Dual Sink Back-up

[The Ranger]

I have a Kohler dual sink (one side for the garbage disposal.) This, of course, is the side that has chosen to back up. The disposal is working (given the swirl of emulsified backwash) but it will not drain. How do I go about clearing the drain without blowing it through the over-flow valve and back at me and the ceiling.

Is there a way without going underneath and disconnecting the disposal?

The last items to go down the disposal were chicken scraps, scrambled eggs, and a lemon. The lemon emulsification is what's doing the above-mentioned swirl.

Many thanks.

The Ranger

[Speedy Jim]

There are many different arrangements possible for a dual sink drain setup.

If the 2 sides share a common trap, there will be a TEE fitting to connect the disposal and the other bowl. Often, food scraps will clog up the TEE.

They come in Center Outlet and End Outlet variations:

IF this is where the clog is, take apart the fitting.

But note that I said "if".

Jim

[Steve]

"The Ranger" wrote on 01 Aug 2007 in group alt.home.repair:

Since the non-disposal side drains, you know the clog is in or below the disposer, but not as far as the tee.

This (usually) works if the clog is below the disposer:

1. Put the stopper in the non-disposal side and have someone hold it down.
2. Fill the disposer side a few inches deep with water.
3. Use a small plunger on the disposer side. Get all the air out of the plunger, then use short, quick up-and-down strokes to loosen the clog. The UP strokes are more effective in loosening things up, so do those a little harder.
4. If this doesn't work, take the pipes apart.

If the clog is IN the disposer, you'll have to remove the disposer and disassemble it. It's not hard, just awkward.

To prevent this, periodically fill the sink all the way with hot water, then drain it while running the disposer. Put the stopper in the other side. The hot water melts grease in the pipes, the disposer adds a little pressure to push the water down the drain, and the large volume helps the debris gets all the way down into the city pipes.

[The Ranger]

Speedy Jim replied in message news:4I9si.12343$ [e-mail] to my request with:

[snip]

Thank you. That was exactly where the thing was clogged and causing the disposal-infused waters to swirl things about.

I ended up tearing the drain apart and giving it a good cleaning. I was amazed at the amount of build-up in that one joint. It's clean now but this little episode reminded me why I could never be a plumber (and I have a pretty strong constitution!)

Thanks again.

The Ranger

[The Ranger]

That was the second thing I tried (after plunging backwashed disposal grindings over myself and most of the kitchen area) upon posting my request. Unfortunately, the plug was build-up (of what I'm not really sure and don't wish to know) and layered. I resorted to tearing the pipes apart.

Thanks.

The Ranger

[Steve]

"The Ranger" wrote on 02 Aug 2007 in group alt.home.repair:

Thanks for the feedback. I'm glad you got your sink working again.