Chambers Plumbing & Htg

Loveland Colorado

Since 1921

Drain, Waste, and Vent

Question: When I do the wash, water and suds come up in my basement floor drain. It always seems to go down after a while. Is this something I need to address now or is this normal?
Answer: This is not normal. There is probably some sort of an obstruction downstream in your main line that is slowing the flow down. If left unresolved, it will eventually block completely and all of the sewage from every fixture before it will back up into the basement. It would be advisable to have it snaked and camera the line to isolate the problem before it gets worse.

Question: I have a house that was built in the 40s. Everything in the house seems to drain well except for the kitchen sink. Why would it be the only one?
Answer: It could be that it has a build up on the inside of the drain line from grease and years of use, or, it might still be hooked up to an old grease trap outside the house. In the early days, they used to run the kitchen sink drain into a grease trap and then out to the main drain. There are still a few active grease traps on older homes.
A qualified plumber can determine if it is still in use and just what should be done to eliminate the grease trap.

Question: Every year or so my bathtub drain gets really slow. I call a plumber out and he gets it going again. Is there any safe product that I can use in that drain to prevent this problem?
Answer: Yes. There are several biodegradable products on the market that if used regularly will dissolve hair and body oils that clog the drain. These products won’t hurt the pipes and are not harmful to humans or pets. Bioclean is one of the better products that will keep your drains running freely. It is available at plumbing shops and hardware stores and some grocery stores.