Hi all,

Ever so often we notice the bathroom basin becomes slow to drain and I
normally just take the (bottle) trap and all the pipework off down to
where it T's into the washing machine drain and de-gunging it all
gag sorts it out.

I did this just now and ... as usual, everything is flowing away ok
but a quick test of the overflow suggests that it's blocked solid.

I've managed to poke some flex down there and to the plug-drain waste
but still nothing so I guess it's blocked around the waste outlet
itself.

Now, I could unscrew the waste outlet itself but it's been there since
I fitted it all 20 years ago so I would rather not so are their any
100% 'chemical' processes (enzyme cleaners .. vinegar and baking
powder?) I could try or is it inevitable I will have to strip it down
and clean it out mechanically? ;-(

I was thinking a small pressure washer type lance that sprayed water
out at 90 Deg to the hose might be a good thing and I have such a
lance for my pressure washer but it's really mean for bigger drains
and so not small or flexible enough for this job.

Maybe I could make one up using some garden irrigation type hose and
fittings?

Anyone here been there and what did you do please?

Cheers, T i m

On Fri, 15 Jun 2018 12:28:22 +0100
T i m wrote:

Hi all,

Ever so often we notice the bathroom basin becomes slow to drain and I
normally just take the (bottle) trap and all the pipework off down to
where it T's into the washing machine drain and de-gunging it all
gag sorts it out.

I did this just now and ... as usual, everything is flowing away ok
but a quick test of the overflow suggests that it's blocked solid.

I find a wet vac and hot water works for clearing bathroom drains, that
tend to get clogged with hair and soap/shampoo residue rather than food
waste. For the overflow I'd remove the trap and attach the vacuum
cleaner with gaffer tape or hose clips and odd bits of whatever, and
shoot hot water in the top with the shower hose.

On Fri, 15 Jun 2018 15:54:44 +0100, Rob Morley
wrote:

snip

I find a wet vac and hot water works for clearing bathroom drains, that
tend to get clogged with hair and soap/shampoo residue rather than food
waste.

Understood.

For the overflow I'd remove the trap and attach the vacuum
cleaner with gaffer tape or hose clips and odd bits of whatever, and
shoot hot water in the top with the shower hose.

I like it, thanks. ;-)

My waterproof Vax is on loan so I'll have to get it back. ;-(

Cheers, T i m

On Fri, 15 Jun 2018 12:28:22 +0100, T i m wrote:

snip

Now, I could unscrew the waste outlet itself but it's been there since
I fitted it all 20 years ago so I would rather not so are their any
100% 'chemical' processes (enzyme cleaners .. vinegar and baking
powder?) I could try or is it inevitable I will have to strip it down
and clean it out mechanically? ;-(

Anyone know if they do a blanking cap to fit a std basic waste (1
1/4" is it)?

If they did I could remove the trap, fit the blanking cap, open the
plug then fill the basin to the brim with whatever cleaner is best and
leave it like that overnight. That way it should clean the inside of
waste and the overflow circuit?

Cheers, T i m

Anyone know if they do a blanking cap to fit a std basic waste (1
1/4" is it)?


https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?m... 262515168928

Gives a McAlpine S23U which is what I think you mean.

John

On 15/06/2018 12:28, T i m wrote:
Hi all,

Ever so often we notice the bathroom basin becomes slow to drain and I
normally just take the (bottle) trap and all the pipework off down to
where it T's into the washing machine drain and de-gunging it all
gag sorts it out.

I did this just now and ... as usual, everything is flowing away ok
but a quick test of the overflow suggests that it's blocked solid.

I've managed to poke some flex down there and to the plug-drain waste
but still nothing so I guess it's blocked around the waste outlet
itself.

Now, I could unscrew the waste outlet itself but it's been there since
I fitted it all 20 years ago so I would rather not so are their any
100% 'chemical' processes (enzyme cleaners .. vinegar and baking
powder?) I could try or is it inevitable I will have to strip it down
and clean it out mechanically? ;-(

I was thinking a small pressure washer type lance that sprayed water
out at 90 Deg to the hose might be a good thing and I have such a
lance for my pressure washer but it's really mean for bigger drains
and so not small or flexible enough for this job.

Maybe I could make one up using some garden irrigation type hose and
fittings?

Anyone here been there and what did you do please?

Cheers, T i m

do you have lots of algae on the taps, or is it only hair etc trapped in
the pipes.
I ask because I have noticed my cold water taps will grow algae (small
continuous drip) at an alarming speed if allowed.

On 15/06/2018 12:28, T i m wrote:
Hi all,

Ever so often we notice the bathroom basin becomes slow to drain and I
normally just take the (bottle) trap and all the pipework off down to
where it T's into the washing machine drain and de-gunging it all
gag sorts it out.

I did this just now and ... as usual, everything is flowing away ok
but a quick test of the overflow suggests that it's blocked solid.

I've managed to poke some flex down there and to the plug-drain waste
but still nothing so I guess it's blocked around the waste outlet
itself.

