Blocked kitchen drain (2 Viewers)

[stephsol]

Hi all,
I'm off to buy a pipe snake, it's a last resort as my trusty w/shop man blew a lot of muck out of the line, but no change, the plunger blew off an elbow, the drain buster failed and I think the recommended baking soda and white wine vinegar made things worse, so it's 100% blocked now.
I can't be the only one to experience this and would be delighted at some suggestions.
Regards
Steph

 

[Cush]

I found my sink drain goes round such a tight bend that it has started to collapse in on itself and getting progressively worse with time. It’ll do for now and wipe plates etc before washing so only water goes down. Can you trace your pipe and check?

 

[namwaldog]

I recently replaced the kitchen tap and had to remove the sink to facilitate this.
I think I was able to count/figure out, that there are 6 or 7 elbows or tee's on the waste from our sink before entering the grey tank.
The first three that I was able to check were all simple push fit (not glued) so I was able to clean out quite a bit of gunk especially in the trap.

The waste water flows out a bit faster now.

 

[meanders]

Are you certain its there and not further down the pipe? Our sink will not drain if it's tipping the tiniest amount towards the side with the kitchen sink. .The issue is that it makes the underfloor pipe to get to the grey tank run uphill. and as we all know, water will not flow uphill. If its been like it a few days, check the run of the pipe under the floor to ensure it hasn't sunk between brackets. Our previous van I had to put an additional bracket to stop it sagging and the water gathering there. Remember if you put warm water down the pipe softens.

 

[stephsol]

Someone has suggested removing the grey water tank and snake it from that end,has anyone removed the tank before, is it a big job.

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[Manic]

Someone has suggested removing the grey water tank and snake it from that end,has anyone removed the tank before, is it a big job.

You may be able to access the pipes where they enter the grey tank.
On our 2001 B584 these a inspection hatch at floor level between the washroom and wardrobe which is where the pipes go into the grey tank

 

[Landy Andy]

I, as a plumber would try using a wet vac from the waste.

 

[stephsol]

Thanks guys,
I'll take a look for those pipes mentioned.
I've never heard of a wet vac, how does it work, cc I'll be making a concerted effort next week, gotta get it sorted now .

 

[RM_Marine]

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[Cush]

I've never heard of a wet vac, how does it work,

It’s just a vac for sucking up wet. There’s a green version of the Henry or karcher carpet vacs are the same sort of thing with an added spray fitting for cleaning carpets.

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[RM_Marine]

Just see if you can hire one or ask on here if someone has one close to you that you can borrow

They are only £41.98 from tool station

Einhell Classic 20L Wet & Dry Vacuum Cleaner

Get those everyday cleaning jobs completed quickly and effortlessly with this Einhell vacuum cleaner. It’s a versatile vac suitable for wet or dry cleaning – powered by a 1250W motor, it delivers impressive suction through a 36mm hose system for a continuously high air and dirt flow.Standard...

www.toolstation.com

you can then have something to hoover the fire out with and you won't mind if it blows up as it only cost you £40

Seeing they are £58.25 to hire for a day

 

[Landy Andy]

Thanks guys,
I'll take a look for those pipes mentioned.
I've never heard of a wet vac, how does it work, cc I'll be making a concerted effort next week, gotta get it sorted now .

As said it’s just a vacuum cleaner that can handle water. The advantage of using one is that you aren’t going to blow / push the waste pipe fittings off.

 

[stephsol]

Going to pick up this wet vac, which arrived this morning at tool station, thanks for the recommendation. Q....is there no chance of the vacuum collapsing the tank??

 

[Brains]

Going to pick up this wet vac, which arrived this morning at tool station, thanks for the recommendation. Q....is there no chance of the vacuum collapsing the tank??

Just make sure the drain valve is open !

 

[stephsol]

How long should I leave the vacuum run, I don't hear any change in tone indicating it's building vacuum

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[Cush]

It should never create a vacuum if plugs aren’t in the sinks. Just suck out some gunk. Maybe run some water at the same time to loosen up?

