Any plumbers in the house?

So, it seems I have a garbage disposal that is completely blocked. I mean, it turns on and runs - but nothing goes through (i.e. water). I'm fairly certain it's the disposal as everything went from "flows just fine" to "oh shit! turn the dishwasher off - the sink's about to overflow!" in about 30 minutes. No water flow through it in 24 hours -- I pumped out the water, and added an entire bottle of draino max, so now (about 12 hours later) I have a sink full of draino max.

Funds are really tight right now - anyone know if an inexpensive plumber that might be able to address this problem in the next couple of days? The dishes are piling up fast with family house guests =)

!c

There should be 2 sinks right is the other draining if so check the cross tube from the cloged sink to the one that is flowing.
Something similar happend to me and lo and behold I some how lost a green scrubbie in the garbage disposal through the blades and it got lodged in that cross tube.
Iuse a large pot to catch any water that's in the sink.
Just my 2 pessos

I would undo the trap (elbow at the bottom of the sink plumbing) and see if that's where your clog lies. It shouldn't be very hard to do. If you have a newer house you more than likely have plastic plumbing. Put a bucket underneath to catch the crap.

If you're really lucky, you might even have a trap clean out plug. Just undo that plug, let it drain and see if you get rid of the clog. If not, you could get an old wire hanger and use that as a snake.

thebigtman wrote:

I would undo the trap (elbow at the bottom of the sink plumbing) and see if that's where your clog lies. It shouldn't be very hard to do. If you have a newer house you more than likely have plastic plumbing. Put a bucket underneath to catch the crap.

If you're really lucky, you might even have a trap clean out plug. Just undo that plug, let it drain and see if you get rid of the clog. If not, you could get an old wire hanger and use that as a snake.

x2

Start with the easy stuff. I have taken apart a garbage disposal to remove a screw that was wedged in it.

It is not to hard, but always start with the easy stuff. You might want to get a little tub of plumbers putty before you start or you might end up running to Home Depot mid job. A good strap wrench will come in handy if you have to go into the disposal.

Thanks for the info guys -- I'm pretty sure it's the disposal its self, as I've tapped the plumbing below, and it sounds fairly hollow (i.e., not full of water). Unfortunately, it's only one sink with one drain (a large steel sink with a single drain to the disposal, and the dishwasher drains into the disposal its self, rather than below it).

I'll go ahead and remove the trap under the disposal, and I hope it works to fix the problem. I'm just not looking forward to getting covered in draino =)

!c

BTW, I'm not a plumber but I did stay at a holiday inn express once.

thebigtman wrote:

BTW, I'm not a plumber but I did stay at a holiday inn express once.

put a plunger on it, see if it pushes water from the sink into the dishwasher, if not you problem is the disposal.

if the water does transfer, your block is below the sinks, it's time to sake,

if you determine it's the disposal, just pull it, it's easy and they are not that much money to replace... some times better then dicking with it for hrs..

Church......BTW Geo is a Plumber give him a call!

thebigtman wrote:

BTW, I'm not a plumber but I did stay at a holiday inn express once.

Yeah, well I snorted Drano once!

That burns just thinking about it!

church i know a plumber. if Geo can't help let me know and ill get you the number.

Ok, so I got to dis-assembling, and there's nothing wrong with the disposal. Unfortunately, draino doesn't feel too good on the skin (as it did not dissolve the clog, the pipes were full of it when I got to taking them apart, and even though I had on long thick gloves, respirator, and goggles - it found the remaineder of my arms quite easily as it sprayed out under pressure all over my kitchen =)

Anyhow, 3.5 hours with a drain auger, and I was able to get it from complete clog to just really slow draining. So, I'll throw some foaming pipe snake in there today, and hope it gets it the rest of the way.

!c