Bathroom Sink Waste Blocked - But not?? (1 Viewer)

[iain26]

Our bathroom sink decided to stop draining a few days ago. Initially I thought it had possibly frozen but I don’t believe that now as there are some strange things happening.

The water level in the bathroom sink does go down overnight, but only into the shower tray!
The kitchen sink drains without any problem.

I have looked underneath the van and the pipe work from the shower and the sink go together via a y piece.
There is then a straight section and then the kitchen sink joins again via a y piece.
A straight section then goes into the waste tank.
The obvious place for a blockage is between the 2 y pieces.

I have had the pipe work apart and used a Drain snake at various points and it seems to go right through to the waste tank without any issues. These points are just under the shower tray and under the bathroom sink at floor level.

The confusing thing now is that having had the pipe work apart and obviously drained of all water when I then run the bathroom tap the sink fills almost instantly, there doesn’t even seem enough water going down to fill the empty pipe work.
Could it airlock somehow?

Now at a loss what to try next.
Any ideas please??

 

[Speve]

Our bathroom sink decided to stop draining a few days ago. Initially I thought it had possibly frozen but I don’t believe that now as there are some strange things happening.

The water level in the bathroom sink does go down overnight, but only into the shower tray!
The kitchen sink drains without any problem.

I have looked underneath the van and the pipe work from the shower and the sink go together via a y piece.
There is then a straight section and then the kitchen sink joins again via a y piece.
A straight section then goes into the waste tank.
The obvious place for a blockage is between the 2 y pieces.

I have had the pipe work apart and used a Drain snake at various points and it seems to go right through to the waste tank without any issues. These points are just under the shower tray and under the bathroom sink at floor level.

The confusing thing now is that having had the pipe work apart and obviously drained of all water when I then run the bathroom tap the sink fills almost instantly, there doesn’t even seem enough water going down to fill the empty pipe work.
Could it airlock somehow?

Now at a loss what to try next.
Any ideas please??

Have you checked that the trap under the sink is clear?

 

[Stealaway]

Do you have any traps under the shower or sink that could be blocked?

 

[iain26]

Yes checked the trap. It is the type with a small bowl. I have had it out and made sure it is all clean.

 

[meanders]

Is the van level side to side. Our kitchen sink will not fully drain if we are leaning to the right as the water will not flow uphill.

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[Landy Andy]

Shove a hose into the basin waste, and give it a blast through.

 

[iain26]

Is the van level side to side. Our kitchen sink will not fully drain if we are leaning to the right as the water will not flow uphill.

Yes, as level as we can be. Plus front end is down slightly which is towards the tank.

 

[iain26]

Shove a hose into the basin waste, and give it a blast through.

Mmm, not sure if that would give us splashback.
SWMBO has just agreed though, shows how desperate we are getting, so tomorrows exercise hopefulily.

 

[Tombola]

Mmm, not sure if that would give us splashback.
SWMBO has just agreed though, shows how desperate we are getting, so tomorrows exercise hopefulily.

I do this every year or so, after Ive used gunk cleaner of some descrption to loosen up and grime.

 

[namwaldog]

Mmm, not sure if that would give us splashback.

Just be aware that the pressure of a hose can dislodge the waste pipe fittings which may be push fit.

We tried, and guess what happened!!!

Fortunately it was immediately obvious and we could re-secure the fitting via the cassette compartment.

Good Luck

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[tonka]

Very occasionally on a past Autotrail we had a sink that did not drain, small gentle go with a plunger and it cleared. Not to hard or you could force joints apart, worth a try maybe.

 

[iain26]

Ended up dismantling the pipework underneath.
Disconnected the flexible which goes into the tank and it seems the blockage was in there but I could still get the drain snake through but water flow was really slow.
Shoved the hosepipe in the end and after a few seconds of spray back something shifted and you heard the water jetting into the tank properly.
Put the pipes back together and everything is hunky dory, full flowing waste water again.
Then went for a shower!

SuspIcion is the blockage might have been a hair ball. The dog had been in the shower last week for some medicated skin treatment which then had to be washed off, he mortally just goes swiftMing in a river or the sea!

 

[pappajohn]

More likely part frozen where it enters the take.
Probe pushes through a small hole..
Hose pressure blasted the bit of ice out.

 

[Otter Spotter]

Try poring hot water down sink, and there may be a non return valve which could be blocked

 

[Sue and Rick]

Hair ball in tank now?
May have fun when draining the tank

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[iain26]

Hair ball in tank now?
May have fun when draining the tank

Yes, I’d had the same thought. Hopefully the outlet is a bigger size than the inlet so the plan is to let the tank fill and then let it all go and cross some digits.