 

[Landy Andy]

How long should I leave the vacuum run, I don't hear any change in tone indicating it's building vacuum

Run the hot tap until it isn’t draining enough you have about an inch of water in the sink. Then shove the running wet vac into the water, and on to the drain. You want a good seal ideally, and I often have a wet cloth around the end tube, so as I shove the vac in, the cloth slides down in my hand and seals the pipe in the waste. Listen to the motor, if it sounds like a blocked hoover for too long stop, and go again. But think it will be fine as it’s not a complete block. Keep running the hot water down, then sucking it up, so that you are forcing the water back up into the vac.

 

[stephsol]

Sounds like a doable idea, worth a try.
I failed yesterday, but I attached the vac to the grey tank drain/discharge and blocked all the plug holes, didn't think of pulling it the other Way towards the sink. ...it won't suck off any bends?
I have a complete blockage, not parcial and the shower drains fine.
I was considering putting the blower down the kitchen sink plug hole but thought it would surely blow the elbows off.

 

[Rollingwheels]

The suction will pull any fittings together not blow them off so should be safer than blowing, I had similar problems and blew the elbows off by using a mega

 

[Jev88]

Went under my old Autocruise Coach-built and took big bung off tank and rodded from that end

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[Landy Andy]

Sounds like a doable idea, worth a try.
I failed yesterday, but I attached the vac to the grey tank drain/discharge and blocked all the plug holes, didn't think of pulling it the other Way towards the sink. ...it won't suck off any bends?
I have a complete blockage, not parcial and the shower drains fine.
I was considering putting the blower down the kitchen sink plug hole but thought it would surely blow the elbows off.

As said. The reason we use vacs is so that we don’t blow or push joints/pipes apart.

It won’t work with the other end closed, like you did before. What you are trying to do is move a volume of water like the reverse of using a plunger. You want the pipe full of water, then apply vac, and suck a slug of water back the way it went.

 

[stephsol]

thanks so much guys, that worked, boiling water and dish wash soap, had to wet vac a couple of times but it shifted it, never thought I could get such a big kick out of watching water going down a plughole!!!
The recommended einhell-classic-20l-wet-dry-vacuum-cleaner also came with a short pipe connector which fitted perfectly into the plughole (see pic)
Thanks to you all again for your helpful advice and recommendations, saved again by helpful members
Steph

 

[ManTheVan]

Brilliant that you got it sorted. It’s a good idea to wipe off all plates and pots with kitchen towel before washing up, to avoid any debris going down the waste pipe. It’s a lot smaller than domestic ones.

Thanks Landy Andy for the wet vac tip. I’ll bank that one for future use!

 

[Landy Andy]

Glad it worked. The wet vac is a much safer option than forcing pressure down the system. Be careful with boiling water it can cause delicate parts to fail. Really hot water is safer

 

[stephsol]

I've got a plastic basin that fits nicely into the sink and spread that water into a hedge or over the grass. I've seen other people do it over the years, and didn't get the point .....until now!.
Thanks again
Steph

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[leggings]

Vacuum! Good idea for relieving constipation.

 

[ChrisL]

One of these.

1 Pcs Sink Plunger, Toilet Plungers for Unblocking, Mini Sink Plunger Unblocker - Ergonomic Grip, Unclogs Drains with Ease, for Kitchens Bathrooms Baths Waste Pipes https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0D4QH9YHS?tag=mhf04-21

Inconjunction with some of this and hot water just off the boil has always cleared blocked sink drains for me.

Tara 1 KG Soda Crystals Powerful Multipurpose Cleaner Quickly Removes Stubborn Stains, Grease Prevent Limescale, Clogs & Unblock Drains Soda Crystals for Sinks Tiles Oven Interiors & Laundry Aid https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0D5K6VVBW?tag=mhf04-21