Plumbing problem

[Thome]

12 year existing house, a bathroom in the second story has not been used for quite long time. The bathroom was reused last week, and it was found that the sink in the bathroom cannot drain. What is worse, even when the faucet for the sink was turned off, there are still clean water gradually come out from the sink and slowly rise up. The toilet in the same bathroom works fine. All other sinks in the house work fine.

Question:

1) Why is there clean water coming out of the sink even when it is not used?

2) Is there anyway I can fix the drain of the sink?

Thanks a lot.

[Fischer]

12 year existing house, a bathroom in the second story has not been used for quite long time. The bathroom was reused last week, and it was found that the sink in the bathroom cannot drain. What is worse, even when the faucet for the sink was turned off, there are still clean water gradually come out from the sink and slowly rise up. The toilet in the same bathroom works fine. All other sinks in the house work fine.

Question:

1) Why is there clean water coming out of the sink even when it is not used?

2) Is there anyway I can fix the drain of the sink?

Thanks a lot.

You have a blockage in the sink drain. The water may be coming from a source that is either higher (like rain coming in from the roof vent)or loading the drain from below (tub drain, toilet, washing machine discharge) The blockage should be within 10 to 15 feet of the sink.

You should be able to solve the problem by snaking the sink drain. Take the P or S trap (P trap is one that goes from the sink into the wall, and an S trap goes from the drain to the floor) off the sink and go directly into the wall or floor with the snake. The smaller hand held snakeswith a drill attached work the best for sinks. Make sure the snake takes the first bend down and not up.

[Thome]

Fischer:

Thank you very much for the help. I will try your method this weekend and let you know the results.

Thanks!