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Discuss Second opinions desired before I throw even more money (literally) down the drain...? in the Plumbing Jobs | The Job-board area at PlumbersForums.net

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Since our building work 3 years ago we've had to call out plumbers at least five times to clear the pipework running from the sink to the drain (level run on the ground floor). Over time the pipes, which are 1.5 inches wide, repeatedly clog up and water ends up backing up into the sink and dishwasher etc. Yesterday's plumber put wires through the pipes to clear it and although it was a lot better by the time he left, it wasn't perfect. Previous plumbers have used suction vaccum type things, which this one said don't do much - not sure if that's true or not). He said that part of the reason that he couldn't sort the drainage out completely is because the pipes - which aren't accessible or visible as they're behind a wall - are so coated in 'fat fur' that over time it will become increasingly difficult to clear them completely. He said his preference would have been to replace the pipes but they are not accessible. His recommendation was to install a waste disposal unit as its powerful pump would ensure that the waste is flushed out with force along the pipes. He said this will definitely prevent any future problems and may even help to clear the exisiting problem. I'd be very grateful indeed for your professional thoughts on this before I go spending another few hundred pounds on a potential cure.... many thanks.
 
If fats are causing the problem rather than a design issue (though you do mention "level run" on the waste?) You can get a fat eating enzyme drain cleaner to keep pipes free of fat deposits. I used a product I found at B&Q to tackle a fat blocked back inlet gully that was hard to manually clean and it did eat the fat away. After you've given it the full treatment to clear the pipes, half a cup full down the drain every couple of weeks has been keeping this drain clear. Sorry I don't remember the name of the product but it can be found with all the other drain cleaners on the shelf. It's not good to put fat down the drain but if you use a dishwasher then it will happen anyway over time.
 
If fats are causing the problem rather than a design issue (though you do mention "level run" on the waste?) You can get a fat eating enzyme drain cleaner to keep pipes free of fat deposits. I used a product I found at B&Q to tackle a fat blocked back inlet gully that was hard to manually clean and it did eat the fat away. After you've given it the full treatment to clear the pipes, half a cup full down the drain every couple of weeks has been keeping this drain clear. Sorry I don't remember the name of the product but it can be found with all the other drain cleaners on the shelf. It's not good to put fat down the drain but if you use a dishwasher then it will happen anyway over time.
 
Thanks so much, Stigster. We are very careful not to put oil or fats down the sink etc but as you say it happens anyway over time. I did throw One Shot down there (as did the plumber) but that didn't work, and he said to use product on a regular basis. My more immediate problem is that the drainage problem is currently ongoing so I need to sort that out somehow first - and I'm not sure a waste disposal is the answer?
 
I would give the pipework after the last trap on the run a good pull with a wet vac to hopefully open up the pipe even partially (clean a path through with a drain snake if it won't shift under vacuum), dose the pipework overnight with a fat breaking enzyme and hot water (follow the instructions on the product) which will hopefully get it moving even better and then use a wet vac to pull any remaining sludge/debris out of the pipework after the last trap on the pipe run. Then dose on a fortnightly basis with the enzyme. I do this both for customers and also on my own kitchen drains.
 
Any possibility of new waste run clipped around the wall with a proper fall on it? I literally never clean out my kitchen waste run and it hasn't blocked in the last 10 years. That said, I don't eat a lot of meat, and I tend to wash clothes at 40°C minimum, which probably does mean less grease in the waste.
 
Any possibility of new waste run clipped around the wall with a proper fall on it? I literally never clean out my kitchen waste run and it hasn't blocked in the last 10 years. That said, I don't eat a lot of meat, and I tend to wash clothes at 40°C minimum, which probably does mean less grease in the waste.
I would give the pipework after the last trap on the run a good pull with a wet vac to hopefully open up the pipe even partially (clean a path through with a drain snake if it won't shift under vacuum), dose the pipework overnight with a fat breaking enzyme and hot water (follow the instructions on the product) which will hopefully get it moving even better and then use a wet vac to pull any remaining sludge/debris out of the pipework after the last trap on the pipe run. Then dose on a fortnightly basis with the enzyme. I do this both for customers and also on my own kitchen drains.

Thanks Stigster - that's really helpful. I need to find someone locally who can do that (I'm in north London...)
 
Any possibility of new waste run clipped around the wall with a proper fall on it? I literally never clean out my kitchen waste run and it hasn't blocked in the last 10 years. That said, I don't eat a lot of meat, and I tend to wash clothes at 40°C minimum, which probably does mean less grease in the waste.

