My bathtub abd bathroom sink were slow draining. The plumber came and turned on both faucets then declared?

Question

.. that the toilet was OK as he did not see any bubble.

Could somebody knowledgeable explain the logic behind his method?

Thank you very much!

Answer 1

Sounds like he was checking your main waste drain for clogging. This test he perfromed would tell him of air entrapment. As the water runs down the drain, the air supposedly would bubble up from the toilet!

This is only a preliminary test , at best! Slow running drains could be as simple as a clog or restriction in the waste drain from the sink and bath tub. The toilet waste drain could be perfectly clear, since it has more solid wastes to help "scrub' any potential blockages.

I need more information, here!

I'm glad your toilet is OK, but that isn't your original problem, is it?? Is he coming back with a drain auger? Is he going to use the cleanouts to snake the drains? What is his next step?

What did he tell you he was going to do next???

Answer 2

Bubbles in drains are usually caused by a clogged ventline. drains need air to work properly. The air is supplied from the vent pipe. This is all he checked. He still needs to auger out the drainlines.

Answer 3

I think he wanted to see if the back up was in your main line or if you just need to clean out the traps/drain lines from the sink. You should do that periodically anyway with baking soda and vinegar to keep them running clear