#My Dishwasher Won’t Drain in North Smithfield

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My Dishwasher Won’t Drain part – I

MY KITCHEN SINK WON’T DRAIN

Kitchen sink drain lines not draining are popular with drain cleaning companies. This post is going to both illustrate and explain cause for developing a kitchen sink drain blockage.

We receive a lot of calls from home owners and tenants who have kitchen drain issues. The customer who most comes to mind at the writing of this post had some common issues with his kitchen sink drain line. “Common” as problems go, the drain line was too long and had quite a few bends. We were able to go to his basement and get a look at the kitchen sink drain piping. This drain line was over 30 feet long, from the sink to the stack.

When we run the horizontal length of pipe from the sink (or any fixture) to the stack, or main sewer line with a long run of pipe, the grade on the pipe is usually compromised. The International Plumbing Code requires the pitch of the pipe to fall 1/4″ per foot of horizontal travel. The pipe runs in a ceiling which is usually made a distance of no more than 8″ from the sub-floor above, due to the size of joist supporting the floor above the ceiling. The pipe may not penetrate the joist 2″ from the top or 2″ from the bottom of the joist.

Since the top of the two inch pipe is set at no closer than two inches to the top of the floor joist, the bottom of a 2″ pipe is resting at 4″ from the top of the joist. So, plumbers attempt to have the last few feet of pipe running along side the joist to prevent being restricted by penetration codes. This would mean the bottom of the 2″ pipe can rest at bottom (or ceiling side) of the joist after running a distance of 16 feet. The 2″ drain line running a distance of 30 feet was flat at some points and back pitched. A plumbing inspector should never had permitted the design of the plumbing system to have 2″ pipe running more than 16 feet, according to The International Plumbing Code.

When a long length of pipe, carrying debris from the kitchen sink drain line has little fall, or is back pitched, the debris lays in the pipe until it accumulates and builds a blockage. The water attempting to flow down is not enough to remove the blockage because the debris, building over time hardens. Now, there is little the home owner can do, but cable the line. Chemical drain cleaners will not have an effect on the drain.

This particular customer’s kitchen sink line was filled with egg shell and coffee. Apparently, the previous home owner had a bad habit of disposing of coffee grounds and egg shells in to the garbage disposer. Some people believe the egg shells will clean the disposer. Not sure why coffee grounds were flushed down the sink.

Since eggshells are calcium based, the shell fragments collected in the belly of the pipe adhere to grease that is washed down the drain over a period of years. This is a perfect recipe for a clog in the kitchen sink drain line. The grease and oils now have something to adhere to. Egg shells. Literally a mortar is being formed in the line. Layers of grease building in the line literally become like clay.

Sometimes a cable can be used to break up the blockage. However, do not be surprised if the kitchen sink backs up again. Grease is still stuck to the inside of the pipe. High pressure water jetting is a good option for cleaning the interior of the pipe wall. The ABS pipe spoken of in this man’s kitchen sink line would function good as new. However, some investigative measures should be taken to correct the problem he had with pitch. Please see the video at the bottom of this post for an illustration in plumbing a long drain line.

Click on this link to discover a tool that is made at varying sizes for all household size piping which may be useful to clear a kitchen sink drain. The following photo illustrates what the tool will look like. This one is from Brass Craft…

Garbage disposals are also a culprit in a clogged kitchen sink. Click on this link to review step-by-step instruction on clearing a jammed garbage disposer.

Diagnosing and fixing the drainage problem for a sink, shower or bathtub may be a long and difficult process. Be safe. If fixing the issue is something that is risky or not being understood, contact a drain service company. The range of pricing for a company who cares to do the job correctly is within $145.00 – $225.00. This depends on material used in piping, age of the house which would help the plumber understand the plumbing code that was used in assembling the plumbing system, access to the plumbing and what is assumed to be creating the blockage.

For more details on our products and services, please feel free to visit us at My Dishwasher Won’t Drain in North Smithfield , RI, Septic Tank Problems in North Smithfield , RI & Septic Tank Maintenance in North Smithfield , RI

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Sewer Cleaning Service Part - I

Sewer cleaning service arrived as a necessity in the evolution of plumbing systems.

1935 is the approximate era of bell and spigot gasket type sewer systems. In the manner this pipe is assembled to carry sewage, a bell and spigot gasket piped sewer eventually lead to an effective means of clearing blockages. “Sewer Cleaning” was not a term used in the English language. In fact, the popular terminology was, “Rooting”.

