Helping a Kitchen Sink Drain

[terry and jo]

Have I ever told you all that forum search features tend to be worthless? The more words that one puts in a search phrase, the more threads that come up that are completely irrelevant to the basic question.

Anyway, Jo mentioned that the drain was slowing down in the plumbing of the kitchen sink. Since we aren't really expert with such things as plumbing, we have tended to use the normal stuff like Drano and Liquid Plumber.

With a concern for the plumbing in the coach, I thought I'd ask those on the forums with a lot more experience with RV plumbing.

So, the obvious question for everyone is: What are you using to help your drains speed up?

Thanks in advance.

Terry

[wingnut60]

Terry,
Have never used anything poured into the drain, but have taken the drain apart for cleaning once--had built-up grease deposits that I cleaned out.
Not a hard job except for taking everything out and putting it back in.
The sink was not draining slow, had to take the drain out to replace the faucet so cleaned the elbows/trap at the same time.
Joe

[RonS]

If dains pluging up, wonder what is happig to holding Tank????

[Cheif 2]

In almost 5 years of owning our unit we have never had a problem with slow moving drains unless the gray tank was about full. I would think that it may be a problem related more towards a vent for the kitchen sink being restricted. That is as long as you haven't been pouring grease down the drain.

[The View 5046]

We haven't used any chemical in the fresh water system so for but have only been in the Suites for about 2.5 years. However I wouldn't hesitate in using over the counter chemicals.... I also hate to break any connections for water at all. I do believe in a RV you must always use plenty of water when using any of the drain systems.. I do all dish washing and always wipe out all dishes before washing and clean, I also never put any grease at all down the fresh water systems. And always have used a drain screen in the kitchen sinks. Happy Trails....

[wingnut60]

RonS,
Probably should have used the word 'scum' instead of 'grease--don't have a problem with the tank after 7 years.
View
Not sure one can totally refrain from getting some grease into the drain if you do any cooking at all, but have never poured any grease into the drain.

Putting the drain back together was not a problem, and don't have a leak. Replacing the faucet was the reason I took out the drain assembly--for access.

Joe

[golf_bears]

If it's the kitchen sink, remove the P trap and clean & flush.

If it's the shower drain, remove the drain screen and pluck out stuff hung up on the plastic cross plug and flush.

If it's the bathroom sink, remove the plunger and clean of all the gunk collected on the plunger retaining rod and flush.

Have had to do all three over the last 4 years.

Do not use any chemicals, they could possibly damage your tank drain valve rubber seals and gaskets.

[rotaxman]

Terry and Jo,

I have never had any slow drain trouble with my 06 or this junk 09. As far as using any kind of drain cleaner I would keep away from that as there are rubber o ring seals in your dump valves. I would be afraid that the chemicals could attack those seals causing more trouble.

Joe,

I just changed the kitchen faucet out in this junk 09 but I took the liberty of cutting a hole in the curb side of the island when I first got the unit. Then I ordered two doors from DRV and installed them which makes access to the kitchen faucet plumbing very,very easy. Not to mention it makes Joyce very, very happy as she can get to the stuff she stores in there easily.

As always good camping
Jerry

[USA in a Chevrolet]

At Home Depot & Lowe's you can find a long plastic strip with plastic teeth on it which is very helpful for cleaning sink drains. It costs less than $3 & is called a Zip It Bath & Sink Snare. Here is the link.
http://www.homedepot.com/Plumbing-Drain-Openers/h_d1/N-5yc1vZbqnc/R-100665735/h_d2/ProductDisplay?catalogId=10053&langId=-1&storeId=10051

I have used it very successfully for removing hair & grease from sinks & if your probem is more difficult to resolve, you've only spent $3.

[5thwheeler]

Searching can be a pain, but here's a hint

If you search for "clog drain" you get over 70 hits, but

if you search for "clog or drain", you'll get less than 10 hits

Using the and / or separators in the search string may help.