Water from Bathroom Sink Coming up Through Shower

williacg

Hi All,

I have just noticed that when I emptied the water from the bathroom sink, the water was rising through the shower plug hole. I have attempted to use a thin wire to unplug whatever is preventing the water from going down in the shower, but to no avail, and will buy some liquid unblocker tomorrow, but in the events that this does not work, and before I have to call a plumber, can anyone offer any advice?

Many thanks for your help.

Davesnave

Both are feeding into the same waste pipe.

The sink is higher than the shower, so if the shared waste pipe is blocked, water is able to take the next route into the outlet of the shower tray instead.

The shared waste pipe is the one that's blocked.

To unblock means taking off the trap or U bend below the sink and using a physical means, like a wire, to dislodge the blockage.

You can try a chemical unblocker first if the above is difficult.

williacg

Davesnave wrote: »

Both are feeding into the same waste pipe.

The sink is higher than the shower, so if the shared waste pipe is blocked, water is able to take the next route into the outlet of the shower tray instead.

The shared waste pipe is the one that's blocked.

To unblock means taking off the trap or U bend below the sink and using a physical means, like a wire, to dislodge the blockage.

You can try a chemical unblocker first if the above is difficult.

Hi Davesnave,

Thanks so much for all of your invaluable information, it's really helpful, as I know nothing whatsoever about plumbing,

Anyway, the water in shower has gone, but it continues to fill up when I use the bathroom sink, and so the first thing I will do is try a liquid un-blocker before I 'attempt' removing the 'thingy'.

Fingers crossed, and thanks again.

Heedtheadvice

Caustic soda rather than a branded unblocker should be the first cheaper option. They mainly just have that as the active chemical ingredient.......but do take care with both. Put some down sink with water as advised on the instructions and wait an hour or so. Beware that the soda solution will also come back up the shower and it will generate a bit of heat. Do flush with lots of water before using shower or sink and keep off skin etc.

If that does not work with one or two attempts (it will clear most organic blockages) then it is a mechanical solution required once flushed with water.

williacg

Hi there Davesnave and Heedtheadvice, just a quick update;

After using a thin long metal wire to hopefully dislodge whatever gremlin is blocking the pipes from the bathroom sink, I have been shopping, and after chatting with the kindly owner of my local hardware store, I bought a commercial liquid un-blocker, and used half-and-half between the bathroom sink plug hole and the shower plug hole. I left it for 2 hours, and I am pleased to report that the gremlin blockage has gone, and my water is running free.

Thank you both for all of your kindly help, as I was panicking that it would be a big job with a huge Invoice at the end of it, but it simply cost me £1.00, and a chat with two kind souls on MSE.

Thanks again,

Williacg

Heedtheadvice

Great news, a good result and money saved. Just wot this site is for eh?:beer:
Good of you to post the result.

No harm in using it infrequently down other sink plugholes too to keep things running well.:j

williacg

Heedtheadvice wrote: »

Great news, a good result and money saved. Just wot this site is for eh?:beer:
Good of you to post the result.

No harm in using it infrequently down other sink plugholes too to keep things running well.:j

Morning there,

You're absolutely right, and I have actually put a bottle in my on-line grocery shopping basket, and I will start using it every now and again as a preventative measure, rather than waiting until a blockage occurs and I start pulling my hair out (I've only just had it done).

Thanks once again, you guys rock.