Consider, for a moment, how the word “Rooting” fits into the sewer cleaning industry. We hear the term applied in some tense when we call a sewer cleaning service. Adding a hint, the words, “Rooter Man”, “Mr. Rooter”, “Roto Rooter”, …etc. all being company titles, originate from the act of “rooting” a sewer line.

As gasket piping became the preferred method of constructing a sewer system, the moniker, “Rooter Man” became a household term. Reason being, gaskets in the piping eventually rotted or leaked. As the nutrient rich waste water seeped into the earth, vegetation found its way into the sewer system. The result, root intrusion. Roots had to be removed from the sewer line.

Sewer cleaning services involving the removal of sewer blockages caused by root intrusion began to spring up. The sewer service would be summonsed. When the sewer cleaning service arrived, a knock on the door would be followed by an announcement. “Rooter Man”!

Rooter man became the popular terminology of the day for this sewer cleaning service. Reason being, roots grew into the sewer, the sewer service called the method of freeing the sewer from root intrusion, “Rooting” or “Rodding”.

Rooting and Rodding was done by pushing a long, flat, barbed ended rod into the cleanout of the sewer. The hope was to push the barbed end into the blockage, twist and yank as much of the root intrussion out of the sewer as the sewer cleaning service could. Flow was restored. However, once root intrusion had occurred, the process had to be repeated over intervals of a few months.

A sewer cleaning technican by the name of Sam Blanc practiced maintenance of his own sewer. Sam thought, there must be a better way as he worked from his basement. The idea came while observing the oscillating action of his wife’s ringer cloths washing machine. Commandeering the motor from the washing machine, fabricating a woven steel basket and using a coil of sprung steel, Sam Blanc invented the worlds first rotational rooting machine.

The technique in rooting with the flat, barbed end bar was to stab and twist. Sam considered this action with the idea of a cutting blade. But, not just stabbing and twisting. Advancing the cable, sweeping the outside wall and cutting.

Sam Blanc set out with the family car and a trailer in tow. On the trailer, “The Roto Rooter”. Seemingly, overnight, The Roto Rooter sewer cleaning machine was being seen in the use of eliminating root intrusion across the country. Demand for supply gave birth to machine shops under the name, RotoRooter. The purchase of the “Roto Rooter” machine and the accessories became the purchase of a Roto Rooter franchise.

Today, the offenders of sewer blockage vary. The industry still sees plenty of pipe suffering from root intrusion. However, inappropriate use of the sewer is a larger culprit. “Flushable wipes” are considered “flushable” due to the fact they generally make it out of the toilet when the trip lever is depressed. However, they do tend to accumulate in the sewer line.

Grease is also large on the offending agent list. Hardened and soft accumulations of grease are difficult to clear from the sewer line. Therefore, the sewer and drain cleaning industry implements fine, high pressure jets of water to erode and flush the sewer of grease blockages.

Anchor Sewer and Drain Cleaning has all of the services available for clearing sewer blockages in homes and the place of business. Sewer size should not be more than 5″ in diameter when contacting Anchor Sewer and Drain Service to restore flow to your sewer line.

For more details on our products and services, please feel free to visit us at My Dishwasher Won’t Drain in North Smithfield , RI, Garbage Disposal Not Working in North Smithfield , RI, Septic Tank Problems in North Smithfield , RI, Septic Tank Maintenance in North Smithfield , RI&Septic problems in North Smithfield , RI

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My Tub Won’t Drain Part - III

Our drain and sewer cleaning service administers the use of a jetter, snake and camera in sewer line issues and when needed for a particularly difficult clogged drain. Anchor Sewer and Drain Cleaning technicians will restore flow to blocked sewer systems, relieve a slow or clogged drain and resolve septic tank issues. Anchor Sewer and Drain Cleaning service also performs video inspections. We also network with reputable Rhode Island and Massachusetts plumbers for repair services needed while handling your sanitary drainage issues. Our goal is to provide a better standard for drain cleaning, sewer cleaning, septic cleaning, and septic system repair service in Massachusetts and Rhode Island, especially in our local service area of Bellingham, Mendon, Franklin, and Foxboro. Our technicians utilize solid sewer and drain cleaning techniques. Having experienced various types of sewer and drain systems up and down the east coast, our crew has seen many of the sewer and drain systems in use. In Massachusetts and Rhode Island, our drain cleaning technicians service large and small businesses as well as apartments and single family homes. We serve the entire area, but especially Bellingham, Franklin, and Mendon.

