Under the main basin
Suggestions for fixing a kitchen sink?
by
C
+11
We just bought a house and are painfully learning that the previous owner was a medicore do it your selfer. One of the latest finds is that our kitchen sink drains fairly slow, and when you stop up one side to do dishes and then drain (or pour a pot of water on one side), standing water in the pipes comes out the other side (along with any other nasty grease leftovers that won't drain) and then both sides slowly drain together.
I've attached a few pics and to me, it looks like the drain line is way too tall and the sewer line is too high compared to the sink drain; it's almost flush to the drain, so all that water sits in the u-bend and in the strait line to the second basin.
On a side note, you'll notice a pink bucket under the ptrap.. That is there because if you accidentally bump any of the pipes when putting anything under the sink, some of the fittings will come dislodged and start a gradual leak.
What are my options for fixing this, or do I just suck it up and call a plumber?
Whole set up
I would call a plumber to get it right. Unless you really know what you are doing THIS is what happens!
Wow! where was your Home Inspector at time of purchase? If you had an inspection and have the paperwork, check it to see if this was noted on it. They should have noted the "rigged" system and alerted you to the issue so that you could have had the seller make the appropriate repairs or give you credit so you could have it fixed.
Now, it is what it is. I would bite the bullet and call in a well-respected plumber to get it done right. It really is a safety issue because the trap that is supposed to keep the sewer gases from coming into your house is not functioning at this sink.
If you bought this home through a Realtor, you really should make the Realtor aware of the issue....especially if they recommended the Home Inspector, if you had one. I would no longer use an Inspector who did not see this as a problem to you.
You can do this yourself by renting a "snake." There are also chemicals designed to assist you because we have done it, BUT WITH ALL OF THIS SAID, I'd be calling a plumber and just know when he/she leaves, it is really done properly and that it will be a long time before you encounter this issue again. Make sure you good plumber beause it's going to cost either way. I have found reputable service people by asking at my local hardware store for recommendations.
Wow, what a mess. So, you can do this yourself, plumbing is basically slightly more complex tinker toys.
Plumbers are incredibly expensive these days and I just don't see the point if it's remotely possible to DIY the job. There are just a few things to keep in mind.
You need to connect the bowls since it is a double bowl sink that will then go into the waste line. You would think that just putting in a right angle connector and a sanitary tee will work fine. That's not the case, and it's a mistake that even experienced plumbers make all the time.
If you check code (which no one ever does), you'll generally find that this configuration doesn't cut it. Instead, you would need to come vertically down out of both sides of the sink then use a long sweep 90-degree fitting to make the turn from vertical to horizontal on one side. Then you would connect to the other bowls waste line using a combo wye & 1/8 bend. That will allow for smooth water flow and a snake to pass through either side if needed. Now that you have joined the two bowls properly you install a standard p trap and you're done.
To see an image of a properly done installation take a look at this link. It does have a drain line installed for a dishwasher which it doesn't look like you have, but you'll get the idea. http://bit.ly/2Hni80M
And no, I'm not a plumber, I just play one at my home and the homes of family.
Unfortunately, getting upset with the realtor or inspector won't fix the problem at this point.
What my only concern is if I will have to completely redo everything under the sink, including installing a new connection to the main drain line.
I remember putting a brick under that lower pipe in one house. Nothing else seemed to matter. If you want to delay a plumber, try a heavy duty drain cleaner, exactly as the directions say. Or use a sink plunger (different from a toilet plunger, although the second works with some sinks). My goto first is to use a wire clothes hanger stretched out and extended as far down the drain as I can get it. Sometimes a clog just needs an air hole or two to change the air or water pressure to be released. Best wishes ☺️
I don't think it's a clog. I took the p trap out as well as the connection going to the sewer line and it's all clear. If there's a clog, it's way further down the line.
It is a mess! Everything would need to be removed and redone. P trap is backwards. The design is made for better flow on way. The basket strainers also should be replaced. The ones that are there are too long. There are shorter ones that bolt on underneath with a large nut. That would give you about an extra 2" less. Then all the rest of the pipes would need to be raised. I also recommend rodding the sewer line while everything is disconnected. The sewer line does seem high but that could be because the sink is extra deep.
As an update, I now have a clog that I can't undo. It's well past the 15' my snake will reach, so I think I'm going to have to enlist the aid of a plumber.
Sigh...
Certified good plumbers know what they're doing, so it's worth forking out the funds to have a job well done and no more problems.
Chubby58 has a good point- you can expect Certified plumbers to be professionally accountable for their work.