If you have running water in your home, here are a few important things you need to know about your drains!
How to Unclog a Sink and Prevent Clogs
- Let plenty of water run down the drain by keeping the faucet open for up to a half a minute each day.
- Sink lines commonly plug because not enough water is flushed through them, especially after the garbage disposal is used.
- Run the faucet for about five seconds after you turn off the disposal. This helps flush the line.
- Never pour hot oil or grease down the sink—whether or not you have a disposal.
- About once a month fill the sink to the top with very hot water. Using a fork or other kitchen utensil so you don’t scald your hand, remove the sink’s plug. As the clean, hot water swirls down through the sink line, it takes much of the grease buildup with it.
To Keep a Toilet from Clogging
- Don’t put anything foreign down the toilet except toilet paper.
- Items such as dental floss, Q-Tips, baby wipes, or any other paper product cling to the roots in the sewer and cause an immediate blockage.
How to Unclog Drains: Not Chemicals
- Many people try chemicals before hiring a drain cleaning expert because they want to save money. Then they call the drain cleaner anyway because the chemical hasn’t cleared the drain.
- Chemicals can solidify in a drain line and aggravate the blockage. If the chemical doesn’t eat through the blockage, therefore not flushing down the drain, the chemical sits in your sink line. It crystallizes, and then there is no way you can easily clean a sink line after chemicals harden in it.
Signs of Blocked Drains
When your sewer is plugged or your septic tank needs pumping, here’s what will happen:
- Water backs up out of your tub drain when you flush your toilet.
- When you empty your bathtub, the water stops flowing and bubbles back at you or bubbles into the toilet.
- When you empty your kitchen sink, the sink water backs up into the toilet.
- When you flush your toilet, sewer water backs up through an outside downspout, patio drain, driveway drain, or the lowest floor drain in your house.
- When you run a load of laundry, soapy water comes up into a toilet, shower, or floor drain.
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Bathtub clog,
I purchase a house in the country and I have septic system, my question is, how do I unclog pipes without putting harsh chemicals down the drain, the pipes are smaller in diameter and the regular snake does not work, please help, Thank you!
Keep drains flowing
Pour one cup of baking soda into the drain. Slowly add one cup white vinegar, allowing to bubble for a few minutes. Follow with a teakettle of boiling water. Do this once per month & you'll never have to worry about a clogged drain!
Drain water backing out of drain outlet in toilet
hi,
We live in duplex unit and we have a issue of drain water backing out of the ground floor toilet whenever we flush, use shower or use water in any of the sinks. the only place water comes out is the ground floor toilet that has a outlet on the floor. Irrespective where we use water, it comes out of that outlet. And the water is dirty and smelly. We don't know where to use plunger or put vinegar, etc. What should we do?
Wax like substance in septic tank
Every so Often I have to snake the main line at the point it drains into my septic tank. I have been getting clumps of what seems to be wax. Is this because I use the laundry detergent pods? Also,if I stop using the pods and have my tank pumped,will I still have this problem?
Thank you
Over time, there waxy
Over time waxy substance can collect in the drain from coagulated grease, oils, etc from dishwashers and washers draining into the same drain. You can try to pour a gallon of white vinegar into the kitchen sink drain about once a month to see if that helps. The vinegar will disolve any grease that’s in the drain.
When I do laundry my bathroom
When I do laundry my bathroom floods out of the toilet and bathtub all over my floor we've snaked the pipes under my trailer 3 times this week but it happens every time I washcloths, bath or potty my hubby is a do it yourself kinda guy so what would be your best advice
You might check your drain
You might check your drain vent, if you have one. This is usually a tube visible on the roof, and a few helpful youtube videos are out there describing how to fix the issue. Basically, the drain vent provides a passage for air, to help leverage the movement of water through your pipes. If that air doesn't come, then water through pipes creates pressure and (surprise) water can flow backward, coming out of drains elsewhere in the home.
After flushing my Toliet. The
After flushing my Toliet. The tank & bowl fills up. Then the water in the to let bowl drains out. The tank is still full & everything is flushing out of the toliet. Back to back bathrooms & both are doing this. This Morning I Was Running Water down the tub drain and my toilet started gurgling. What's going on. Help please!