Anchor Sewer and Drain Cleaning Service is founded on the desire to build strong relationships with our clients. Our customer service skill is our most valuable asset. Without it, we fail to build relationships with our clients. If we fail there, we fail in business. For this reason, we are constantly posting and updating our blog in order to provide a link to our customers and give them instruction on how they may help themselves in solving drain and plumbing issues. You may visit The Anchor Sewer and Drain Cleaning Service self help section by clicking on the tab in the upper right hand corner of the website, entitled, Do It Yourself to find information the pros know and use to restore a clogged drain. By visiting our blog, you will find charts, diagrams, videos and step – by – step instruction to help you solve common problems around your home or place of business.

We at Anchor Sewer and Drain Cleaning Service live as part of the human family. Therefore, we believe in doing our very best to help one another. Anchor Sewer and Drain Cleaning Service is not just about clearing a clogged drain to make a dollar. If you are having drainage trouble, call us to consult with one of our technicians. Or, you also have the blog as a reference tool. We will give you the information you need to help you dispose of your plumbing issues. Not all sewer and drainage issues are easy to fix. If you have tried our advice and still have difficulty, give us a call. We will visit, evaluate the problem, determine what will need to be done to fix it and provide you with an upfront estimate. No service charges unless using a tool is required in the diagnostic process.

For more details on our products and services, please feel free to visit us at My Dishwasher Won’t Drain in North Smithfield , RI, Garbage Disposal Not Working in North Smithfield , RI & Septic Tank Problems in North Smithfield , RI

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Septic Remediation in North Smithfield , RI part - III

DIAGNOSE A GARBAGE DISPOSAL

Garbage disposers are among the worst offenders when having kitchen sink back ups. This is usually the result of an object, inadvertently being washed into the sink drain and impeding the grinding chamber. (NOTE: Garbage disposers are intended as a companion to the dishwasher. Therefore, garbage disposals are to be used for disposal of small food particles and biodegradable organic matter that arrives in the sink while rinsing dishes.) In the event the garbage disposal is jammed due to a foreign object falling into the grinding chamber, without notice, the disposer’s circuitry will overload and cut out power before the garbage disposer will overheat and self destruct. If your disposal does not make a sound when turned on, the internal circuit breaker has tripped. Do not attempt to reset this until you have determined why the circuit has been interrupted. Resolve the cause first. Though the circuit breaker is tripped, be sure the switch supplying power is in the off position. You may even want to disconnect power from the main circuit panel as an extra safety precaution.

Here are the steps to trouble shooting the garbage disposer:

1.            Before looking into the disposer, be sure power is disengaged and there is no way anyone will inadvertently supply power to the garbage disposal while you are working on it.

2.            Use a flashlight and peer into the grinding chamber of the disposer.

3.            If you see an object that would obstruct the ability for the grinding chamber to move, look for a 1/4″ allen wrench. Most garbage disposals come with a 1/4″ allen wrench.

4.            Beneath the garbage disposer, in the center, you will see a hexagonal hole. This is where you will use the 1/4″ allen wrench. Turn the kitchen sink faucet on, if the sink still drains. Insert the allen wrench in the hexagonal hole beneath the disposer. Begin working the wrench clockwise and counter clockwise. This should help work the obstruction loose. When the chamber feels it is moving more freely than when you first started working with the wrench, turn the faucet off. Reach into the disposer (all power off) and remove the obstruction.

5.            Back to the bottom of the disposer, find a button. This is the internal circuit breaker for the garbage disposal. Push it. Resupply current to the garbage disposer switch if you turned it off at the breaker panel. Turn the water on, then the switch. The garbage disposer should work if it has not burned itself out. If there is still debris left in the grinding chamber, you will need to repeat these steps.

Avoid using a plunger. Only plunge the disposer as a last option. Plunging could force the seals in the disposer out of place and create leaks.

Diagnosing and fixing the drainage problem for a sink, shower or tube may be a long and difficult process. Be safe. If fixing the issue is something that is risky or not being understood, contact a drain service company. The range of pricing for a company who cares to do the job correctly is within $145.00 – $225.00. This depends on material used in piping, age of the house which would help the plumber understand the plumbing code that was used in assembling the plumbing system, access to the plumbing and what is assumed to be creating the blockage.

