AboutSharon McCarthy Expertise I can help with most questions about residential plumbing problems including septic systems, and some questions about irrigation. I have no experience with commercial installations or codes.
Experience I have been a sole-proprietor service plumber in two small towns north of Phoenix Arizona for 26 years.
Publications I had a monthly column in the United Steelworkers of America, local 1033, newsletter 1978 to 1982. I wrote an article for "The Theosophist" in 1977. I've written dozens of letters to the editor in many newspapers.
Education/Credentials High school and three years of college. My step-father, having worked 40 years in the plumbing trade in Chicago, taught me for two years. The rest has been hands-on experience.
Past/Present Clients Many hundreds of good people in Cave Creek and Carefree Arizona
Question My bath room sink does not drain sometimes it will drain slowly for a couple of days, but then it stops and I have to scoop the water out of the sink to empty it. I have PVC plumbing. I have used liquid plumber, baking soda and vinegar, and several other products to no avail. I have also taken the drain apart (it was clean) and snaked the drain where it enters the wall (it also was clear). The sink in this bathroom always drained slowly but it always emptied within 10 minutes or so. However, I replaced the sink while remodeling a year or so ago and the draining issue got worse. I noticed that the sink does not have a vent and was wondering if this could be the problem. If this is the cause of my drain stopping is there any way to fix the sink without replacing it. Thanks for your time.
Answer Dear Angelique,
First you need to determine where this blockage is, then you can go about solving it. You said you took "the drain apart" and it was clean. Did you mean you took the trap off? and the trap was clean, and then you snaked where it enters the wall, and that was clear?
OK, here's my suggestion. Get a small bucket or deep bowl and place it under the "P" trap. Remove the trap. Now run some water into the sink and see if the water flows freely down into the bucket. If it appears the water runs very slowly, then there is some gunk in the pipe somewhere between the sink flange and the trap.
This is the most common problem in lav sinks. Crud collecting on the pop-up or the lever down below that lifts the pop-up. I'm not sure this is your problem since you said you replaced the sink a year or so ago.
This experiment should at least tell you that the problem is or isn't right up front. If the water seems to run OK down to the trap, and the trap is clean, and the pipe going into the wall is clean, then your problem is further down the line.
Liquid plumber usually doesn't work if a blockage is further down the line. The line may be full of water for 10 or 15 feet. By the time the chemical gets to the blockage, it's too diluted to do any good. If you find that you have a blockage down the line, you may have to either call a plumber who has a small electric rooter, or rent one and do it yourself.
I doubt very much that the lack of a vent in the bowl is causing this. Let me know what you find out, OK? sharon
