primitive has problems with bathroom sink

[franksolich]

http://www.democraticunderground.com/11583801

Oh my.

DinahMoeHum (14,134 posts)    Mon Oct 5, 2015, 09:13 AM

BATHROOM SINK BACK-UP ISSIE
 
I live in a co-op apartment on the 2nd floor, and these last couple of days, when a next-door neighbor uses his shower/bath (around 5 am), water comes backing up into my bathroom sink. Water rises, then sinks slowly. As a result when I use my bathroom sink, it is draining slower than usual.

Before this all started, we've had a couple of days of heavy rain and wind. Maybe this is a factor?

Please advise: I'm not sure whether there's a DIY solution to this or whether I should check with my super and have him use his equipment to pump out any clog that cropped up. 

Didn't the primitives promise us about eight years ago, that 0bama would take care of things like this?

jeff47 (20,608 posts)    Mon Oct 5, 2015, 09:48 AM

1. You'll need the super
 
Something is blocked in the drain lines for the building, not just your unit. That inherently requires getting the super involved, because they'll probably have to run a snake down a drain somewhere else in the building.

Denzil_DC (821 posts)    Mon Oct 5, 2015, 10:56 AM

2. Had this happen to some friends.
 
In their case, their shower emptied into the same downpipe that serviced the common roof gutters and their neighbour's sink. There was a blockage as a result of leaves gathering at the bend where the downpipe entered the drain at ground level, hence the backing up.

We were lucky, as it looks like somebody else had had the same problem at some point and had punched a small hole near the downpipe bend, and we were able to use that to access and unblock it with some wire then flush it through with plenty of water.

I'd have your super check that out as a possibility first - there's always a possibility of passing any problems downstream if it's a severe blockage, so maybe not a DIY job for you.

Wash. state Desk Jet (2,432 posts)    Mon Oct 5, 2015, 03:31 PM

3. Hello- There is a product that cures the problem.
 
The product is called Hair clog remover ,it is used in bath tub drains and bathroom sinks. It appears the poster above pretty much explained the problem area in the pipes ,so, what it comes down to is your neighbors bath drain- ,that is most likely just the place to pour in the Drain Care product Hair Clog Remover. Your neighbors bath tub drain and bath sink.

From your sink, bath tub ,you are getting to the problem area ,but from your neighbors bathroom ,you get getting on top of it. Hair clog remover is only used in bathrooms -tub and sink- it is not used in any other areas of your drain system.

Given what is going on in those pipes I would suggest the gallon bottle ,costs between 8 and ten bucks.

By the way the stuff is called 10 Minute Hair Clog Remover ! I would pour at least 1/4 of the bottle down yer neighbors bath tub drain , at least a cup or cup and 1/2 down yer neighbors sink , ,wait ten minutes ,flush with hot water and repeat the process at yer neighbors bath tub drain ,again flush after 1o minutes with plenty of hot water.

As a contractor doing apartment maintenance over the years the stuff has saved me time and trouble with those snakes.

Not to mention clean up after running that snake . And ,the build up is trapped gunk ,a combination of stuff,like a hair ball.

Sometings all the snake does is poke a hole through the gunk , only to reform somewhere down the pipes. In other words ,it will drain but it's a guess for how long.

If you have ever heard the saying like a slippery snake, thats what the stuff does ,it makes the build up slip and slide through the pipes. If the snake just polks through it , it can and does stay building back up to a blockage. That;s the iffy part about running the snake through certain types of blockage.

A plumber will tell you after the drain is open ,upon completion of running the snake that your drain is open but there is a chance the clog moved down the pipes and may build back up later, if it does,call back .

Yea, well, if you use hair clog remover and it moves down the pipe later rebuilding back into a clog ,you can call out the bottle of hair clog remover and pour some more down the pipes ! It is faster and far cheaper that paying and repaying a plumber!

It's a good product and it works . The objective is to move the gunk down the pipes into the main drain ,the 4 inch pipes.

Talk to your super and have the super get to it, save the building some real bucks on those plumber charges and the stuff works fast.

Buy some for yourself and keep it under your sink !

 On edit, I forgot about Bush ! Over time and in particular when there is no perforated drain cover over the bath tub drain or bathroom sink drain ,a lot of stuff goes down the pipes and collects in places forming a kind of junk pile. And the stuff collective becomes like a mountain of junk in yer drain system. The stuff of junk is unseemly but there is a product you can get that will allow you to do combat with the stuff and the junk. Stuff happens as you know but when the stuff becomes a junk pile in your pipes than something must be done ! What it comes down to is you must have the right stuff on hand so you can get rid of the junk.

10 minute Hair Clog Remover is the right stuff folks . There is no treasure to be found for anyone in that junk collective in your pipes !

Zep 10 Minute Hair Clog Remover !

Hassin Bin Sober (13,623 posts)    Mon Oct 5, 2015, 11:07 PM

4. You need to have the pipes rodded by a pro.
 
Since it is part of the common plumbing it should be a building/association paid repair.

[BlueStateSaint]

'Course, some sort of explosive put down the pipes then detonated, would work as well . . .

[Carl]

Too cheap to call a union plumber? 

[Patriot Guard Rider]

Too cheap to call a union plumber? 

Union: Half the quality at twice the price.

[thundley4]

In their case, their shower emptied into the same downpipe that serviced the common roof gutters and their neighbour's sink. There was a blockage as a result of leaves gathering at the bend where the downpipe entered the drain at ground level, hence the backing up.

What???  I don't know where that DUmmies friend lives, but the storm drains and sewer system are separate here. They require vastly different treatments before being dumped into the river. Who would waste the money treating rainwater to the same standards as sewer water?

[jb2u11]

I feel sorry for this dummy so I am willing to offer advice.  Go to your local home improvement store, buy a bag of Sakrete, less than 5 bucks.  Pour as much as possible down every drain in your apartment. Follow with about 1 quart of water in each drain.  If done properly you will never get water from your neighbor coming up through your drain again.

[BlueStateSaint]

I feel sorry for this dummy so I am willing to offer advice.  Go to your local home improvement store, buy a bag of Sakrete, less than 5 bucks.  Pour as much as possible down every drain in your apartment. Follow with about 1 quart of water in each drain.  If done properly you will never get water from your neighbor coming up through your drain again.

 

From your keyboard to their eyes . . .

[jb2u11]

From your keyboard to their eyes . . .

What can I say, I'm a helpful kind of guy

[Ptarmigan]

Way to make everything depressing! 

[obumazombie]

The cousin of nadin, coach franksolich is highlighting and offering... up and comers for a late year run at DOTY, and the coach franksolich award.


edit:+.

[BattleHymn]

The best way to deal with your neighbor's clog is to pour a 1:1 mix of bleach and ammonia down your own drain, primitive.

[DUmpsterDiver]

I suggest a stochastic mix of Calcium carbide and solidox  with a followup of spark or flame to clear the clog.