Toilet not flushing. Bathtub & sink cause toilet to overflow
I am in an old rental house and the plumbing has always been slow. Now when I try to flush the toilet, the bowl fills with water and slowly drains out without actually flushing.
Water from the tub and sink drain into the toilet and will cause an overflow unless the water from the toilet has drained enough to hold the new drainage.
I was loading my dishwasher
I was loading my dishwasher and noticed that my sink on both sides were backing up. I turned off the water and my boyfriend went into the laundry room (going out to the garage) and noticed that water, dirt and food were wall over the laundry room floor. We can't figure out where the clog is. He snaked the kitchen and the laundry room drain. The bathrooms are just fine, nothing is backing up. Has anyone else had this problem?
We just purchased a home that
We just purchased a home that has been empty for over two years. There is a septic and also a gray water line the we can not find (per the neighbors). we had heard bubbling sounds from washing machine to kitchen sink and bathtub and vice verse, but no noise in the toilet. My husband placed a mini vent on the kitchen sink. That seemed to cure the issue for a week. Then today, we are all backed up, tub and kitchen sink is full of the washing machine water. It does not smell like sewage nor does it look like sewage. It smells like laundry soap with little chunks of dirty dish water. We do not want to hire a plumber... we are broke since we just purchased the home. please advise.
After using the toilet or
After using the toilet or taking shower or using the sink I have water leaking into my garage. I have a tri level home and two bathrooms upstairs and one in downstairs. I need help and advice on what may be the problem. The leak drains around a pipe in my garage
The drain in my garden has
The drain in my garden has been flooding out dirty foul smelling water into my garden. I noticed that when i ran kitchen tap the drain in garden started over flowing. What would you suggest? Can i deal with this myself?
Thanks in advance
My bathtub drains okay until
My bathtub drains okay until almost finished. It stops draining for a few seconds and the toilet begins bubbling. The tub then finishes draining and the water bounces around the pipes (very loud rushing water) until it finally gurgles out the main exit pipe. Our septic was pumped less than a month ago. No problems with any other drains in the house. No septic smells. Could this be a partial blockage or venting issue?
Please help. We're having
Please help. We're having problems in our house. There's water coming out from the first floor floor drains. We already called a professional for it but it doesn't change at all especially when we're using the washing machine. Thank you!
We had gurgling from both
We had gurgling from both (back to back)bathroom toilets. Sewage started backing up into both bathtubs. This is on the 23rd floor of a condo (3 floors below the penthouse). The condo dates 1975. A plumber was called, removed both toilets & found ''the cause of the blockage was tampons and baby wipes. I pulled out many on the end of the sewer machine.'' (What ever that is) Current female occupant is beyond menopause and there has not been a female nor baby in the unit since the summer of 2011. Could this waste date back 4 years? There have been no issues in those 4 years. Any ideas?
The house I'm living in is
The house I'm living in is over 100 years old. It's big and there's lots of divided plumbing lines to certain things they belong to. For instance, we have one bathroom that has it's own lines. Then there's a part of the house we call the laundry room but it also has a shower in it that works, but doesn't drain. In fact the sink drains into that shower and causes such a mess we can't even keep up with. We've talked to the land lord but he's totally clueless and doesn't even try to fix it, so that leaves us to do it our selves. We were cleaning it almost every day with a shop vac, a heavy duty push broom, and bleach. That whole room gets flooded and it's really a waste of time because the dishes are done every night. We eventually just gave up and said that the landlord had to fix it because we didn't cause this problem, we're just living here. But he never fixed it and it's been months, we have been seeing cockroaches, the water backup has turned into a thick film and we just can't stand to know theres a room in a hour that is this bad. My mom is cleaning it right now for the first time in a while, and it's just completely out of control. We tried to use the shop vac one again and it's broken now because it couldnt handle what was in the room I'm assuming. I really don't know what is causing this to happen. I'm not sure, but I do think someone came and snaked the drain for us once, and they said that it wasn't clogged or anything. We've used so many chemicals to "unclog" the drain, but nothings worked. I've tried to tell my mom it's never going to stay clean, and I think she knows this but what else is there to do really. She has an idea of building some kind of wall on the out side of the shower so that it all stays inside. Which might be a good idea, but I'm not sure. There's actually an add on room by the shower that was once used as a canning room and it was completely ruined by the water. We are going to have to pull up the carpet and take everything out of it. Anyways, I'm not sure what else to mention, but I really hope someone reads this and knows of any ideas of what to do to keep this from happening.
