Any real household plumbers here?
 

Thanks for all the advice, guys! However, there are times when it's
smarter to retreat from the field of battle and call in a pro before I
create an even worse problem--like maybe ending up with BOTH master bath
sinks clogged?--by stumbling around with wrenches, snakes and shop vacs
(if only more boat owners would do that!)...and I've decided this is one
of those times. I'm gonna bite the bullet and call a plumber.

At least he won't have to charge extra to fix anything I messed up by
trying to do it myself...hopefully he won't charge extra to let me watch.

--
Peggie
----------
Peggie Hall
Specializing in marine sanitation since 1987
Author "Get Rid of Boat Odors - A Guide To Marine Sanitation Systems and
Other Sources of Aggravation and Odor"
http://www.seaworthy.com/store/custo...0&cat=6&page=1
http://shop.sailboatowners.com/detai...=400&group=327

Any real household plumbers here?
 

Peggie
try filling the sink 1.2 full with water and then using a plunger to
clear the drain. Fill the head of the plunger with water and then just push
and pull the plunger and see if you can get the "mass" moving.



"HotRod" wrote in message
...
I tried the "suck" method several times and never got any results, I have
used the shop vac on a 3" ABS pipe that was clogged 30' away and it worked
like a charm, I've also used it on a kitchen sink but you need to close and
cover all other drains with a towel in case the block goes that direction.
Heck I used compressed air to unclog my Dad's drain to the road about 100'
away, we tried with a snake without any results and then got a small amount
of water moving with the compressed air. Once the water was moving we
poured drain cleaner down the pipe that worked it's way to the clog. Any
chance your drain cleaner is not getting to the clog?




"Peggie Hall" wrote in message
t...
HotRod wrote:

I've had great success pressurising the pipes with the "blow" side of a
shop vac. Be very careful where the pressure lets loose though.

Interesting you should suggest that. I don't have a shop vac...but it
occured to me that a solution of vinegar and baking soda down the drain
might blow whatever is blocking it loose if I also plug the sink. It
produces enough effervescence to blow out a hose connection on a boat if
you're not careful. I don't THINK there's any danger of that happening in
the house, but I'm not sure what else might! :)

--
Peggie
----------
Peggie Hall
Specializing in marine sanitation since 1987
Author "Get Rid of Boat Odors - A Guide To Marine Sanitation Systems and
Other Sources of Aggravation and Odor"
http://www.seaworthy.com/store/custo...0&cat=6&page=1
http://shop.sailboatowners.com/detai...=400&group=327

Any real household plumbers here?
 

HotRod wrote:

Peggie
try filling the sink 1.2 full with water and then using a plunger to
clear the drain. Fill the head of the plunger with water and then just push
and pull the plunger and see if you can get the "mass" moving.

Hokay...I can't get into TOO much trouble doing that, and it just MIGHT
save me the cost of a plumber. I'll let you know if it works.

--
Peggie
----------
Peggie Hall
Specializing in marine sanitation since 1987
Author "Get Rid of Boat Odors - A Guide To Marine Sanitation Systems and
Other Sources of Aggravation and Odor"
http://www.seaworthy.com/store/custo...0&cat=6&page=1
http://shop.sailboatowners.com/detai...=400&group=327

Any real household plumbers here?
 

Peggie Hall ) writes:
HotRod wrote:

Peggie
try filling the sink 1.2 full with water and then using a plunger to
clear the drain. Fill the head of the plunger with water and then just push
and pull the plunger and see if you can get the "mass" moving.

Hokay...I can't get into TOO much trouble doing that, and it just MIGHT
save me the cost of a plumber. I'll let you know if it works.

I've seen plungers for $1 guess where, at the Dollar Store. :)
If if does no good, it'll do no harm.


--
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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homepage: www.ncf.ca/~ag384/top.htm
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Any real household plumbers here?
 

HotRod wrote:

try filling the sink 1.2 full with water and then using a plunger to
clear the drain. Fill the head of the plunger with water and then just push
and pull the plunger and see if you can get the "mass" moving.

