Clogged disposal drain

Ronkh

Ronkh

Wax Waster
Ok folks, I'm out of ideas.

Garbage disposal drain is clogged.
Reached in, nothing blocking it. (it does turn on and run)

Added some boiling water. Nuttin
Added apc. Nuttin
Added draino. Nuttin

Only thing people will admit to putting down it was steak and mashed sweet potato.

The "suds" in picture are from me adding dawn and apc hoping it was grease.

Now ...... I gotta let it sit and let the draino lose strength and then use bucket to get water out of sink.

Any ideas on how to unclog?

Please

no "reasonable" advice will be disregarded. :redface:



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Go to the local Mom & Pop hardware store and get some hardcore professional drain cleaner stuff. The dirtier and older the hardware store - the better drain cleaners they will stock.

If the guy behind the counter is like 85 years old & wearing suspenders - that's a good sign you will find what you need there. I dunno what's in it this stuff, but you can always spot it by 2 methods:

1. Nasty looking skull & crossbones all over the label. It will usually say someplace on it "product can cause DEATH". The more skulls & crossbones and mentions of "death" on the label the better. If it mentions "blindness" - that's a bonus right there.

2. It will come in a bag like this:

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Stuff is so toxic and corrosive the manufacturer is scared a drop could escape the bottle and possibly kill someone. So, they take the extra step to seal it in a bag.

These type of products tend to work where Draino fails.
 
Ron, It isn't likely that the disposal itself is clogged. I'd pass on all the cleaners to start out. Potatoes that go through the disposal will clog the goose neck. Potato peels and drains are a bad mix. Just get a bucket to put under the drain and pull the goose neck. Once you pull the neck the water will run out of the disposal like sh!t through a tin horn. It's usually just two hand twistable nuts. Older ones will require a pair of slip joint pliers. Catch the water in the bucket once you loosen the nuts, remove the goose neck, and clean the neck out. Toughest part of this job is getting the stuff out from under the sink so you can get to the goose neck. You'll be good to go. 30 minute job tops. The smell won't be pleasant while the neck is off.
 
She says no peels, just mashed.
and i'm really trying to avoid emptying the abyss under the sink and popping the goose neck. (me lazy) and really really really trying to avoid having to clear all that stuff out of sink now
 
+-1 Like Mark said, its the P-trap that is holding the water for sure, up...

Once you release the water out you can then concentrate on what is actually inside the disposal that you cant see because of the standing water...

It is always good to once and awhile empty and clean the P-trap because that is usually, with some luck, where all the rings, contacts, etc., will end up when they accidentally fall down the sink.

The P-trap also traps and holds all the other gunk that is too heavy to go down and then back up and out the drain to the street/septic tank, etc...

It will just be better to sometimes clean it out once and be done with it for a long time..

Good luck !
Dan F
 
I think you are going to have to disconnect the trap unfortunately. If it is PVC, it won't be too bad as there are just a couple connectors you can unscrew by hand. It's the worst thing out there though...try doing it in a bathroom used by a wife and 2 daughters all with long hair. Have to pull the trap once per year at least and it looks and smells nasty!
 
wdmaccord said:
I think you are going to have to disconnect the trap unfortunately. If it is PVC, it won't be too bad as there are just a couple connectors you can unscrew by hand. It's the worst thing out there though...try doing it in a bathroom used by a wife and 2 daughters all with long hair. Have to pull the trap once per year at least and it looks and smells nasty!
Click to expand...

This is so true !!!

Wait until you take off the drain screen in their Shower and see what awaits your there!!!! :)

Alert -- If you dont want to be grossed out, stop reading NOW ----

When I moved into this house recently, and saw the shower was draining slower than normal, I took off the little brass screen (2 tiny screws), and whoa there was a big dark, ANIMAL in there staring back at me !!! :)

Well, when I got it all out, gloved, Haz Mat suit, etc., it was a big enough HairBall to make a small Chihuahua !!!

Yup, you guessed it -- A Detailer Did Not live here before me.. :(

Rentals, gotta love them.... NOT.... :)
Dan F
 
LOL. The "go watch TV for a couple hours then come back and check" method. For more stubborn clogs, the "I'll have to sleep on it" method.
 
Bro, first off, this stuff does not loose it potency. Be careful of splash because it can cause burns or worse if it gets into your eyes. What is the active ingredient in the one you used?

Most likely sulfuric or Hydrochloric acid. If so place a large pan under the Trap and if the concentration is high enough I can damage pipes. If the pipes are getting hot you know the concentration is high.

Next get some goggles and pot wash gloves and a plunger. Try to force the clog past the sticking point.

Make sure you angle the plunger so it fills will water and does not splash back on you.

plunge away, but please be careful.

If you call a plumber, make sure he know that there is acid down there.

Good Luck.


Ronkh said:
She says no peels, just mashed.
and i'm really trying to avoid emptying the abyss under the sink and popping the goose neck. (me lazy) and really really really trying to avoid having to clear all that stuff out of sink now
Click to expand...
 
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