Help unclogging an old cement sink

[simon84]

Hi all,

I have an old school cement laundry sink which is clogged. I unscrewed the pipe underneath to try to clear it, and I was able to get some crud out of there. But it seems the majority of the blockage is higher up, in a section concealed within the cement where the two drains get combined into one. I've tried to see if the strainers can be removed with needle nose pliers, but they seem stuck fast. We've tried drain cleaning chemicals, but it only resolves the situation temporarily before the clog returns. Does anyone have any idea how I would go about unclogging this sink properly?

Many thanks,
Simon

 

[Chuck]

Have you tried 'plunging? Try using two plungers, one on each drain hole and then plunge them (a) in phase, i.e. moving up and down together, and (b) anti-phase, i.e. when one is moving up the is moving down.

 

[simon84]

Have you tried 'plunging? Try using two plungers, one on each drain hole and then plunge them (a) in phase, i.e. moving up and down together, and (b) anti-phase, i.e. when one is moving up the is moving down.

I haven't tried that, but I could buy an additional plunger and give it a go, thanks!

 

[simon84]

Well I've managed to clear the blockage (getting a coat-hanger in there was most helpful in the end), but connecting it back up, there's a leak in the area circled in the pic below. There's no way to screw it in, one piece was just pushed into the other, but now it's leaking even after I've pushed them into each other as hard as I can. Am I supposed to use some sort of adhesive? Thanks!

 

[Rtplumb]

I would suggest you remove the elbow and plpe up to the sink and replace it with an extension style trap. That way if the blockage recurs all you have to do is remove the trap. It’ll also prevent smells getting into the room. It looks like it’s 11/4” at the sink so an 1/14” trap then a reducer 11/2” to 11/4” Mcalpine connector from the horizontal pipe to the trap via a short length of 11/4” pipe.

 

[oz-plumber]

Those fittings require PVC Glue. They should not be able to be disconnected.
Buy some glue and re-glue the fitting

 

[simon84]

Those fittings require PVC Glue. They should not be able to be disconnected.
Buy some glue and re-glue the fitting

Oh, ok that makes sense. Though not very helpful when you need to clear a blockage. Thanks for the tip.

 

[gmartine]

Oh, ok that makes sense. Though not very helpful when you need to clear a blockage. Thanks for the tip.

"Well I've managed to clear the blockage (getting a coat-hanger in there was most helpful in the end) but connecting it back up, there's a leak...

Am I supposed to use some sort of adhesive? Thanks!"

 

[simon84]

"Well I've managed to clear the blockage (getting a coat-hanger in there was most helpful in the end) but connecting it back up, there's a leak...

Am I supposed to use some sort of adhesive? Thanks!"

I'm not sure what that means, gmartine?

 

[gmartine]

Simon,

If I read the thread correctly and I think I did, you'd already cleared the blockage but criticise Oz for his advice not being very useful when infact he's answered your query (post #4) precisely.

 

[simon84]

Simon,

If I read the thread correctly and I think I did, you'd already cleared the blockage but criticise Oz for his advice not being very useful when infact he's answered your query (post #4) precisely.

Not at all, I was saying it's not very helpful that it's designed not to be able to be disconnected. The criticism was of the pipe, not of oz-plumber!

 

[oz-plumber]

Generally you have a trap under the sink to be able to be disconnected, if need be.
All other joints should be glued