Clearing Slow and Blocked Sinks.

[ultrarunner]

I’m sure not a secret to many but I’ve found my small wet/dry vacuum does wonder when it comes to slow and stopped drains.

Got a service call and was close except no tools… I did have a small $39 wet/dry vac with me.

Tried the plunger and no luck… plugged solid.

Thinking I have to come back I remembered the wet/dry in the car and gave it a try.

Sink was about 1/3 full and held my hand over the over flow slot and sucked out the obstruction…

Since then it has never failed the many times I tried.

 

[Shawn T. W.]

For a sink with access, I just pull the p-trap apart ...

 

[ultrarunner]

For a sink with access, I just pull the p-trap apart ...

Only thing I had was the vac I was letting a friend borrow…

About 45 seconds and full flow restored… hairballs most of the time…

When I pull the old traps I need my slip joint pliers, bucket and more often than not hand snake and a few slip joint washers or sealer…

For many years plastic forbidden so no easy not tools disassembly.

 

[Eagle1]

Only thing I had was the vac I was letting a friend borrow…

About 45 seconds and full flow restored… hairballs most of the time…

When I pull the old traps I need my slip joint pliers, bucket and more often than not hand snake and a few slip joint washers or sealer…

For many years plastic forbidden so no easy not tools disassembly.

Good tip but I get the feeling that listing things NOT forbidden in CA would be a short list

 

[oldnslo]

Good tip but I get the feeling that listing things NOT forbidden in CA would be a short list

My guess is that using a wet/dry vac in CA to unplug a sink is forbidden unless plugged into a GFI outlet connected to a GFI breaker and you are wearing a haz mat suit

 

[MAX-24-Dean]

I imagine that the cost of sinks will now go up in California, the cost of adding warning labels to sinks. Due to the Proposition 65. "warning using a vacuum to clear drain may cause cancer, birth defects or other reproductive harm". LOL

Jokes aside, I use a vacuum to clean drains and it works quite well.

 

[rontaki]

My guess is that using a wet/dry vac in CA to unplug a sink is forbidden unless plugged into a GFI outlet connected to a GFI breaker and you are wearing a haz mat suit

Nah - using a vacuum sucks, so Califu¢kya would approve.

 

[Oaktree]

About once a year I have to clean out the line for my kitchen sink. Problem is in a ~12' horizontal section...cast iron so it's probably rough inside and grease, etc. builds up on it. There's a cleanout at the high end, what I've been doing is ramming a piece of 1/2" schedule 40 down it once a year, followed by spray from a garden hose.
Probably ought to replace that section with PVC, just haven't gotten around to it.

 

[Racer4]

I got these. They grab most anything without having to disassemble anything. If under your sink is jammed with stuff like ours are.

https://www.homedepot.com/p/HDX-20-in-Hair-Snake-2-Pack-90831/324806388

 

[ultrarunner]

My biggest plumbing management problems are flushable wipes, grease and things purposely or not flushed like toys, diapers, Q-tips, etc…

Hair is distant but with some families a real challenge…

I rented a home to a mom with 3 adult daughters… all nurses with mom and oldest RN and youngest LVN and CNA

They all have very long almost waist length black hair… shower and bathtub just plug solid about twice a year…