Kitchen drain clearing?

Gerty Dancer · Guru

Kitchen drain clearing?

exa41 · Guru

Hi Gerty , you can try hot soapy water to loosen it or Bi Carb Soda , presuming the drain has a grate it is more likely just build up over time rather than a larger blockage . be carefull in back flushing as crap may go everywhere if majorly blocked and lets go.

sufil · Guru

Once a week I pour a kettle of boiling water down the sink. Seems to be enough to keep my drain running freely.

Roving-Dutchy · Guru

Our sink drain becomes blocked from time to time and I now carry a short handled plunger, it is a wooden handle with a rubber cup on the end that you place over the plug hole and push down on vigorously with water in the sink it works immediately to clear the blockage.
Cheers
David

wendyv · Guru

Roving-Dutchy wrote:
Our sink drain becomes blocked from time to time and I now carry a short handled plunger, it is a wooden handle with a rubber cup on the end that you place over the plug hole and push down on vigorously with water in the sink it works immediately to clear the blockage.
Cheers
David

As I found out the hard way - do not try this if you have a shower outlet as well!

There is a Bunnings product that is a type of enzyme cleaner for the general gunk that build s up in pipes and grey water tanks. I cannot remember its name but it comes in a purple container. Someone else may know name?

Nelly · Guru

Put bi-carb soda down the drain then pour white vinegar on it - it will fizz up and will help to clean the drain. Hope this helps.

NeilandRaine · Guru

Ours got blocked last week and after a few hits with a plunger a chux came out the other end. And I am not pointing a finger.
Fill your sink with hot water and some Bi Carb then take out plug and plunge the water through.

moamajohn · Guru

Go with Sue and Phils way or take the hose inside ,jam a rag around the hose after you place it over the plughole and then get another person to turn the hose on full! hold it for @ 1 minute. If that works charge yourself $110 for a service call and have a drink on yourself !!Cheers John. { Don,t laugh ...I had a call from a tennant in the local c/park last week for the same thing and thats how i fixed it...out came a big gob of fat etc and that was my fee }

Herb · Veteran Member

hi Gerty,
An easy way to sort fat or more likely particle build up is to block off the drain where it it exits the van. I just brought the screw attachment form bunnings that fitted my pipe size and glued it on and then put the bung in it. Once drain closed off fill sink with hot soapy water and demestos then take out plug and leave in drain overnight. then remove bung. Just a note, in our van the bathroom and shower are all connected so could be anyone that is causing the block, hair is a bad one. It is a disadvantage of being water conscious in a house on mains water enough water goes down to flush most things out

Gerty Dancer · Guru

Thank you all for such helpful and prompt replies. Looks like we'll be at a hardware store looking for a plunger.

There's a couple of 90 degree bends in the drain, I reckon a bit of toothpick or similar might be wedged in a corner, then other little bits catch on it.

Treecrest14 · Senior Member

Gday

Looking at your photo - looks like a Jayco. If it is, then don't use draino until you check the pipes under the van. Get underneath the van where the sink pipe goes thru the floor and you may find that there is a 90 degree elbow if the pipework. That is where mine used to block. I used to pull it out of the pipe going up thru the floor and then you can put a hose in (preferably on the other end) to flush out any blockage.

-- Edited by Treecrest14 on Friday 25th of July 2014 08:05:28 AM

NandK · Senior Member

I was told by a plumber that after washing up pour a jug of boiling water down the drain.
Our van sink was slow to empty but now works fine, boiling water works for us..

wanderers · Veteran Member

Agree with Nelly bi carb and vinegar , then every couple of days just pour boiling water down ,keeps ours clear..hope this helps

Aus-Kiwi · Guru

If you don't have a plunger try slapping outlet with your hand so it works like a plunger..
Try not to wash fatty utensils in sink ..

We use hot water in bucket with strong dishwashing liquid, also carry automotive degreaser diluted in spray bottle

to clean BBQ outside..

-- Edited by Aus-Kiwi on Saturday 26th of July 2014 10:55:24 AM

spida · Guru

I shoved a hose up mine from the outside, then down through the sink which loosened a blockage. Did not have the water running until it was clear. Otherwise the plunger does the job.