Adding a garbage disposal unit to an old drain line, composed of cast iron or galvanized pipe is not recommended. This can be done. However, the piping material will develop pitting inside the pipe. This will provide a place for food particles to lodge. Then, more particles are added. You may not see a problem for quite a while. However, where the food particles are building, bio-mat is also building in the line. Here, you now have the problem of carbon material and moisture stuck in place. Using the idea of having a protein stain on an article of clothing being laundered; you would use a protein detergent to remove the stain. The same principle applies here, carbon material such as decaying food, lies against the pipe, which is also a carbon material. This aides in weakening the walls of the pipe.

For more details on our products and services, please feel free to visit us at Clogged Sink in North Smithfield , RI, Clogged Toilet in North Smithfield , RI & My Dishwasher Won’t Drain in North Smithfield , RI

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Septic Tank Maintenance In North Smithfield , RI Part - I

MAINTAINING A SEPTIC SYSTEM

The scope of this post is to discuss options for septic system maintenance and septic system failure. The over whelming majority of septic systems function by anaerobic bacterial action. Sewage leaves the house or place of business and is stored in the septic tank until the anaerobic bacteria breaks the sewage down. Then it is conveyed to the distribution box in the form of effluent.

The distribution box is a second tank in the septic system between the septic tank and the leach field. Effluent flows from the septic tank to the distribution box and to the various number of leaching lines in the leach field.

In the leach field, anaerobic bacteria continues breaking down, and digesting solids that have left the septic tank. The leach field is originally tasked with absorbing effluent. However, it was discovered that solids, still suspended in the effluent are found in the leach field, where the anaerobic bacteria is still attempting to digest them. The presence of biological material and anaerobic bacteria in the leach field is the death of the leach field. Remember, anaerobic action does not dispose of biological material very quickly. The build up in the leach field occurs faster than the bacteria can dispose of the material. This action begins on day one of a new septic system. It is just a matter of time, before the anaerobic system will need replaced.

What Can Be Done With a Failed Septic System?

Septic systems fail due to 2 common developments in the leach field.

1.            Hard Pan Soil – Hard pan soil occurs due to mineral build up in the soil, around the leaching lines. There are some products on the market, today that offer relief from hard pan soil. The product used by Anchor Sewer and Drain Cleaning is Septic Drainer.

2.            Bio-Mat – Bio-mat occurs due to the migration of solid biological material and anaerobic bacterial action in the leach field. Because septic systems can not filter out 100% of the solid material that goes to the septic tank, particles accumulate in the leachfield. Anaerobic bacteria attempts to digest the solids. However, the anaerobic bacteria produces a slime. This slime builds, along with the accumulation of solids and creates an impervious membrane in the soil, baring leaching ability. Anchor Sewer and Drain Cleaning uses Pirana Aerobic Bacteria Generators to convert septic tanks to aerobic tanks. The aerobic bacteria is much more effective at digesting the solids. Also, Pirana uses a facultative anaerobe that has the ability to switch in and out of aerobic and anaerobic environments. When solids traverse to the drain field, so does the bacteria generated in the ‘septic’ tank.

Being pro-active is the best policy. Do not allow your septic system to develop such difficult problems as bio-mat and hard pan soil. A new septic system should convert to an aerobic system, such as Pirana. The benefits would be,

•             Protecting the concrete components of the septic system from corrosive gases

•             Protecting the soil from bio-mat in the leach field

•             A faster digestive action in the septic tank. Meaning there will be very little solid material arriving in the distribution box.

•             No sewer odor

Every five years, instead of having your septic tank pumped, have the leach field jetted and treated with septic drainer. This will eliminate mineral buildup, keeping the leach field ready to absorb effluent from the septic tank. Which, in the case of a Pirana user, the effluent will have a much cleaner presence with minimal solid material, accompanied by facultative anaerobes.

For more details on our products and services, please feel free to visit us at My Dishwasher Won’t Drain in North Smithfield , RI, Septic Tank Problems in North Smithfield , RI & Septic Tank Maintenance in North Smithfield , RI

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Sewer Snake Sizing

Sewer cleaning machines are made in different sizes to suit the job. If you were in need of a sewer cleaning cable, or a roto rooting machine, which cable or sewer cleaning machine would you purchase?

