[chuckinca]

What causes water to sometimes not drain normally in the kitchen sink and can be cleared up with the activation of the garbage disposal?


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[784caroline]

True!

[aljetmet]

Look under the sink and see how the plumbing is configured. Will probably answer your question...

My wife once put cooked pasta through the disposal. Had to disconnect all the plumbing under the sink to the wall. I cleared the pipes and problem solved. Then we were able to go out and celebrate New Years Eve....

[batman911]

The garbage disposal and the sink drain usually share a single drain pipe (disposal connects to the sink drain pipe). The drain pipe can become blocked if you do not run a sufficient amount of water through the disposal during and after operation.

Most people shut the water off at the same time as as the disposer.If you don't want problems try to get in the habit of leaving the water on a little longer.Also once in a while fill both sides of the sink and let them drain at the same time.This will flush out any residual food clinging to the sides of the pipes.

[islandgal]

Awesome - what did we (me anyway) do before TOTV?
I luv it!

Originally Posted by Bosoxfan

Most people shut the water off at the same time as as the disposer.If you don't want problems try to get in the habit of leaving the water on a little longer.Also once in a while fill both sides of the sink and let them drain at the same time.This will flush out any residual food clinging to the sides of the pipes.

[debzaranti]

A little off topic...but sorta related. Anybody out there in a ranch home having issues with leaking (dripping) faucets? Particularly in the bathroom sinks?? Is there an easy (easy as in something a marginally "handy" woman could handle) way to stop this dripping, short of calling in a plumber?

[Virtual Geezer]

Another tip is to pour a large pot of boiling water into each side every month or so to loosen up any grease that may have accumulated in the pipes.

[chuckinca]

So it sounds like the cause is built up chopped food garbage in the drain.

It happens every so often, why doesn't it back up the line every time you use it?

Guess this is a common issue and just not in my drain lines. I know it has happened in the last three or four kitchens we have owned.


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Originally Posted by chuckinca

So it sounds like the cause is built up chopped food garbage in the drain.

It happens every so often, why doesn't it back up the line every time you use it?



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I'm guessing because there are times where you use more water .If you don't use enough water then the next time you use it there's food sitting in the disposer .

[mrfixit]

Originally Posted by chuckinca

WHAT CAUSES water to sometimes NOT DRAIN normally in the kitchen sink and can be cleared up with the activation of the garbage disposal?
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.................DAMIFINO..............BUT........ ......according to the "Cheapskates Guide to Happy Plumbing"...( and I am THE Cheapskate who wrote this IMAGINARY Guide ).......................Simply pour 2 ounces of DAWN Detergent down the drain FOLLOWED by about a Gallon of Hotish Water to break up the grease............THEN....pour about 12 ounces of white Vinegar ( 3 Bucks a Gallon) down the drain......THEN...... put about a half a Box of Baking Soda (75 cents a box for Arm & Hammer brand) down the drain......THEN..... ADD about 20 ounces of white vinegar again (on top of the Baking SODA )......WAIT about 2 minutes for the bubblies to stop......THEN....wash it all away with a gallon or so of hotish water.... Worked for me for many years..... NOTE....ALL measures of the products used are Scientific Wild A$$ Guesses. Accuracy is not important.

Originally Posted by mrfixit

.................DAMIFINO..............BUT........ ......according to the "Cheapskates Guide to Happy Plumbing"...( and I am THE Cheapskate who wrote this IMAGINARY Guide ).......................Simply pour 2 ounces of DAWN Detergent down the drain FOLLOWED by about a Gallon of Hotish Water to break up the grease............THEN....pour about 12 ounces of white Vinegar ( 3 Bucks a Gallon) down the drain......THEN...... put about a half a Box of Baking Soda (75 cents a box for Arm & Hammer brand) down the drain......THEN..... ADD about 20 ounces of white vinegar again (on top of the Baking SODA )......WAIT about 2 minutes for the bubblies to stop......THEN....wash it all away with a gallon or so of hotish water.... Worked for me for many years..... NOTE....ALL measures of the products used are Scientific Wild A$$ Guesses. Accuracy is not important.

Once you do all that make sure you run lots of water through the pipes to keep it from happening again!

[chuckinca]

Thanks for the info - are you sure this isn't a recipe for a pipe bomb?


Dawn sure is a miracle product! I've seen many household tips that say to use Dawn.


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[Bogie Shooter]

Originally Posted by debzaranti

A little off topic...but sorta related. Anybody out there in a ranch home having issues with leaking (dripping) faucets? Particularly in the bathroom sinks?? Is there an easy (easy as in something a marginally "handy" woman could handle) way to stop this dripping, short of calling in a plumber?

Here is a 3 minute video that shows you how to replace a worn washer. Enjoy.
[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aGAUkiGfOq4[/ame]

Originally Posted by mrfixit

.................DAMIFINO..............BUT........ ......according to the "Cheapskates Guide to Happy Plumbing"...( and I am THE Cheapskate who wrote this IMAGINARY Guide ).......................Simply pour 2 ounces of DAWN Detergent down the drain FOLLOWED by about a Gallon of Hotish Water to break up the grease............THEN....pour about 12 ounces of white Vinegar ( 3 Bucks a Gallon) down the drain......THEN...... put about a half a Box of Baking Soda (75 cents a box for Arm & Hammer brand) down the drain......THEN..... ADD about 20 ounces of white vinegar again (on top of the Baking SODA )......WAIT about 2 minutes for the bubblies to stop......THEN....wash it all away with a gallon or so of hotish water.... Worked for me for many years..... NOTE....ALL measures of the products used are Scientific Wild A$$ Guesses. Accuracy is not important.

Once you do all that make sure you run lots of water through the pipes to keep it from happening again!I was a plumber for many years & I used to recommend people have their disposer taken out & use a trash bag.You see most people are unaware of how to use the disposer.First off you should never peel vegetables into a disposer .The peels cling to the insisdes of the pipes.Most folks turn the water of at the same time as the disposer.You should always run the water longer to rinse out the pipes.Also as I stated earlier you shoul fill your sink (both sides) & let them drain at the same time once a month to thoroughly clean the pipes.If you don't do these things you will have problems & before you know it you'll be calling Roto Rooter Man!