Thanks Ric2013 - hmmm... not sure that would work in our building as we're a terraced house.... thanks though
 
Another thing to use is Dam Buster or one Shot or a similar product. It is basically a bottle of acid which will dissolve anything in the pipe. You do need to be careful with the application of it though as it hazardous stuff
 
Another thing to use is Dam Buster or one Shot or a similar product. It is basically a bottle of acid which will dissolve anything in the pipe. You do need to be careful with the application of it though as it hazardous stuff
Thanks KingDoey. Did use One Shot - no joy unfortunately.
 
Hi Sarah can you post some pictures highlighting the pipework ....I think personally the problem needs pipe alteration albeit complicated there will be a solution and this in turn will over come the recurring problem....regards Turnpin:)
 
If its over a 3m run then it should have been upsized to 50mm with a fall , dishwasher detergents and food waste will always clog your pipework without a decent fall on the drainage run i personally dont think a waste disposal unit is your answer it will still clog up , needs replacing how that can be done is yours and the plumbers decision but if it not addressed you will clog up again. cheers kop
 
Hi Sarah can you post some pictures highlighting the pipework ..I think personally the problem needs pipe alteration albeit complicated there will be a solution and this in turn will over come the recurring problem....regards Turnpin:)
Thanks Turpin, most of the pipework is under the floor unfortunately ... :-(
 
If its over a 3m run then it should have been upsized to 50mm with a fall , dishwasher detergents and food waste will always clog your pipework without a decent fall on the drainage run i personally dont think a waste disposal unit is your answer it will still clog up , needs replacing how that can be done is yours and the plumbers decision but if it not addressed you will clog up again. cheers kop
Thanks King of Pipes - that's really helpful. Another plumber I spoke to yesterday couldn't understand why this guy had recommended a waste disposal unit as apparently they don't contain a pump.... I'd been told that they do and that it would jet the waste down the pipe.
 
Just a guess but maybe he was talking about putting a small macerator like a Saniflow under your sink? Those pump waste so it could be just a mixup of terminology. As KoP said, if it's a design issue it is best to replace. Only if that is prohibitively expensive or destructive would a macerator be the correct option. Even then it will still need to be piped correctly to manufacturer's instructions and that may be just as bad as replacing the existing run.
 
Just a guess but maybe he was talking about putting a small macerator like a Saniflow under your sink? Those pump waste so it could be just a mixup of terminology. As KoP said, if it's a design issue it is best to replace. Only if that is prohibitively expensive or destructive would a macerator be the correct option. Even then it will still need to be piped correctly to manufacturer's instructions and that may be just as bad as replacing the existing run.
Yes Stigster I think he did mention Saniflow. That's really interesting, then. Definitely would be destructive in terms of having to take up the whole floor etc. Got someone on his way now so keeping everything crossed... many thanks indeed for your advice.
 
Thanks Ric2013 - hmmm... not sure that would work in our building as we're a terraced house.. thanks though
I meant clipped around the inside of the wall. As in my terraced house. Would probably mean removing and refitting cabinets to run the pipework behind, and won't work at all if you have an 'island' sink layout.
 
If you're unwilling to change your habits and upgrading the pipework is prohibitive you might as well learn how to unblock it...

Drain Unblocker
Not sure what you mean by 'change your habits' - we don't throw oil or fat down the sink and are careful to rinse everything before it goes in the dishwasher. If you have any other tips on how to avoid fat build-up in the pipes I'd be happy to hear them.
 
Thank you for everyone's comments. Happily, a plumber who is also a drain specialist came out yesterday and did a fantastic job of clearing the pipes. For the sake of completing this thread, he said the advice about installing a Saniflow or waste disposal to 'jet the water down the pipes' that I'd been given by the previous plumber was not good, nor does he use harsh chemicals such as One Shot which can apparently damage the pipework if it ends up pooling in any area of the pipe. Now that the drain is clear, he advised me to use soda crystals on a regular basis overnight (slow release via a loose plug) to dissolve any fat lingering in the pipes.
 
Not sure what you mean by 'change your habits' - we don't throw oil or fat down the sink and are careful to rinse everything before it goes in the dishwasher. If you have any other tips on how to avoid fat build-up in the pipes I'd be happy to hear them.

As I said change your habits, you're still flushing food and fat particles down the sink otherwise how else are your waste pipes continually becoming clogged, the fat fairy?

I suggest you scrape your plates clean into the waste bin and use a type of sink strainer to act as a first defence for any food particles which could also go in the bin or for recycling. Keep a wide necked container handy for any used cooking oil/fluid for disposal at your local recycling centre.
 
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