situation of which he is ignorant. Give him a lollypop and his favorite blankey and he'll be okay in a week.

Answer 3

sounds like the drain was in bad shape BEFORE you move in. orange peel is ok but celery is a big no no --stringy--- and grease is another BIG NO NO. put any amount of grease in a soup can and put it in the garbage. Have a plumber come out and snake the drain there should be a cleanout under the sink or if the sink is on an outside wall it should be outside. the plumber can clean it from there. The people that lived there more than likely put grease and anything else down the drain. when you get it cleaned---------- after you run the disposal turn it off but let the hot water run for a little bit to help wash stuff down the drain farther, this will fix your problem---------------good luck

Answer 4

You just have a clog in the drain line. You will probably need to get a bucket and take the p trap off the sink and rod th drain line with a plumbers snake.
In the future, you need to be sure you use plenty of water when you turn on the disposal, both before and after disposal use. This will help allow the grinded material to flush out of the pipes.

Answer 5

Disposal 101 1) NO egg shells, they wont dissolve. 2) Orange or lemon peel in very small pieces, they help keep orders away. 3) NEVER use Draino in a disposal, it will rust the inners. Did you buy a warranty with the house? If so call them! Remember, it's a garbage disposal, not garbage can. Made to grind up small particals left on dishes so everything goes to the sewer. Don't pour grease down the drain either, it will build up in your pipes over time and trap food or paper, causing back-up. If on city water, you may need to snake the sewer line. If you have septic tank, use a box of Ridx now, then 1/2 box every month. Good Luck :)

Answer 6

you put all that stuff down the drain and expect it to work ? egads... if your husband cant unclog the pipiing then call a plumber...a disposal is not supposed to be a dump for all your garbage

Answer 7

Orange peels should have went down ok, tell your husband he needs to get off his butt and check it out, thats the american way