Re plumbing issues I rented a
Re plumbing issues
I rented a house for awhile that had issues similar to what others here are having. If your renting and your landlord wont fix it this can be reported the local health department.My old landlord had someone clean the drain from the street.This did not work.Why? Because it was the main sewer line that goes from the house to the street.This can run around 10,000 to repair.I suggest you video tape ,and take pictures of the issues for your records. Write or type up a nice letter requesting he fix the problems. Give him at least 5 days. Then contact the local health department. If you have already asked him to fix it ,and hes failed call the health department. They may condemn the home thou. I had to move out of my rental because the landlord would not make the repairs.
I'm having a problem with our
I'm having a problem with our old farm house plumbing. Every time we flush either toilet they fill CLEAR up before actually flushing. Once the decide to flush we here gurgling in all the drains *kitchen sink, bathtub, ect* We've tried chemicals but that hasn't done the trick. Any ideas?
Recently the toilet was
Recently the toilet was blocked plumber came out and cleared the blockage, but said a part in the cistern was broke taking ages and I mean ages for water to fill having me have to top up with a jug! Anyway yesterday plumber fixes broken part toilet works fine then tonight put my washing machine on and all of a sudden hear my toilet running after washing machine finshes notice toilet still running I go and check and when flush cistern takes seconds to fill which is good but keeps filling I have now a very loud and annoying hiss and water running sound been like this for now a good couple hours please help can't sleep!!
Need a better seal on flap or
Need a better seal on flap or a new flap. Some water is draining and the fluid master will keep kicking on to compensate. Replacement flapper are sold at any diy store. Very easy to replace
when i run either one of my
when i run either one of my sinks it overfills toilet ive had a plumber over twice first time he said it was a airbubble and worked fine for a few days next time he said it was my sump pump same thing worked for a few days.is it a problem with the leechfeild?
Reverse problem, not in a
Reverse problem, not in a septic system. Our bathtub drains fine, but as it drains, it causes the toilet bowl (not tank) to drain out too. Is this more likely a clog, or something bad with how the lines are set up?
Bought an old 45 year house.
Bought an old 45 year house. Had new washer machine and when it drains I can hear it at my kitchen sink. But the problem is that the water starts over flowing out the washer drain pipe so I went and extended the 2 foot pipe to nearly four feet. Worked great for 3 weeks then started to overflow again. So then I figures to cover both sinks completely with plunger while completely duct tapping the washer drainage line to force down the water at high speed, but then black water force it's way up both sinks and smell like hard iron and sewaGe but not sewage at all, make sense? What kind of backup do I have. I'm on city sewage no septic. Help me please !!!!!
My problem is that when I run
My problem is that when I run my dishwasher or kitchen sink it starts to backup into my laundry room out of my washers drain pipe. When it overflows the water is a nasty brown/black color. Is this a clog or something worse? I have tried the chemicals and snaking it but nothing.
Kristy, I'm having the same
Kristy, I'm having the same problem, so I am wondering if you received a response to your question about your diswasher backing up into your laundry tub. Thanks! Judy
Hi Judy, There may be a
Hi Judy,
There may be a problem with your air vents for the plumbing. If you have roof vents they may be plugged shut so no air gets in to push the water out of the pipes. We suggest that you contact a plumber to check your vents and drain pipes.
im having the exact same
im having the exact same issue. Have you received any information on what it means?
Upon moving in a week ago, I
Upon moving in a week ago, I noticed that water drained very slowly during/after showers. Just now I was cleaning the toilet and I flushed and I noticed water gurgling back up from the shower drain with what looked like small amounts of waste.
I ran the sink for a few minutes to see what would happen and the only odd thing that I noticed was that the shower drain was gurgling and it looked like air bubbles were coming up from it as well.
What could be the issue here? Is this something a jug of Drano can solve? Is there a stronger solvent I can use? Or, do I need a professional to handle things?
Thank you for your time. I look forward to hearing your assessment of the situation.
Hi, Xiamara: Consult a
Hi, Xiamara: Consult a professional. Soon. Good luck!
