Unblocking pipes

Mee

Hi, my washing machine has started discharging water into the sink. Before I start fiddling with pipes, could some one suggest a good reasonably price equivalent to Mr Muscle? I norrmally try vinegar and bicarbonate of soda, but I may need a plan B.

Thanks

muckybutt

Why resort to chemical unblockers when its straight forward enough to undo the trap under the sink and unblock it manually or with a plunger ?

Mee

Thanks muckybutt,

I considered doing so this morning, but chickened out... Will attempt...

nickcc

Make sure you don't mt the trap into the sink when you take it off, something I've done in the past.

muckybutt

They can be a bit mingin shall we say, if theres a pong then best way to avoid or ease the smell it to put some vic vapor rub or olbas oil on the end of your nose...it'll mask the smell !

Once the trap is off go upstairs to the bathroom and rince the trap well in hot soapy water in the sink or bath, if the trap is clear then the problems lies further down the line so to speak, if you can breakdown the piping along the way to try and locate the blockage. If you cant breakdown the waste pipes then look at buying a "drain snake" from one of the diy places.

Jonesya

Forget bicarb, you want caustic soda. You can get cheap, generic brand granules and mix it up yourself but make sure you follow the instructions this stuff is potent/nasty:

http://www.wilkinsonplus.com/surface-cleaners/homecare-caustic-soda-500g/invt/1159440/?htxt=4JVcspeq2QL4GbpfWCrUadqsYMwAnYq%2FeR%2BrqANIGzUo2%2FPhy3irdTqHBO1TxqwZBh36kcjzU7wI%0Ak9frIWCg0Q%3D%3D

bluesnake

also if you have a long stiff thin cable or plastic tube, coat hanger may be to short then feed this down the hole and twist it a bit. once the water starts to drain note the length put in and that is where the blockage is and turn the hanger a bit (just incase not haw far the blockage is down there).

Now hot water and caustic soda.

here is the professional tools instead of the coat hanger
http://www.plumbworld.co.uk/drain-unblockers-614-0000

Stooby2

If you dismantle it, take careful note of which way around rubber sealing washers are facing - some are tapered and need to back in the right way around.

Innys

This stuff always works for me:

http://www.google.co.uk/products/catalog?hl=en&q=one+shot+drain+cleaner&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.r_qf.&bpcl=38897761&biw=1280&bih=622&um=1&ie=UTF-8&cid=4181198691868306346&sa=X&ei=aZmyUOaJEIPMhAf62ICQCQ&ved=0CEMQ8wIwAA

Beware, though - it's strong gear so make sure you follow the safety instructions closely.

Mee

Hi All,
Thanks for the suggestions.
Tried cleaning the u-bend but couldn't see anything and tried using "drain snake" (not sure I have the technique right on this). Tried my usual vinegar and bicarbonate and hot water. Ran a short empty wash, 2 discharges came up into the sink, but final rinse didn't. Not sure whether this means that whatever was blocking it was dislodged. Will run another wash when needed. Will update.

Mee

Ran another wash last night - problem has resolved itself.

Thanks again.