Clearing the Trap under my Kitchen Sink
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KMS Woodworks on Apr 30, 2013One trick I use and tell my clients about is the hot water treatment. Kitchen drains see grease and oil. since most people do not "hand wash" much these drain may not see regular use of very hot water. About every 3-4 months I "flush" my kitchen drains with very hot water, I'll turn my hot water heater up to very hot...and wait for it to come to temp. then run 10 to 15 gallons of pure hot...this longer flow allows any loosened or melted grease residue to clear all of the in house plumbing. A gallon or so is not enough to warm the drain piping to prevent it from coagulating further down the line. After you do this turn the water heater back down to normal. If this does not help, you can remove the lower U shaped piece of the p trap, by unscrewing the 2 nuts that hold it in place. having bucket below this will catch any spillage. With the U bend out you can wash it and rinse it at another sink , like int he bath. If the U bend is clear when you pull it out the problem may lie further downstream. The tail of the p trap will connect to the wall fitting with a nut just like on the U portion. I like to run my drain snake from that opening.Helpful Reply
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Teresa Soukup on Apr 30, 2013Do you have a video or a pic of what your talking about.Helpful Reply
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Chris aka monkey on Apr 30, 2013if you mean the u shaped piece under the sink it unscrews put something under it to catch water it will be disgusting take outside and run water thru it until clean you may have to push some of the gunk out a wire hanger bent into long piece will do the trick xxHelpful Reply
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KMS Woodworks on Apr 30, 2013Here is a video http://www.ehow.com/video_7847035_clean-p_trap.htmlHelpful Reply
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Teresa Soukup on Apr 30, 2013Awesome. I am so mad. It is that easy. REALLY. I feel Dumb. LOL Thanks.Helpful Reply
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KMS Woodworks on May 01, 2013The sad part is some plumbers charge 60 to 80 bucks an hour for that...LOL.Helpful Reply
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Hamtil Construction LLC on May 01, 2013You might try using a plunger as well. Use it gently on a sink, though. They make sink plungers for this that you can buy as well! Also, it's best to not run food waste through the garbage disposer unless you really have to. It just adds to build up.Helpful Reply
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Jeanette S on May 02, 2013Good luck...once you get it cleaned out, do not put grease of any kind down the sink. I even use paper towels to wipe out my skillets and any dishes where grease has formed! A lot of let the dishwasher can get the grease off...which it does...but it just goes right down the drain!Helpful Reply
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KMS Woodworks on May 02, 2013I did a repair some years ago in one of my client's rentals. The P-trap was half full of congealed bacon grease mixed with coffee grounds. Obviously these younger folks needed to learn some common sense. The grease plug was just above the water level in the trap, cold water of the trap caused the grease to harden before it passed through.Helpful Reply
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Teresa Soukup on May 02, 2013OH YEAH. THANK YOU!!!!!!!! I can use everything again. I cannot believe how stupidly simple it was. To think. I was going to pay someone to come out and do it. YEAHHHHHHHHH I am GLAD I DIDNT.Helpful Reply
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Eric Turner on Feb 01, 2015If cleaning the P-trap doesn't do the trick you may have a clog in the dishwasher drain pipe. Most dishwashers pumps will grind up any food particles to help them flush out easier however sometimes they can collect in the dishwasher drain tube. To clear this pull you dishwasher out from the cabinets ( there are 2 screws under the edge of the counter top at the top of the dishwasher ) and disconnect the tube from both ends and clean it out. I save old jars and pour any grease into them and replace the lid and them throw them in the trash. saves a lot of problems with my drains.Helpful Reply
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Rosey on Feb 15, 2015I'm one that used poor judgement. Not thinking, I dumped sauerkraut down my garbage disposal and it clogged the drain. Not in the trap but past the angle to vertical waste pipe. Can't get the snake to turn that corner. Now, I have no choice but to have someone come in to fix it. Careful what you put down your disposals.Helpful Reply
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