Wondering who can solve this one...

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Dana M.

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8866FA1C-B3C6-44A9-A58C-ED2529622F54.jpeg So my kitchen sink (which is a stainless basin style single drain with disposal and dishwasher tied in) is plugged. I’m by no means a plumber but have my fair share of plumbing experience. I’ve tried clamping dishwasher drain and plunging, hot water, removing disposal, checking trap, all with no luck. The only way sink or dishwasher will drain is by running disposal, which I know can act like a pump to push water trough a blockage without clearing it, so I figure the blockage is downstream of the trap. So I have a cleanout directly below the trap, so I think, perfect, open the trap to snake out the clog, only when I pull the cap, 1 1/2” inside the cleanout is a solid plastic, almost like a knockout blocking the cleanout from being cleaned out. And here lies my dilemma. Anybody with some solutions? Oh yeah, this is my first post, so if I’m out of turn or in the wrong forum or whatever, I’ll apologize now. Thanks for your help.
 
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Put your finger in the clean out and see if you can feel for a hole that shoots downwards.
 
She said!
Haha!
Sorry, low hanging fruit!
View attachment 21426 So my kitchen sink (which is a stainless basin style single drain with disposal and dishwasher tied in) is plugged. I’m by no means a plumber but have my fair share of plumbing experience. I’ve tried clamping dishwasher drain and plunging, hot water, removing disposal, checking trap, all with no luck. The only way sink or dishwasher will drain is by running disposal, which I know can act like a pump to push water trough a blockage without clearing it, so I figure the blockage is downstream of the trap. So I have a cleanout directly below the trap, so I think, perfect, open the trap to snake out the clog, only when I pull the cap, 1 1/2” inside the cleanout is a solid plastic, almost like a knockout blocking the cleanout from being cleaned out. And here lies my dilemma. Anybody with some solutions? Oh yeah, this is my first post, so if I’m out of turn or in the wrong forum or whatever, I’ll apologize now. Thanks for your help.
Put your finger in the clean out and see if you can feel for a hole that shoots downwards.
So when I insert my digit all kinds of crazy things happen, non leading to a downward facing hole. Sorry, couldn’t help it. I attached a picture. It is blocked solid, I know it’s not supposed to be, last night I drilled a 3/16” hole through that plug or whatever it is and there was water behind it, so I stopped and tightly replaced the cleanout cap.
 
Maybe that thing is some kind of cheater air vent, to fix a bad venting situation?
Your pic is pretty vague, blurry, no scale or sense of where that stuff is in the sink cabinet.
Just saying.
 
Maybe that thing is some kind of cheater air vent, to fix a bad venting situation?
Your pic is pretty vague, blurry, no scale or sense of where that stuff is in the sink cabinet.
Just saying.
I hear ya on the picture, it’s a normal size kitchen cleanout, about 8” directly below where the sink drain goes into the wall. When you push on it it will definitely flex, not what you would expect from abs. It’s almost like a scrap piece or something that didn’t get cleaned off the mold, and then whoever installed it didn’t see it. Oh yeah and this house is only a year old
 
Sounds like it's time to open up a wall, either under the sink or behind it, and see what's really going on. If it was only built a year ago, you might get lucky and find plans (check your local building department), but I wouldn't bet on it.
 
Can you remove the trap and try snaking it through there instead?
I started to try and go through the trap but it makes a sharp turn up or down( probably a tee) right after it goes into the wall. So I figured just go through the clean out, which was convenient and seemed much easier until I opened it up and found there’s no way to get into the cleanout and it’s the only cleanout in the house.
 
So to update, I hired a REAL plumber instead of messing around with this anymore. I hadn’t finished my sentence when he already had an answer and a fix for me. The “blockage” in the clean out was a “ test plug” left in by the builder, it just didn’t have the customary screw and wingnut that I’m used to seeing. He broke it out, snaked the drain to the main and was cleaned up and telling fish stories in 30 minutes. I thought he was more than fairly priced as well. I’m a big supporter of DIY, but rather than getting in over your head or chasing ghosts with money, call a real tradesman that know what he/she is talking about. Money well spent in my book.
 
Very well spent. I'd be embarrassed I didn't think of that, except that I've never touched one of those plugs in my life. Maybe the builder would be kind enough to pick up the tab.
 

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