One of the two big box stores carries a line of Rigid brand, sewer cleaning products. The largest sewer cleaning machine kept in stock is the Rigid K-400. This machine comes with a 3/8″ hollow core sewer cleaning cable. Would you feel comfortable using the 3/8″ cable in a main line sewer cleaning project? You shouldn’t. There are articles on line, granting testimony to the effectiveness of a 3/8″ sewer cleaning cable from Rigid. O.k.? That person got away with using the 3/8″ cable on his 3″ diameter sewer line to clear root intrusion. Chances of winning a bet that this man is still fighting a battle with root intrusion are very high.

The 3/8″ sewer cleaning cable is primarily a branch line or a drain cleaning snake. It is best used on 2″ diameter drain lines. However, if you have a blockage of known cause, preferably a paper blockage or a soft blockage of a sort, you may fare well using a 3/8″ drain snake on a sewer line no larger in diameter than 3″. Professional sewer and drain cleaning service technicians would more than likely steer clear.

HOW TO SIZE THE SEWER CLEANING CABLE

How to Size the Sewer Cleaning Cable                                              

Obviously a small cable is for a small sewer line. You would not use a 1/4″ drain cleaning cable on a 3″ or 4″ sewer line. That much should be easy to see. However, what size sewer cleaning cable would you use on a 3″ sewer line or greater if there were roots or hardened grease in the sewer line?

Look at the selection of sewer and drain cleaning cables. The smallest is 1/4″. Then the 5/16″ drain snake”. Next in size is 3/8″ drain snake. Then a 1/2″ sewer cleaning cable. 9/16″ and 11/16″ sewer cleaning cables are the largest sewer cleaning cables you may find in a big box store. Not likely, to find the largest sewer cleaning cables in a big box store. But, that is a personal observation.

Let’s group the sewer cleaning cable size into small, medium, large and x-large.

•             The 1/4″ drain snake would be small.

•             The 5/16″ and 3/8″ drain snakes would be medium.

•             The 1/2″ sewer cleaning cable would be large.

•             The 9/16″ and larger sewer cleaning cables would be x-large.

 The 1 1/4″ and 1 1/2″ drain lines are small. So, use a small drain cleaning snake (refer to the list just above). Preferably, the smaller the drain, the smaller the cable.

THE 2″ DRAIN LINE WOULD BE CONSIDERED MEDIUM. THEREFORE, USE A MEDIUM DRAIN SNAKE.

THE 3″ SEWER LINE IS LARGE. USE A LARGE SEWER CLEANING CABLE.

THE 4″ AND 5″ SEWER LINES ARE X-LARGE FOR A RESIDENTS OR A SMALL BUSINESS BUILDING. USE AN X-LARGE SEWER CLEANING CABLE.

WHY?

When a cable encounters a blockage, the drain cleaning cable or sewer cleaning cable begins to flex. If the cable does not have a great enough tensile strength, and there is enough space inside the pipe, the drain cleaning or sewer cleaning cable can flex to the point it bends and wraps around itself. That means you have a knotted cable and you may not be able to retrieve the cable with out cutting the pipe. In the worst case scenario, you may be paying for an excavation. Very expensive! The fella who cleared is sewer line (undoubtedly 3″ or better) of roots got lucky. Don’t take chances. Professional sewer cleaning services have the right equipment. If you feel you may use the equipment repeatedly, purchase it. You will save money in the long run. However, if you feel your situation is rare and you will not have repeat occurrences, call a sewer and drain cleaning service.

Diagnosing and fixing the drainage problem for a sink, shower or bathtub may be a long and difficult process. Be safe. If fixing the issue is something that is risky or not being understood, contact a drain service company. The range of pricing for a company who cares to do the job correctly is within $145.00 – $225.00. This depends on material used in piping, age of the house which would help the plumber understand the plumbing code that was used in assembling the plumbing system, access to the plumbing and what is assumed to be creating the blockage.

