Plumbing, how do I speed up a slow drain?

Question

I have tried harsh chemicals, snaking, and waiting for a plumber.
I am only putting water down the drain, although it may have hair in there.
Any other solutions?

Answer 1

There may be something plastic or metal stuck in the trap. Get a pail and a plumbers wrench. Take off the hexagonal plug at the bottom, the water in the trap will flow out and you can pull out what is blocking in from there or if it won't fit, push it back up to the sink using a special tool designed for this task called a coat hanger. .

If you have a trap without an emergency drain, sometime you have to take the trap off and either buy a new slightly bigger one or clean it out and re-install. It might be easier to pop for a plumber. Doing it your self can sometimes end up costing more in Phsychiatrist fees than hiring a plumber. It will take him approximately 10 minutes to do the whole thing because he has done it so many times before. They usually charge a minimum price, but you won't be charged more that the minimum.

It probably is hair, you can try the new double action that cleans the sides of the pipe of guck and dissolves what is in the trap. The bottles are divided in half down the middle into two seperate containers. But buy two bottles instead of one and pour both in at the same time. It should form a little pool at the top of the sink or tub and leave it for 24 hours. Think of this way. So much chemical can only dissolve so much hair. So once it us used up, the chemical action stops. Then as the chemical action stops, some more drain cleaner drops down to dissolve more.

There is an easy way to prevent it. Every week use another product Draino makes which is a special thick drain cleaner for stopped up drains, it is really hard core stuff and looks like jello when you pour it out, not a liquid. An couple of ounces in every drain every week prevents the problem and you don't have to pour in half bottle as the instructions say. I have three girls and this product has saved my sanity (Despite cries of what horrible things I am doing to the enviroment and baking soda and vinegar work just as well because it said so in the magazine where Angelina Jolie is breaking up with Brad Pitt).

I have three girls and this product has saved my sanity (well to tell the truth, there isn't any left to save, but you know what I mean).

Answer 2

If the chemicals have not worked, and you snaked more than just a short distance, and you have cleaned out the trap (the J-shaped section that has a plug you unscrew), the problem is with a tree or bush root that has grown into the pipe underground. If you wait a long time (days) and put water in the drain, use a measure and see how long it takes for water to back up to the surface of the drain. That will give you a good idea how far down the blockage is. If the blockage is under or outside of the house, it is most likely a root or broken pipe, and you will need a Rotorooter type of treatment or need to get a crew to dig the pipe up and fix it. It's your problem from the house to the street, after which you may need to have the city or town do the work (at your expense, unless the problem is in the town drainage system). You may be able to get the town to check the sewer pipe your house runs into, but if your neighbors (especially those "upstream" from you on the sewer line) are not having the same problem, chances are it's in your pipes.

Answer 3

Nothing works like a snake. You said you tried that - but the blockage must be further down the pipe. Push the snake down twisting so the end bites into the clog. When you feel it, pull back. You should see the huge mess of hair and what not.

Someties its hard to get past 90 degree elbows - just persevere - pushing and twisting. Sometimes I use tape mark awkward spots so I know I'm re-hitting a weird angle.

I assume you aleady checked the sink itself and the u-bend. Remove the parts and visually inspect if you have not.

Good luck. I was chasing a blockage for a few weeks, when I got a really long snake and got it, boy was I (and my wife) happy!

After the snake, I plunged for a while just to help clean the previously blocked area a little more.

Answer 4

If you have already tried using products such as draino and liquid plumber - without success, I would try fixing the problem yourself. Essentially, if it is a sink, all you really need to do is take apart the pea trap and clean it manually. In terms of tools - you will need - a plumbers wrench and some plumbing putty. Your first step is to loosen both compression screws at the top and end of the pea trap. Once loosened, slowly disconnect the trap and have a bucket ready for any water remaining in the trap. Inspect the pea trap for clogging material - remove - and clean with a pipe brush. Rub a little putty on the pipe threads and re-install. If you do not have any noticeable clogs within the pea trap - you should probably call a plumber to evaluate other potential causes.

Answer 5

I bring in the end of the garden hose and place it into the drain. I place a cloth around the gap to stop backflow, and then have someone turn on the water full speed. The high pressure almost always opens and cleans the drains. It's harmless to the drain, and I'm not putting harsh chemicals into the system.

Answer 6

It may be a simple clog then again it could be serious enough to have some drainage pipes replaced. There is a vent pipe coming out the top of the roof, usually about 3" dia. that could be clogged with leaves & debrie that'll slow down the draining process.
Roots from a local tree can invade drainage lines too... yes even plastic pipes.

Save some time and go ahead and call a reputable plumber.

Answer 7

I had this problem once with my bathtub drain. I tried everything I possibly knew. The product that finally worked for me was called Liquid Fire. You have to get it from a hardware store. And make sure you read the directions thoroughly before use. It is really potent stuff. It will actually make your plumbing bubble and smoke. So be extra careful. And good luck.

Answer 8

Try a pipe snake. You can get one from Home Depot or Lowes. They arent as expensive as a service call and you can buy them in different lenths. You could also try plunging the drain. And if the hair is reachable you may be able to get it out with a wire hanger.

Answer 9

try going to the super market and finding one of those Clogged Drain treatments. my advise is to buy a good brand and a liquid one! I have very unpleasant experiences with powders and the likes.

Just put on the liquid and let it work over night! You might need to repeat this step 2 or 3 times if the Drain was very bad.

good luck

Answer 10

It may have a set clog from corrosion or something. A plumber needs to snake it out, it sounds like you might have something stuck in the trap - this is the u - shaped pipe under your sink.
I wouldn't advise that you remove the trap yourself. If the pipe needs to be replaced or it won't seal properly when you put it back together you will have a mess.