Kitchen Drain Clogging
- Cap
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My kitchen drain has a buildup. This same thing happened about 5-6 yrs ago. I replaced the entire 2" pvc across the basement ceiling back in 2006. And I replaced it again last week.
The only thing hooked up to this line is the dishwasher & the kitchen sink. No garbage disposal. I thought it could be undissolved dishwasher detergent. So, only used liquid since the last time I replaced this drain pipe.
But not. The substance is a light greasy substance and it will float in water. We are careful to screen particles in the drain. I think it's peanut butter from the knives and years of peanut butter jelly sandwiches!
I installed a giant 3" trap in the basement ceiling hooked together with rubber boot connectors so I can drop it next year in order to clean it out.
Any ideas?
The only thing hooked up to this line is the dishwasher & the kitchen sink. No garbage disposal. I thought it could be undissolved dishwasher detergent. So, only used liquid since the last time I replaced this drain pipe.
But not. The substance is a light greasy substance and it will float in water. We are careful to screen particles in the drain. I think it's peanut butter from the knives and years of peanut butter jelly sandwiches!
I installed a giant 3" trap in the basement ceiling hooked together with rubber boot connectors so I can drop it next year in order to clean it out.
Any ideas?
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- Rob R.
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Looks like some sort of fat or grease buildup...whatever it is, it must not be water soluble. Try hitting it with some HOT water and see if it melts or breaks down.
Does anyone pour grease down the drain?
Does anyone pour grease down the drain?
- Cap
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No grease. In fact, we don't eat fried food. Must have some correlation between the well water and dishwasher
Hey Rob. Congratulations on #2.
Hey Rob. Congratulations on #2.
- Richard S.
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Every so often I fill the sink with hot water and then let it drain.
That kind of looks like the crap that came out of the lines outside here, they had a dip. Sure it's pitched right?
That kind of looks like the crap that came out of the lines outside here, they had a dip. Sure it's pitched right?
- michaelanthony
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Richard S. wrote:Every so often I fill the sink with hot water and then let it drain.
That kind of looks like the crap that came out of the lines outside here, they had a dip. Sure it's pitched right?
A quarter inch a foot pitch on the drain, and some liquid plumber every few months should help.
- Rob R.
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I use "Finish" brand tablets in the dishwasher, they rinse perfectly clean and leave no residue on anything.
Do you have a water softener?
X2 on checking the pipe pitch.
Do you have a water softener?
X2 on checking the pipe pitch.
- I'm On Fire
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I had that same crap in my kitchen sink too. I went to clear it and the damn pipe broke in my hand; old galvanized pipe that went to a dry well. The dry well had collapsed. I just installed a new line to the septic. It was only a 5" move from where it dropped into the basement to the branch line. Although, it's now got a 45º pitch. You can hear it sucking. LOL
- VigIIPeaBurner
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Silicates and Carbonate salts. Could possibly be Phosphate salts as well depending on your detergents formulation. Those compounds are there to tie up water hardness and allow the detergent to do a good job.Cap wrote:No grease. In fact, we don't eat fried food. Must have some correlation between the well water and dishwasher
Hey Rob. Congratulations on #2.
You might be using too much detergent. It's good to know your water hardness and adjust the detergent amount accordingly. Here's a good link that describes it quite well. Calcium and Magnesium silicates/phosphates are not as soluble as are Sodium silicates. If you use a softener, you can use less detergent.
- Cap
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Yes, I have hard water. No, I do not use a softener.Rob R. wrote:Cap, do you have hard water? Softener?
- VigIIPeaBurner
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Do you know how many grains of hardness your well water has?Cap wrote:Yes, I have hard water. No, I do not use a softener.Rob R. wrote:Cap, do you have hard water? Softener?
- Rob R.
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It is time to put one in and enjoy nice water and extended appliance life. Get the water tested, then you will know what you are dealing with. Grains per gallon of hardness, iron, etc.Cap wrote:Yes, I have hard water. No, I do not use a softener.Rob R. wrote:Cap, do you have hard water? Softener?