My garbage disposal works but the adjoining sink is getting backed up?
Question:It still drains but slowly and the bathtub next to the kitchen is now full of yucky, smelly water that will not drain at all. I have been putting my coffee grounds down the disposal. I just read where that can clog a disposal - could that be the problem? What do I do?
Answers:
do you have a septic or holding tank?? If so, that probably needs to be pumped.could be a blockage in the line or just full..(should have this pumped every 2-3 years) but if you are in the city, you should call a plumber.
**edit** how many people are in your house?? I agree w/ some of the below answers, if there is a clog, great-if you can get it out...but being that you have a disposal and septic, that is a bad combo...(you will need to have it pumped more often) Are you adding an enzyme like product? Rid X is okay, but not the greatest...your local septic business probably carries a product that you should be adding to help break down all the food or whatever that is getting into your system. (we sell if for $25/gallon) Your inlet may infact be plugged (line from the house to the tank)...Have you cleaned your filter? This is something that the homeowner can do, and is recommended cleaning every 6 months. Just needs to be hosed off...if you don't know how to do this, call your septic company...
call a plumber
Have someone hold the stopper in the adjoining sink while you use a plunger on the one with the disposal. Leave the disposal off while you do this.
The drain is plugged, and the only place for water to go is into the adjoining sink. Don't use drain cleaner. If the plunger doesn't work, and you're not comfortable taking apart a drain and using a snake (a flexible metal rod), call a plumber.
the main line is stopped up. it is a 2 inch line usually located on top of the house that you can run a roto rutter(a small wire like tool) line through to unclog it . if you can't get up there than i suggest you get someone to do it for you or just call a plumber but it is cheaper and faster if you just do it yourself.
Flush the toilet - if the water moves in the tub then your main line is plugged - which means that you need to have your septic pumped.
If it were just a secondary line (the kitchen) I could direct you accordingly, but with the tub backing up, it is the main.
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