sink draining too slow?

[Hobby_Man22]

I can take the plunger to the sink drain and get it draining pretty good, but it still has somewhat of an issue with the sink filling up a good amount before it quickly drains and then the cycle continues. I wonder if the drain strainer is too restrictive for the flow out of the faucet. Is that possible? It sure puts out a good amount of water compared to most faucets. If you only run it about halfway it doesn't fill up and drains evenly.

 

[The Cobbler]

drains could be caked with **** from years of buildup , or something in the trap . both cases a plunger wont remove .
my bathroom sink was slow for years and needed a semi annual plung. I ran my power snake thru it and it flows fast as keck now. didn;t realize how slow it had gotten over the years

 

[jetnow1]

I have to pull the bathroom sink drain apart about once a year to clean the buildup of hair and scum around the base of the pop up for the same issue. It is just a 5 minute job that gets added to the honey do list by swmbo when it bothers her enough to put it there.

 

[Renegade1LI]

Almost sounds like a venting issue, can you verify there is a vent? Check to see if it’s blocked. Still surprised how many drains aren’t properly vented.

 

[Dogmeat]

WTF is "SWMBO"???

 

[Snip's]

She who must be obeyed​

 

[BillK]

I wonder if the drain strainer is too restrictive for the flow out of the faucet.

If you run it without the strainer how does it do ??

That being said I usually have to run some Draino down our kitchen sink a couple of times a year when it starts slowing down.

 

[jwilson645]

I have to pull the bathroom sink drain apart about once a year to clean the buildup of hair and scum around the base of the pop up for the same issue. It is just a 5 minute job that gets added to the honey do list by swmbo when it bothers her enough to put it there.

I haven't heard SWMBO in years..........have you ever been a member of Vintage Mustang Forums (VMF)? That's where I heard it at.

 

[Hobby_Man22]

If you run it without the strainer how does it do ??

That being said I usually have to run some Draino down our kitchen sink a couple of times a year when it starts slowing down.

I don't know how to take that shower grate type thing out.

 

[RoninB4]

This may/may not apply to the OP. Bought a house, the kitchen sink would start backing up after 6 months to the point it wouldn't drain. Trap was cleared, rod after the trap didn't help. Cut the PVC pipe where I thought the plug was and found a load of crumbly, waxy, white crud in the pipe. Figured the PO was pouring kitchen grease down the drain and replaced the PVC pipe. Six months later the same condition, the same type of plug in the pipe. If you have hard water (mineral content) in your area, large areas of Texas does, then your problem will return. White deposits on/around plumbing fixtures (shower head) are an indicator worth further investigation. I installed a water filtration/softening system and haven't had problems for the last 4 years. Look up "hard water calcification" on the internet for more info. Good luck.

 

[Hobby_Man22]

Usually it's tooth paste that clogs it and periodically running hot water cures it. I still think the faucet puts out a lot of water compared to most. Wonder if someone took the screen out at some point.

 

[Captain Spaulding]

Like Renegade said, it sounds exactly like a venting issue.

 

[Hobby_Man22]

Like Renegade said, it sounds exactly like a venting issue.

So how is that fixed? Does that mean the vent pipe is clogged or maybe even never installed?

 

[BillK]

Usually it's tooth paste that clogs it and periodically running hot water cures it.

So this is a bathroom sink ? I thought it was kitchen. Have you tried any type of drain cleaner ?

I don't know how to take that shower grate type thing out.

How about a picture ?

 

[Captain Spaulding]

So how is that fixed? Does that mean the vent pipe is clogged or maybe even never installed?

Could be or could be installed improperly so water sits in a line creating a seal. Check on the roof and see if the vent will take water.

 

[tipsy]

Pictures please. If this is in fact a bathroom sink, does your sink have the overflow hole in it somewhere? I find that having that will help a great deal. And if not, then making sure the pop up stopper is adjusted up as high as it can go. If it is just a strainer on the drain,I've had difficulty with those and actually replaced them with a different type of drain so there is more clearance for air and water to flow.

 

[NUTTSGT]

So this is a bathroom sink ? I thought it was kitchen. Have you tried any type of drain cleaner ?


How about a picture ?

I was wondering that myself and then he mentioned shower grate thing. Now I'm a little stumped.

If it's a bathroom sink, I've only seen those drain grates in commercial bathrooms so a person can't over flow a sink and walk away.