My kitchen sink drain is stopped up. I first tried Drano, didn't help. Then another day of course, I poured "liquid fire", a very dangerous drain opener acid. Didn't help. So another day, I poured even more of same stuff. Followed directions completely. Didn't help. I even undid the plastic pipe under the sink, checking for clog. Nothing but black liquid. No help. I hate to call a plumber as they cost a fortune. Any suggestions please?

P.J. Hundley, October 2005

Two possible solutions...both require opening up the piping under the sink for maximum effect. Hopefully your pipes screw into the joints; not cemented. Also, making sure the clog is not in any accessible pipe that is directly under the sink.

1. A hand snake device to "snake" out what is clogging you up.

2. The hose trick (shoving a garden hose down the pipe and turning the water on all the way to blast the clog out)

RC, January 2010

If it runs outside into a back fed drain sealed off with cement then open the front inspection plate and see if the drain it'self is blocked if so it's a mess job you'll have to hand clear it. Rubber gloves and disinfectant laced bucket of water and another empty container for the muck out of the drain. Dip hands in the disinfectant water mix put your gloves on and dive into the drain. However if it's not blocked then you will have to check the pipe from the bend under the sink to the drain. if it's solvent welded then cut it and carefully chip away the cement at the drain end until you free the pipe.

IF that bits clear then it's between the sink and the cut section so you'll have to get that out of the wall. Take a clean bit to you local plumbing shop and get the relevant parts plus an end rodding point so you don't have to cut the pipe again.
Bob

Bob, November 2005