Double Sink Drain Nightmare? This Plumber Has the Fix!
This week, I tackled a tricky drain clog at a house on St. Pete Beach. The homeowner had a double sink setup where running water in one sink caused it to back up into the other. He'd been dealing with this for years, and other plumbers thought it was a major issue. Turns out, it was just a bad clog!
Key Takeaways
Many drain problems that seem serious can be fixed with simple cabling.
Cast iron pipe flakes can build up and cause clogs.
Using the right tools, like different cable heads and a shop vac, can make a big difference.
A camera inspection is key to understanding the problem before you start.
The Problem: A Cross-Connected Sink Drain
The customer had a double vanity, meaning two sinks sharing a single drain line that also acts as the vent stack. When water ran in one sink, it drained slowly and then backed up into the other. This is what we call a cross setup.
I went up to the roof to check things out with my camera. I found that the clog was right at the base of the 90-degree turn in the pipe. There was a lot of buildup, specifically cast iron flakes, stuck there.
The Plan: Cable and Suck
My first thought was to try and break up those flakes with a drain cable. If that didn't work, the next step was to use a CPVC pipe to push down the drain line and then use a shop vac to suck out the loose flakes. After that, I'd cable it again.
Getting to Work: First Pass with the Cable
I started by feeding the cable down the vent stack. It hit the bottom pretty quickly. I pulled some cable loose and then tried to break up the clog with the drain cables. I wasn't totally sure if this would fix it, but it's always worth a shot.
I ran the cable in, and surprisingly, it went pretty easily. I kept feeding more cable, thinking maybe it was just gunk and not as bad as I initially thought. This is always good news because it means no major repairs are needed, just a good cleaning.
Reaching the Cleanout and a Better Head
I kept running the cable, aiming to reach the outdoor cleanout. I ended up running about 30 to 40 feet of cable. When I saw my cable appear at the cleanout, I knew we had cleared the line all the way through. That's great news for the homeowner!
Next, I switched to a larger cable head, a spade head, to really break up any remaining debris in the pipe. This helps ensure the line stays clear for a long time. I also ran hot water through the pipes while I was working.
The Results: Clear Drains and a Happy Homeowner
After using the spade head and running hot water, I checked both sinks. They were draining perfectly! I ran the camera back through the line one more time to see the results. Before, the pipe was holding water at the base of the stack. Now, with water running from both sinks, the pipe was clear, and I was looking right into the main drain.
It looks like the line was pretty well opened up. So, I called this job a wrap. Another one fixed by Sewer Studs!