For more details on our products and services, please feel free to visit us at Septic problems in Bellingham , Ma, Sewer Jetting in North Smithfield , RI, Clogged Drain in North Smithfield , RI, My Dishwasher Won’t Drain in North Smithfield , RI&Septic Remediation in North Smithfield , RI

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Clogged Sink In North Smithfield , RI

MY DISHWASHER WON’T DRAIN

Oddly, you may find standing water at the basin of your dishwasher. Spare your concern. There are a few common causes which may be remedied quickly and cost effectively. Calm down, put on your thinking cap and set aside ideas of costly repairs or replacement. (For standing water but the water drains out when you set the dishwasher to drain, see Coffee Grounds and Egg Shells in My Dishwasher )

If your dishwasher will not drain, try manually setting the dishwasher to rinse. The dishwasher should drain and refill. (Some dishwashers are digital. You will not have the option of selecting the cycle.)

If manually setting the dishwasher to drain does not get the pump to discharge and allow the dishwasher to refill, try clearing the float.

The float switch tells the dishwasher when to interrupt the fill cycle and not allow anymore water into the basin of the dishwasher. However, it also serves for another purpose, that is to tell the pump to discharge and empty water from the basin.

The float switch may be described as what appears to be an upside down cup. Often, this switch gets jammed with food particles or other debris that did not make it to the garbage can or garbage disposer. In order to clear the float, some rotate and allow you to remove the cover. Others rotate and or lift up and down. Try clearing the float. If this does not work, there may be a problem with the pump or some other aspect of relaying the message to discharge water. You will then need to call an appliance repair man. Calling a repair man is not very expensive. Most will diagnose and give you a free estimate to make the repair.

You may also find food particles stuck in the strainer/filter. Remove this item and rinse it. Below that, there is an inlet to the pump. Use a shop vac to draw particles of food out of this drain. There may even be a screw, or two holding a cover over the impeller. Remove the screws and use your vacuum to clear the chamber.

A garbage disposer may also be the culprit. Your garbage disposer is generally where your dishwasher discharges to. If your dishwasher discharges to the side of the garbage disposal, you may of, at one time attempted to use your garbage disposer inappropriately. Inappropriate use is to believe you can dispose of organic garbage by grinding it and flushing the debris through your plumbing drain lines. (Remember, garbage disposals were originally intended as a companion to the dishwasher. Not to the trash compactor.

Any type of fibrous rind or vegetable is unacceptable to use your garbage disposer to dispose of it in. Celery is so fibrous, one looses more calories consuming and digesting celery than one would gain. As for the garbage disposer attempting to act as a trash compactor, fibers from rinds and other fibrous organics can become trapped in the grinding chamber of the disposer, acting as a plug. The plug, of course blocks water on the dishwasher discharge hose. And, therefore, the pump on the dishwasher can not push water through to the drain.

When attempting to get an appliance repair person to give you a free estimate, do ask over the phone if they offer free estimates before the technician is dispatched. If you suspect your kitchen drain line is the culprit, contact us here.

For more details on our products and services, please feel free to visit us at Septic Remediation in North Smithfield , RI, Sewer Jetting in North Smithfield , RI, Clogged Drain in North Smithfield , RI, Pipe Video Inspection in North Smithfield , RI&Clogged Sink in North Smithfield , RI

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My Dishwasher Won’t Drain part – III

DRAIN, VENT AND WASTE

From the kitchen sink, the piping generally disappears into the wall behind the cabinet. The piping will run horizontally to a tee. From the tee, the pipe will become vertical. Gravity will lead water down from the branch of the tee. And, air will flow in from above the tee, through the sewer or plumbing vent. Proper installation of the plumbing system will determine problems or efficiency in the use of the drain. In the diagram above, the vertical pipe from the tee leads down to a 90 degree bend. The pipe travels horizontally for a short distance and then drops from a second 90 degree bend. Following the drop, there is a third 90 degree bend then the pipe is horizontal until it runs over to the stack and meets a 45 degree bend and then drops into the sewer.

The use of 90 degree bends should be avoided where possible. What occurs is, the grey water from the kitchen sink becomes vented when it drops through the branch of the tee. However, the ventilation is lost as soon as the waste water piles in the 90 degree bend after dropping from the tee. From there, the grey water, levels out and is now vented from the air in the sewer. But, then there is a second horizontal drop where the water meets another 90 bend. The water will level off and then travel to the sewer.

