Sink unblocker - second last resort!

[GrumpyGrampa]

Not a plumber but helping my elderly neighbour (82).

Before I go completely nuts....kitchen (double sink) and toilet wash hand basin wastes are joined under the floor (which I've been under - a real mess of pipes and joins) and eventually to the outside world (see image 1) but all blocked and not draining. I did it all...plunged to death, One Shot drain cleaner, snake and eventually cut the 1.25" pipe (yes 1.25") outside and poked a rod up there. It cleared but nothing obvious came out (no lump of hair for example). Image 2 is a temporary fix until I get some fittings. Back today and sinks not clearing again. I've bought this Professional Power Plunger from Screwfix (pick it up tomorrow).....anybody got an opinion of how good it is and how not to use it?
Professional Power Plunger

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[Riley]

Did they drain when pop was cut

 

[GrumpyGrampa]

Yes, all 3 sinks started to run quite freely (2 days ago) after I'd cut the outside pipe and rodded (back towards the sinks) but this afternoon, they're all very slow - hardly running at all. Any views on the Screwfix Professional Power Plunger (link above)

 

[rpm]

Professional Power Plunger
This one?
Wouldn`t use it on a shower or bath waste as too easy to blow the trap off.

 

[Riley]

Do they run to a soil stack or straight to drain

 

[rpm]

Image 1 mate.
Can I have a pint of what you're drinking.

 

[GrumpyGrampa]

Thanks for your replies. RPM you say it could "blow the trap off". I don't know how much faith to put in the reviews of the product on the Screwfix website (77 of them) but not one of them has mentioned this as a problem....some of the reviewers are plumbers (or so it says). Not sure where I am with this now.

 

[Riley]

Image 1 mate.
Can I have a pint of what you're drinking.

Doh helps if you look

 

[rpm]

Thanks for your replies. RPM you say it could "blow the trap off". I don't know how much faith to put in the reviews of the product on the Screwfix website (77 of them) but not one of them has mentioned this as a problem....some of the reviewers are plumbers (or so it says). Not sure where I am with this now.

Try the little White search box (top right corner) or Google pump up plungers.

 

[Riley]

Is the end of the pipe going into the drain under water

 

[GrumpyGrampa]

Yes, the pipe is going under water.....could that be the problem?

 

[GrumpyGrampa]

Sorry to come back, but in pic 1 (before I cut the pipe), should there be a water level in the drain at all? Shouldn't it just drain away into the main clay waste pipe or is there a trap in that as well - remember, I'm not a plumber.

 

[rpm]

Yes, the pipe is going under water...could that be the problem?

Sorry to come back, but in pic 1 (before I cut the pipe), should there be a water level in the drain at all? Shouldn't it just drain away into the main clay waste pipe or is there a trap in that as well - remember, I'm not a plumber.

There is the problem, the new water can`t escape because of the standing water already there.

 

[gmartine]

I'd go for the drain unblocker rather the plunger for those pipes, waste pipe should end above drain grate and yes that standing water in the drain does act like a trap too.

 

[GrumpyGrampa]

Thanks guys, I'm having another go this afternoon and I'll let you know..bought a new snake!!

 

[Riley]

I would run a hose into that drain and make sure it doesn’t back up and overflow. I’m guessing that normally the drain is under decking?? Do you couldn’t see if it’s been backing up

 

[Dkdc71]

Was it grease that came out of blocked pipework ?a lot of people chuck the grease from frying pan ,Sunday dinner down drain causes a lot of these problems and pipework and the external gully drain is where it gets caught if you take off the elbow again boiling water is good put down the sink will come out like a grease bullet good luck with it

 

[GrumpyGrampa]

Snake worked (sort of).....Pressure pump worked (sort of).....did cause a little mess under the sink but not a problem. I really think I have to go under the floor and upgrade the pipes to the correct size and the correct way round. At the moment I have a 1.5" reduced to 1.25" and I know that can't be right. I suspect the blockage is at this join and the snake can't reach it. Anyway, thanks for all you advice, I really appreciate it.

 

[GrumpyGrampa]

Problem partially solved by "snake" - not much crud came out - but cutting the waste pipe to be above the water in the drain helped. Still unhappy with the rate of flow so I've asked a mate of mine (plumber) to help re-pipe under the floor (a real mess of joins and cross connections) where a 1.5" pipe is from the kitchen sink is connected to the 1.25" pipe from the bathroom wash hand basin and then to the outside world (pic 1). Thanks for all your advice.