Jan
07
Turn Garbage Disposal on and sometimes water comes out of adjoining sink?
By
I was trying to clean my garbage disposal and I put the stopper on and filled it with hot soapy water. Then I turned the disposal on and removed the stopper, the water started going down but dirty water started to come up from the adjoining sink. I had noticed that sometimes when i turned the disposal on i would see water swirling around in the other sink but it never came up so much. Is this something I need to call the plumber about or should I pour drano down the adjoining sink?
Thanks for your input!
5 Comments
January 7th, 2010 at 4:03 am
The disposer acts like a centrifugal pump. The large volume of water from filing the sink was more than than the drain could handle. It would suggest a partial stoppage somewhere down the pipe. I suggest cleaning the drain. Drain cleaners (DRANO) work ok and are cheaper than calling a plumber. If that doesn’t work a plumber may be the only solution.
January 7th, 2010 at 5:02 am
your drain line is partially plugged past the disposal
you can try using a liquid remedy like Drano or lots of hot water or auger the line yourself
January 7th, 2010 at 5:27 am
Nothing to worry about. It could be the drain can not handle all the flow and it comes up on the other sink side due to a clog. Fill the non disposal side with about three inches of water, then run water on your disposal side and run disposal at same time. While running the disposal open the stopper on the other side. This way you will force out any clog and clean your pipes..if this doesn’t work you have a nasty clog and you may need to use draino letting it work over night..try again the next day same proceedure. If this doesn’t work call a plumber.
January 7th, 2010 at 6:07 am
I think that is normal. A garbage disposal works like a pump. When a heavy load of water is put into it, it pumps it vigorously into the drain and that can cause the flow to back up into the adjoining sink some. Unless it happens every time you use it, I would not worry about it. If it happens often, then using draino would be a good idea. Both sinks share the same drain, but putting the draino down the other drain would be more a more direct way to get it into the trap. If needed remove the trap and clean it manually. Yuck.
January 7th, 2010 at 6:52 am
I agree with the others that there is an obstruction, but using a drain cleaner should NOT be used especially in this instance.
If the chemical doesn’t clear the problem [and they're very limited on which types of material they'll dissolve] and you try to power flush, you’ll just get the Drano back flushing with the water and possibly in your eyes.
Place a bucket under the sink and remove the trap [the curved pipe at the bottom of the drain.
Likely you’ll find this pipe full of junk.
If not, try running a snake beyond the trap and where it enters the wall or floor.
Finish with both sinks full of hot water; repeat the flush.