Gurgling sink and partial blockage

Hello,

Our gurgling sink has returned. Sink #2 gurgles when the faucet at sink # 1 is run.
Spent $600 to clear the drain last Thanksgiving. Plumber spent a few hours here on the holiday with an electric snake. Hoping to resolve it myself this time.

Sink 1 and 3 join together and then there’s two 90s real close. The drain for sink 2 then joins in and the line continues along in the finished ceiling of the basement towards the main drain. Very little access as the ceiling is finished in textured drywall.

Given the gurgling occurs at sink 2, where do you think the clog is?

I’ve tried vinegar, boiling water, baking soda, green drain cleaner. Do drain cleaners even work if the clog is beyond the trap? Is a rental electric drain snake a diy job?

I fear the line might have a sag in it that is capturing stuff. We have a garbage disposal but are pretty careful about what, if anything, goes down it.

I’m okay with some yearly maintenance, but am really opposed to break the textured drywall. There’s a fernco coupling right after the point where the 3 sinks come together. The water softener also drains at that point. When it recycles, sink #2 also gurgles.....which I find strange, since sink #3 is closer.

 

Hi, I have an older house on a slab. I have a deep sink in the garage that is on the end of the line down stream is the kitchen sink then to the main drain. The deep sink gurgles then drains slow then at last plugs up. I have had it snaked twice.I last had it snaked about five years ago. For the last four years I use my shop vacuum and blow (not suck) the water out of the line from the deep sink once a year. I then take a 5 gal
bucket and put 3 gallons of water then add 4 cups of sulfuric acid to the water then pour the mixture down the deep sink. Let it set for 15 to 30 minutes the turn the cold water on full for 15 minutes to flush the line out. I would not do this if the drain was plugged up.
Sense I started this I have not needed to call a plumber.
Good Luck Woodbutcher

 

I'd say you have a lot of elbows and long lines to drain. Not uncommon to get clogs in that set up. That furnco fitting is there for a reason! It most likely was put there because of periodic clogging.

Woodbutcher's remedy may work, but I don't like the idea of the acid. Eventually it will take it's toll. I think you need to do a periodic snaking every six months.

I have a similar situation and I decided to put in an ABS union fitting mid way to attack the clog from both directions. But I have an open basement. I get the clog about once every two years.

 

Thanks. Does the gurgling indicate the clog is past the sink that gurgles? Or is the clog before it? If I run all 3 sinks at the same time , it’s the gurgling one (#2) which fills and doesn’t drain.

 

I'd say the gurgling indicates a clog in the vent that needs to be cleared. I haven't used acid drain cleaners in over 30 years and never will again since I discovered enzyme drain cleaners. The best I have ever found is Plumb Clean.

 

Are there any techniques in using drain cleaners when the partial clog is beyond the trap?

 

Yea, Don't use them. No plumber uses drain cleaners. Here's the scoop. If you have standing water in a bowl or sink, if and when the chemical reaches the clog it's most likely diluted. If a partial clog the chemical drains right past the clog. The chemical is no good for the environment. And Dangerous (please tell plumber if you used chemical before he starts work), And eventually it will ruin pipes.

 

If you have standing water you don't have a partial clog, you have a total or near total clog that will require a cable to clear. Once flow is established I would start a preventive maintenance program with the enzyme drain cleaner. Enzyme cleaners contain no harmful chemicals or acids. I still think the gurgling is cause by a partially clogged vent that also will require a cable to clear.

 

No standing water. Just a gurgling when a lot of water is sent down sink 1. I think sink 2 is acting as the closest vent.