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

Bowgus wrote:

Ok ... I'm not a real plumber, but I've refurbished a few houses over the
years, and just finished relocating (well, ok, the vent fan is still in the
box ... ) the kitchen in the old side of the house from one room to another
... so what's the situation?

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.

Without researching the topic, I recall that lye saponifies grease to
soap, which is water soluble.
That seems like it has a fighting chance - since lye is somewhat
easier on metals than acids, usually?

Brian Whatcott Altus OK