Now, I could unscrew the waste outlet itself but it's been there since
I fitted it all 20 years ago so I would rather not so are their any
100% 'chemical' processes (enzyme cleaners .. vinegar and baking
powder?) I could try or is it inevitable I will have to strip it down
and clean it out mechanically? ;-(

I was thinking a small pressure washer type lance that sprayed water
out at 90 Deg to the hose might be a good thing and I have such a
lance for my pressure washer but it's really mean for bigger drains
and so not small or flexible enough for this job.

Maybe I could make one up using some garden irrigation type hose and
fittings?

Anyone here been there and what did you do please?

I have an Earlex attachment that goes on a steam wallpaper stripper -
designed to shoot steam down drains through a 1/4" pipe. While the pipe
is blocked, it creates a fairly effective percussive action in the
water/gloop. Once clear enough to flow the hot steam tends to dissolve
much of what is left.


--
Cheers,

John.

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On Fri, 15 Jun 2018 11:42:13 -0700 (PDT), JohnW
wrote:

Anyone know if they do a blanking cap to fit a std basic waste (1
1/4" is it)?


https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?m... 262515168928

Gives a McAlpine S23U which is what I think you mean.

I *think* that goes on the end of a length of pipe and whilst I could
use it for the purpose I was thinking, I don't think it's what I had
in mind ... I think it was one of these ...

https://preview.tinyurl.com/y7vhfk4l

The idea was to remove the trap, screw that onto the bottom of the
waste fitting instead, open the plug (we have the swivel type) and
fill the sink up to the overflow with (suitably diluted) cleaner /
unblocker.

However, a mate gave me a half a bottle of sink / drain unblocker this
evening and keen to try it, I just trapped some thin polythene between
the trap and the waste and that had an advantage over the end-cap idea
.... and that was once I was ready to drain it, I just perforated the
polythene with a long screwdriver and then was able to flush the
chemical down the rest of the waste plumbing then remove the polythene
when it was all flushed clean. ;-)

So, that and a little rod out with a curtain wire down the overflow
seems to have made some difference as it does appear to drain via the
overflow now but I'm not sure if it's at full capacity yet.

I might do the polythene trick and unblocker and leave it overnight.

Cheers, T i m

(In was thinking I could use the end-stop you mentioned on the stub
coming out of the trap and drain it into a bucket etc).

On Fri, 15 Jun 2018 19:58:28 +0100, critcher
wrote:

snip

do you have lots of algae on the taps,

No, I don't think so?

or is it only hair etc trapped in
the pipes.

Yeah ... I think hair get's caught over the grill in the waste and
then other 'stuff' seems to cling to that. After that, as the drain
rate slows the rest of the pipework start to bung up.

The best I've found to clean the various bits out is to strip it all
down (trap and a couple of short lengths of pipe and elbows etc) and
then use an old toothbrush up the waste and around all the tricky bits
etc (the toothbrush bristles seem to catch the hairs) whilst rinsing
in a bowl of soapy water and a bit of Detol.

I ask because I have noticed my cold water taps will grow algae (small
continuous drip) at an alarming speed if allowed.

I think I have seen that but on outside taps?

Cheers, T i m

On Fri, 15 Jun 2018 20:48:36 +0100, John Rumm
wrote:

snip

Anyone here been there and what did you do please?

I have an Earlex attachment that goes on a steam wallpaper stripper -
designed to shoot steam down drains through a 1/4" pipe. While the pipe
is blocked, it creates a fairly effective percussive action in the
water/gloop.

Neat.

Once clear enough to flow the hot steam tends to dissolve
much of what is left.

Yeah, that was my thought ... getting all the nooks and crannies
cleaned out and imagine a nice blast of watery stream would be pretty
effective (as it is on a real 'steam cleaner' etc).

I can't see what you describe on the Earlex site but I'm thinking I
might be able to attach a short length of some thinner silicone tube
to my wallpaper stripper hose to give similar results?

Cheers, T i m

On 15/06/2018 22:15, T i m wrote:
On Fri, 15 Jun 2018 20:48:36 +0100, John Rumm
wrote:

snip

Anyone here been there and what did you do please?

I have an Earlex attachment that goes on a steam wallpaper stripper -
designed to shoot steam down drains through a 1/4" pipe. While the pipe
is blocked, it creates a fairly effective percussive action in the
water/gloop.

Neat.

Once clear enough to flow the hot steam tends to dissolve
much of what is left.

Yeah, that was my thought ... getting all the nooks and crannies
cleaned out and imagine a nice blast of watery stream would be pretty
effective (as it is on a real 'steam cleaner' etc).

I can't see what you describe on the Earlex site but I'm thinking I

Bought it years ago, so it might not even be a current product.

might be able to attach a short length of some thinner silicone tube
to my wallpaper stripper hose to give similar results?

Yup... they tube on mine is stuffer than silicone, and more slippery.
Might be some kind of polypropylene - presumably makes it easier to
push down a pipe.


--
Cheers,

John.

/================================================== ===============\
| Internode Ltd - http://www.internode.co.uk |
|-----------------------------------------------------------------|
| John Rumm - john(at)internode(dot)co(dot)uk |
\================================================= ================/