WOOOOOOOOOHOOOO!!! IT WORKED!!! :)

I don't have a sink plunger...had tried the toilet plunger once before,
but couldn't get enough of a seal. But your suggestion to fill the sink
half full solved that problem. Whatever is in there didn't want to
budge, though...I wailed on it half a dozen times, no joy...filled the
sink and tried again...and all of a sudden I could hear water GUSHING
through the pipe. That sink is now draining better than it ever has! :)

Thank you for a GREAT suggestion! It was putting water in the sink that
made it work.

I wonder what the heck is in there...and whether it's likely to get
stuck somewhere else downstream now... Oh well...as Scarlett O'Hara
always said, I'll think about that tomorrow. :)

You made my day, hotrod! :)

--
Peggie
----------
Peggie Hall
Specializing in marine sanitation since 1987
Author "Get Rid of Boat Odors - A Guide To Marine Sanitation Systems and
Other Sources of Aggravation and Odor"
http://www.seaworthy.com/store/custo...0&cat=6&page=1
http://shop.sailboatowners.com/detai...=400&group=327

Any real household plumbers here?
 

On Tue, 18 Oct 2005 23:00:04 GMT, Peggie Hall
wrote:

HotRod wrote:

Peggie
try filling the sink 1.2 full with water and then using a plunger to
clear the drain. Fill the head of the plunger with water and then just push
and pull the plunger and see if you can get the "mass" moving.

Hokay...I can't get into TOO much trouble doing that, and it just MIGHT
save me the cost of a plumber. I'll let you know if it works.


Hmmm...this is a little late in the day: the plunger is the FIRST
resource with the sink pretty full and the overflow drain stoppered.
Not just the rubber half cup, but the double cup version can be very
effective. And a shot of really hot water.

Brian

Any real household plumbers here?
 

On Mon, 17 Oct 2005 03:41:29 GMT, Peggie Hall
wrote:


What could possibly plug up a bathroom sink drain that even 3 doses of
straight sulphuric acid can't dissolve??? And if sulphuric acid won't
dissolve it, what will, that won't also destroy the pipe (PVC, btw)???

Nothing has fallen into it...it's been gradually getting a little slower
for a while. It's not quite plugged completely...but drains so slowly
that the sink is all but unuseable. Fortunately my master bath has a
double vanity with two sinks...the other one drains just fine, or I'd be
up a creek.

The problem is further compounded by the fact that the p-traps have to
be the only ones on the planet that do not have threaded connections to
the pipes...there's no way to get the trap off without breaking a
cemented joint (pipes are PVC, btw). And I don't think I can get a snake
through the pipe unless I do remove the trap. Otoh, if sulphuric acid
won't dissolve whatever is in there, I prob'ly couldn't snake it anyway.

I don't want to pay a plumbing $100 just to pour something else down the
drain that I can buy for $10. There has to be something that'll dissolve
the clog...but if sulphuric acid won't do it, what will???

I'm open to any ideas that won't dissolve the pipes too.\

Hi,

Glad it's sorted, but if it happens again and there's no plunger I
usually do the following:

http://groups.google.com/group/uk.d-i-y/browse_frm/thread/b771753988c02ef9/eced85fc3c7c843d#eced85fc3c7c843d

cheers,
Pete.

Any real household plumbers here?
 

Pete C wrote:
Glad it's sorted, but if it happens again and there's no plunger I
usually do the following:

http://groups.google.com/group/uk.d-i-y/browse_frm/thread/b771753988c02ef9/eced85fc3c7c843d#eced85fc3c7c843d

Thanks, Pete. I found another plumbing site that also appears to be an
excellent resource, but hadn't asked there yet 'cuz I was still waiting
for 'em to send a password when hotrod saved the day:

http://www.plbg.com/forum/list.php?f=1?

I've bookmarked both for future use.


--
Peggie
----------
Peggie Hall
Specializing in marine sanitation since 1987
Author "Get Rid of Boat Odors - A Guide To Marine Sanitation Systems and
Other Sources of Aggravation and Odor"
http://www.seaworthy.com/store/custo...0&cat=6&page=1
http://shop.sailboatowners.com/detai...=400&group=327