You may be wondering why the 90 degree bends are a problem. The answer is, the vent is choked off, water stops flowing until the air inside the pipe can vent it. The waste water may carry debris that will lodge itself in the bends of the pipe or in imperfect pitched pipe. Once this occurs, the build up will become a restriction and then, eventually a blockage. If the use of 90 degree bends is necessary, consider using long sweep 90 degree bends. Or, use 2 – 45 degree bends to make a long sweep 90. Using 2 – 45 degree bends will allow a longer turn radius. The affect a long turn radius has, is to allow water and air to have a more laminar flow through the bend then would occur if the bend was a tight 90 degree turn radius. Where possible, use 45 degree bends to move the sewage through vertical to horizontal transitions. This allows the vent line to be maintained. Also, determine the amount of volume that will pass from the sink. The standard for drains found in a home is based on a 1- 1/4″ to 1-1/2″ drain from the fixture. Your drainage line should be 11/2″ to 2″ diameter, depending on the use. If you are piping a bathroom sink drain, you can reliably use 11/2″ drain pipe to discharge water from the sink to the sewer. If you are piping a kitchen sink with more than one compartment, be sure to drain each compartment to an 1-1/2″ pipe then to a larger pipe when branching to the other compartments. This will allow air flow to continue when two compartments drain simultaneously.

The following video is taken from a project we were involved in, to re-pipe a drain line. The total linear footage for the kitchen drain line was approximately 75 feet. Piping a drain line for this distance is impossible to keep proper pitch (1/4″ fall for every 12″ of horizontal travel) in residential joist. In order to give the pipe proper pitch, the pipe needs to be routed to an outside wall, while remaining in the joist, at 1/4″ per foot pitch. As soon as a wall is reached, drop into the wall ( or, in our case…onto the basement wall where studs will be placed later) and use the vertical space inside the wall to run the distance.

In running excessively long lines for drainage, one of the most common problems is blockages occur as the drain line remains the same diameter throughout the distance of the drain line. What eventually occurs is occlusion. The pipe will eventually lose its vent line as the pipe fills with debris. If we maintain our pitch and increase the pipe size, adding clean outs (keeping them accessible) we can maintain these long lines. Also, we have the ability to monitor the flow in the line with clean outs.

For more details on our products and services, please feel free to visit us at Pipe Video Inspection in North Smithfield , RI, Clogged Sink in North Smithfield , RI & Clogged Toilet in North Smithfield , RI

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My Dishwasher Won’t Drain part – II

MY BATHROOM SINK WON’T DRAIN

From a sewer and drain cleaner/plumber’s perspective, the following video is almost right. Please watch the following You tube video in order to have an understanding of the following steps.

This information will be useful for the do-it-yourself drain cleaner fattempting to clear a blocage on a bathroom sink. Anchor Sewer and Drain Cleaning wants to help you help yourself. In the event the bathroom sink does not drain, after implementing the following steps, give us a call. There are times when circumstances exist, which will not permit the use of the following steps in order to clear a drain.

1.            You will need to remove the water from the sink and drain pipe, at least to the trap.

2.            Remove the trip lever (ball and rod in video)

3.            Remove the pop-up plug

4.            Reinstall the trip lever

5.            Fill the sink bowl half full of water.

6.            Cover the over flow with one hand

7.            Place a plunger over the drain and plunge with the standing water. If water is beginning to drain out while plunging, add some water and remove the plunger to see if the sink will drain.

8.            Once the sink drains and water has been running for about 30 seconds and draining out of the sink, shut the faucet off and remove the trip lever.

9.            Reinstall the trip lever and pop up plug. Lower the pop up plug through the mouth of the drain. Insert the trip lever through the back of the drain assembly while catching the pop -up plug.

10.          When you are sure you have caught the trip lever, thread the trip lever back down to the drain assembly tee.

That is how to get a bathroom sink to drain. If this does not work for you, please don’t feel bad. You probably have a stubborn blockage in which case, you need a professional. Give Anchor Sewer and Drain Cleaning a call at 508-530-1062 in S.E. Massachusetts. Or, if you live in Rhode Island, call 508-838-9645.

Discover what makes drain cleaning different from sewer cleaning in technique, machinery and knowledge by visiting “Drain Cleaning Service” .

Diagnosing and fixing the drainage problem for a sink, shower or bathtub may be a long and difficult process. Be safe. If fixing the issue is something that is risky or not being understood, contact a drain service company. The range of pricing for a company who cares to do the job correctly is within $145.00 – $225.00. This depends on material used in piping, age of the house which would help the plumber understand the plumbing code that was used in assembling the plumbing system, access to the plumbing and what is assumed to be creating the blockage.

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