wash machine drain clog & kitchen sink...

[UncleBen]

On a drain cycle today I heard water splashing on the ground and also saw that the kitchen sink had about 2" of water backed up in it (there was no water running in the sink at the time). I stopped the wash machine and then ran the garbage disposal for a few seconds, which quickly drained out the sink. I tried to run my "drill" snake into the P trap of the wash machine drain but it would not go very far and I didn't seem to pull out anything at all.

But since the sink also backed up it seems the clog is not just at the wash machine drain but somewhere in between the two. I later ran water in the sink and it did not back up at all, but the wash machine drain is still very clogged and cannot keep up with the rinse cycle.

The washer vertical drain pipe is off to the end of the kitchen, maybe 15 ft or so from the kitchen sink.

How should I proceed?

[UncleBen]

Update: it is now the next day and while washing dishes in the sink the water backed up and quit draining and water also backed up/out of the wash machine vertical drain pipe. The wash machine was not running since I have not run a load since yesterday. I shut off the kitchen sink water and it slowly drained out.

I was planning on trying a gallon of this stuff called "main line cleaner" that I used a few years back (from Walmart) which contains concentrated lye and it fixed the problem that time, but are there any tips or warnings I should know before pouring it down my pipes?

[phishfood]

Most professional drain cleaners don't recommend using chemicals to clean a drain line. If you are successful, it will not do a proper job of cleaning the line, and you will have a problem again in the future. It will just burn a small hole through the clog and then the chemical will drain away. The problem will still be there, and will catch and accumulate crud, causing a backup again in the future, as you have experienced. The drain line needs a cleaning with a full sized cutter which will open the drain line back up to it's full diameter, and not leave any spots of buildup to cause future problems.

And, if you are unsuccessful, you will have a pipe full of caustic chemicals that whoever ends up snaking the pipe will have to deal with, eating up the cable and potentially endangering them from chemical burns.

[Draindit]

Originally Posted by phishfood

Most professional drain cleaners don't recommend using chemicals to clean a drain line. If you are successful, it will not do a proper job of cleaning the line, and you will have a problem again in the future. It will just burn a small hole through the clog and then the chemical will drain away. The problem will still be there, and will catch and accumulate crud, causing a backup again in the future, as you have experienced. The drain line needs a cleaning with a full sized cutter which will open the drain line back up to it's full diameter, and not leave any spots of buildup to cause future problems.

And, if you are unsuccessful, you will have a pipe full of caustic chemicals that whoever ends up snaking the pipe will have to deal with, eating up the cable and potentially endangering them from chemical burns.

Exactly. And most guys that drain clean are gonna charge you more if you expect them to deal with those chemicals and probably ruin their equipment. When i say charge more I dont mean a coupe bucks either. Those cables can cost $100 dollars or more. If I were you I would try pulling the p trap and running the drain with the drill auger you mentioned, making sure your cable goes down the pipe in the direction of flow and not up the vent. If that doesnt wrk than call a pro.

[johnjh2o]

The cable on a drill type sewer machine is not large enough to properly clear a kitchen or laundry drain. The cables on those machines are so small that your taking the chance that the cable will turn on itself in the line and become stuck.

John