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Hi. Last night Michelle cooked some burgers and poured the fat and gunk down the sink. This morning its blocked. I have read all the posts about washing powder, Coke etc and will try some when we can get some. I poked a coat hanger down the plug hole but it only goes in about half an inch. Is there some kind of filter under the plug? I have also tried using my hand as a plunger to no avail. The only other thing is that I left the waste pipe open all last night. Would that have any effect? Any ideas welcome. I am hoping that once we get moving it will just clear. Presumably the fat has caused this, what do others do with fatty pan deposits? Seems a bit awkward if you cant pour grease down the sink. Van is a Swift Kontiki 640 currently on the Isle of Arran and its chucking it down!
barryd, under the sink is a Ptrap to collect any foreign bits that go down the plug hole, remove the screw type base and check if the grease has solidified, clean and replace making sure the O ring is in place.
If that does not free the blockage try some Drain Free, or remove the pipe and use very hot water to try and remove the blockage.
Bob
p.s. and ask the wife NOT to put grease/fat down the sink in future
A possible reason for the coat hanger stopping so soon is that the waste pipe may well take a 90 degree turn right under the plug hole. I would be careful about poking anything down there.
As regards disposal of fatty liquids and foodstuff in general, we usually wipe out the pan with kitchen towel and leave as little of the lumpy bits to go down with the washing up water as possible. We also have a little sink strainer which is very useful.
The advice to refrain from dumping fat down the plug hole could (should) also apply at home. It's been widely publicised that aggregations of fat in the sewers causes great problems, and costs us all lots to clear.
I'm particularly keen on this, as, due to our house's layout (kitchen on first floor), any fat dumped tends to collect just after the U-bend in the outside drain. It is remarkably difficult and unpleasant to dislodge, and guess who gets that job? (Cue arm-length rubber gloves and lengthy showers afterwards!)
I hope you are ambidextrous and are sized as a midget with long arms and fingers that can bend backwards! Blocked drains are a real pain and are easier to prevent than cure. Many motorhome (and caravan) sinks are fitted with right angle connectors onto the waste pipes to allow clearance above cupboards and fridges; they also use corrugated flexible plastic pipe to connect sinks to holding tank. Unfortunately if you have either the quickest route is to release the worm drive hose clip using a suitalbe screwdrive and separate pipe from drain. You may be able to unscrew the drain from the sink, look in the drain grating for a screw head in the centre, and pull it out from underneath to work on it. Once separated you can clear the pipe using a small flexible wire called a 'sani- snake', most DIY shops stock them, but flexible curtain wire without hooks or eyes is a fair substitute. Do not use anything rigid as you may push it through the side of the pipe and end up in a bigger pickle!
Once clear, put it back together and flush it through with hot water, must be hot to soften any remaining crud.
I normally pour warm water down each sink and the shower waste while emptying the holding tank to flush out bits and pieces from the corrugations in the pipe etc.; and occasionally make up a solution of washing soda to flush out the system. Pour it down each sink and shower with the waste tank empty and go for a quick short drive around a twisting route to slosh the mixture around in the tank, back to the dump point and empty the contents immediately; you will be surprised at the crud that floats out.
Hope this is of some use.
Hi. The journey around probably the bumpiest roads in the western isles made no difference. I also tried hosing water up the drain tap outside but it was very windy and wet so didnt try that for too long. I then looked at getting to the bits under the sink as suggested but it looks almost impossible to get at. I have attached two pics of the sink and under the sink. As you will see there is a board under the sink. I cant see how it would move easily. I tried to unscrew the latts on one side but couldnt manage the others. Its really awkward as my right knee is dodgy and I cant get down for long to get at it. Is it worth persisting to get this board out?
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