My toilet is clogged but when
My toilet is clogged but when we use the plunger it backs up into the tub. Put drain cleaner in toilet but since it has water in it and will not flush guess it didn't work. We have snaked the pipe on the roof all the way to septic and nothing. We have snaked the toilet a good 3 feet and still nothing. What could be causing this and how do I fix.
I'm having the same problem.
I'm having the same problem. I have a Spetic system n it's been pumped but my sink is draining into the tub n now the wax ring is broke so it's also coming out the base of the toilet. I can't take this much longer. Ugh
hi, I know this is an old
hi, I know this is an old post, but I'm hoping to find out what the problem was. I am having this same issue. Septic has been cleaned a few weeks ago. and it's doing this.
If you flush the toilet and
If you flush the toilet and the water goes into the bath tub, then it suggests that your main drain line is clogged so that water has no where else to go. You could rent an auger and snake it, but it's probably do deep that you need to call a professional plumber.
When we flush our toilets
When we flush our toilets clean water runs in our washer why is that?
We had a plumber inspect our home when we moved in and everything was fine.
Also if showering or using a sink and someone flushes the toilet or turns on the water our pressure decreases intensely do you know why that is happening?
We had a septic sewer back up
We had a septic sewer back up and the jacuzzi bath tub filled with sewage water on 2 nd floor? Is it cleanable or need replaced in construction. We had 2 floors flood. I worry it's inside the jets.....
My shower runs the water out
My shower runs the water out slow. Now water is leaking some where in my kitchen by th dishwasher but its never been used. My toilet is running ok.
Bathtub and kitchen sink are
Bathtub and kitchen sink are pouring out of washer drain. Husband tried to snake it, it went in a foot and hit like solid rocky material. Don't have the extra funds for a plumber. Need advise
My sink and bathtub in the
My sink and bathtub in the upstairs bathroom has always drained slow. Over time it got worse and since the bathroom isn't used much we just let it drain slow. Eventually we stopped using the tub and sink entirely until we could look more into it. Now we are finding water sitting in our bathtub. It is always clean water only an inch or two. We couldn't figure out where it was coming from but when the water to the sink got turned off it stopped happening. Does this mean there is a something worse going on???
Acid is the best way to
Acid is the best way to unclog drains provided there are no toxic chemical used in it. It will definitely save you from a number of headaches while cleaning the drain quickly. Drains are hidden heroes in your home. If you’re lucky, you can go for years without thinking about them, but when dirty sink water suddenly won’t go away or a toilet won’t flush, they can be a major frustration. A plugged drain certainly demands attention, but fixing it is probably something you can do yourself. You’ll get faster results than calling Pumpco Septic. they offer excellent Septic pumping, tank cleaning, Plumber, sewer repair and drain field maintenance Services.
What kind of acid because I'm
What kind of acid because I'm having it where my kitchen sink is draining into my tub
My bath water keeps getting
My bath water keeps getting pieces of tissue in it, I am freaked out, plus I get fibers and black specks everywhere,
I am disgusted and feel like it is poison. I also find tissue forming in the water I get from the reverse osmosis, which I find in the dogs bowl.
It seems to form on its own, may come out clear and form into tissue, like toilet paper tissue. Please HELP!!!
In general, black particles
In general, black particles in the water are related to a disintegrating or corroding piece of plumbing.
If the black specs are in hot water only (not cold), it may be related to your water heater, not the city water supply or anything poisonous. Follow the manufacturer's recommendations for maintenance of the water heater or call a plumber.
I have a pipe...I'm assuming
I have a pipe...I'm assuming a drain pipe...underneath the AC unit inside. A PVC pipe comes off the AC unit and goes down and drips water into this pipe/drain. The other day I noticed it was overflowing.
I'm a single mother, calling a plumber is out of my price range. I have snaked the pipe and nothing has come out.
Any other ideas?
I am having the same
I am having the same issue...I poured bleach down the pipe that is overfilling ....slowly but surely it went down completely. I read that your supposed to do this every year to prevent this from happening. You get yours fixed?
We have a backup as explained
We have a backup as explained by your article (our shower water came bubbling up out of a toilet) but it isn't that severe (fixes itself within 20-30 minutes).
What is the cheapest way to fix this? Snake it?
