Need Help With Kitchen Drains - RV-Dreams Community Forum

Terry and Jo · RV-Dreams Family Member

Need Help With Kitchen Drains

Postalpair · RV-Dreams Family Member

We were having a small drain problem in the kitchen. My husband went to the "as seen on TV" section of Walmart and bought an item called "the Turbo Snake".......he just kept threading it through and finally everything was running smoothly. No chemicals.....I know that it what you are thinking. Good Luck hope this wooks for you!!

Trabuco · RV-Dreams Family Member

I would pull the trap from under the sink and see if it has any kind of buildup in it. The plumbing should be made out of ABS with hand tightened fittings. Should take just a couple of minutes to have it out, then you may be able to see what's going on.

GENECOP · RV-Dreams Family Member

Terry, if you want to try something cheap and EASY Unique makes a tank treatment and more importantly a drain cleaner, it's all natural, and very effective, just fill the sink with warm water, add 1/2 cup of cleaner, let sit for 15 minutes, release water, do not use the sink for 6 hrs, it should take care of it....let us know...

Bill Adams · RV-Dreams Family Member

I am a trap cleaner like Ken. There's a reason they put a trap under your sink and it's not to hold Drano!
Put a bucket under the trap to catch the water and disconnect the hand tightened connections. Clear any build up and check just above and just downstream to see if there's any build up there. With this area clean you should be good to go. If you put chemicals down the drain the only place it "sits" is in the trap. The rest runs downstream and into your tank.

The Bear II · RV-Dreams Family Member

For those who may be tool & plumbing challenged I suggest one of two methods:

As PostalPair replied use a TurboSnake. Here's the website.
http://www.buytheturbosnake.com/Default.asp?bhcp=1
It's a great tool and helps break up all of the gunk in the drain and trap without having to take stuff a part.

My personal favorite is to use this type of plunger.
http://www.amazon.com/Cobra-Products-302-6-Inch-Plunger/dp/B0018OS72K/ref=pd_cp_hi_1

I fill the sink with about two inches of water backed. One person plugs one side of the sink with a stopper and holds it down with a rag. The other person uses the plunger on the otherside drain, aggressively plunge it several times and then let hot water run to help clear the pipes. Repeat as needed to get the drain cleared.

I just had to do this over the weekend. It took a couple of tries and now the sink drain runs great, no backup even at full stream.

-- Edited by The Bear II on Monday 6th of February 2012 10:19:00 AM

EDIT by Moderator: Activated links Terry

-- Edited by Terry and Jo on Tuesday 7th of February 2012 01:08:19 PM

bjoyce · RV-Dreams Family Member

My solution is a drain screen to keep the solid stuff from going down the drain. They sell them at dollar stores, but those rust after a year or two. The good ones are $3 to $5 and last for years.

Waggin Tails · RV-Dreams Family Member

Terry be very careful with aggressive plunging when plumbing is ABS with hand tightened connections. First time I aggressively plunged, I blew the joints apart. Pull trap. If that is not source of clog, you should run a sewer snake through the pipes.

Gene - is this the product you mentioned? http://www.uniquedistributing.com/index.php?cPath=54

Good info about drain screen.

-- Edited by Waggin Tails on Monday 6th of February 2012 08:05:23 PM

Delaine and Lindy · RV-Dreams Family Member

Drain screens and I always wipe everything off prior to dish washing.. There is no one to blame except myself I do all dish washing... Knock on wood we have never had a issue with slow drains.... With the exception of the fresh water drain. Our two Mobile Suites have a very slow fresh water drain. This past month I was going to drain and opened the valve and it was a trickle..... So I put some air pressure from the compressor and it now drains like before.... I have also the only winter I thought we were going to stay in the cold took the Air compressor and blew out the water lines... worked great. Be sure to open all valves if you use a Air compressor.... My water lines were pressure check (100lbs) with air prior to putting water into the system. Air cleans up much better than water.. It was the first PDI I ever seen with Air... Common Sense ????? Happy Trails....

GENECOP · RV-Dreams Family Member

Waggin Tails wrote:
Terry be very careful with aggressive plunging when plumbing is ABS with hand tightened connections. First time I aggressively plunged, I blew the joints apart. Pull trap. If that is not source of clog, you should run a sewer snake through the pipes.

Gene - is this the product you mentioned? http://www.uniquedistributing.com/index.php?cPath=54
Good info about drain screen.

-- Edited by Waggin Tails on Monday 6th of February 2012 08:05:23 PM

That's the stuff.......

Bill Adams · RV-Dreams Family Member

Take a look at the picture (or any picture showing a slow/clogged drain) and see where the clog is. It's in the trap. No chemicals necessary. Just take a couple of minutes to remove, clean and replace the trap and you are back in business again.

Loki · RV-Dreams Family Member

I just ordered the Turbo Snake because it's a great product - and works not only the kitchen, but also the bathroom sink and toilet. I bought it at Amazon and paid only $7.99.

Penny and Paul · RV-Dreams Family Member

If you're apprehensive about pulling off your trap, (the j shaped part of the drain), walk around the campground and find someone who isn't. Offer a swap, drain work for dinner. Everybody wins! ;>

TheWillistonGang · RV-Dreams Community Member

I just found this site while trying to find help with my backed up sink drain. You guys are awesome!! All your suggestions and words of wisdom are great! We are new to the rv life with so many questions and not sure of who to ask. thanks..have a great night my new rv fam :)

-- Edited by TheWillistonGang on Thursday 9th of February 2012 06:50:23 PM

Trabuco · RV-Dreams Family Member

Well Maw and Paw welcome to the forum! Did you get your sink fixed?

Terry and Jo · RV-Dreams Family Member

TheWillistonGang wrote:
I just found this site while trying to find help with my backed up sink drain. You guys are awesome!! All your suggestions and words of wisdom are great! We are new to the rv life with so many questions and not sure of who to ask. thanks..have a great night my new rv fam :)

-- Edited by TheWillistonGang on Thursday 9th of February 2012 06:50:23 PM

Kelly,

Welcome to the forums at RV Dreams. You have found a good source of information, so feel free to ask questions. There are a lot of folks here that can answer questions for just about any kind of RV.

Good luck with your planning and research. Also, enjoy the life.

Terry

leno · RV-Dreams Family Member

Welcome to the forum. Have you been into the chat room yet? Come on in and join us some night!