I work in a hotel. While one
I work in a hotel. While one of our guests was taking a shower, he said the water in his sink and toilet started to rise flooding the entire bathroom. What could be the cause of this?
Sewage backed up in a bathtub
Sewage backed up in a bathtub in my home. All toilets are clear and flush. What is happening?
That's a matter that is
That's a matter that is beyond our skill level; we can only suggest that it could be a break in your waste pipe that carries waste to the public pipe. Over the years (decades), lead pipes, for example, can rust and tree roots can grow into them. If you have a septic tank, its line could also have a rupture. Best to call in an expert.
Not on septic system . Have
Not on septic system . Have double sinks ,one with disposal when I run the disposal and wash dishes the soapy water backs up in that sink and the other sink and what appears to be grass is in the water that enters. It eventually drains , what can I do ? Should I snake it ?
This and the matter above are
This and the matter above are a bit out of our range, but your situation suggests (more specifically than the one above) that you may have a break in your waste pipe to the street/main line. The grass seems to indicate that you are getting reflux, so to speak, from the lawn that covers your waste pipe. The eventual drain you mention is natural: some of the waste water is slowly seeping out of the pipe at its break and into the ground. Snaking might get your some time (delay a possible replacement), but here as above, we can not be absolutely certain. Best to call a professional.
my railings is backing up
my railings is backing up though my house we use lye in each area and wait for one hour be for we flush again and still having the same problem
After unclogging my kitchen
After unclogging my kitchen sink that had water in it, immediately my washer downstairs started rumbling. I walked down to the basement to find the washer had been moved 2-3 feet. Coincidence? Or does this sound like a pipe issue? Help
It's a mystery to us. It may
It's a mystery to us. It may be a conincidence. Was the washer running? Were the items in it distributed evenly? Poorly "weighted" wash bins can cause a washing machine to "jump" while it's in a spin phase—yes, that far. Often there is a fairly loud "thumping" sound that alerts you that something is wrong; perhaps you did not hear it. If the washer was not running when you did all of this, we're as puzzled as you are.
The water in my floor drain
The water in my floor drain next to the clothes washer rises near the opening of the floor drain when my clothes washer water drains into the standpipe.
I also put water in the floor drain to see if it will drain when water is added to it and it doesn't drain or lower the water in the floor drain immediately. Help. Thanks.
Has it been draining properly
Has it been draining properly until now? It could be clogged but we're only guessing. We suggest that you consult a plumber.
I washed clothes yesterday in
I washed clothes yesterday in the basement of our house. Upon returning to change to the dryer, I saw water on the floor and the utility sink filled to the top. My husband used a plunger and it caused water to continue filling from the drain into the sink. We flushed the toilets and ran water in the house and the sink continued to receive some water through the drain with what looked like remnants of toilet paper. We decided not to run water, go to the gym and shower and let it slowly drain on its own. Today, the sink is half full. He went outside and removed the vent cover because water was seeping through it and found toilet paper, hair and other household waste. After reviewing tons of videos, reading blogs and etc., we suspect there might be a block at the end of the sewer pipe that leads to the septic. What do you think? What steps should we try next.
It sound like you have a
It sound like you have a blockage in the main pipe going to your septic system. We suggest that you call a plumber.
Call in a professional.
Call in a professional.
My tub started backing up
My tub started backing up when my washer drained. After the washer was finished draining; the tub and toilet drained. It has only did this twice and then resolves. What could cause this? Everything had been draining fine all day.
Had a plumber replace 2
Had a plumber replace 2 toilets and install 2 new showerheads. Since then, when you use the bathtub, water starts to leak from the walls in both bathrooms and the other bathtub that was not used, has standing water.After about 5 minutes, the water recedes. Today, I used the kitchen sink and it made water leak in those bathrooms. I have a 3rd bathroom that was not touched by tge plumber and everything works fine.
Sink water comes out of
Sink water comes out of toilet which pipe
should I go look
Toilets are clear sinks are
Toilets are clear sinks are clear. I snakes 25ft into the main drain starting at the septic end first. But water still wont drain out. Its coming out to the septic tank in a slow stream.
For slow bath drains because
For slow bath drains because of hair, check out The Drain Claw at http://www.thedrainclaw.com. You can unclog a bath drain without chemicals.