A Silver Spring homeowner's basement laundry tub filled with dirty water. That drain shares a line with the kitchen sink upstairs, and it was the third clog in four years. Here's how we recommended handling it, and why the camera comes after the snake.
The question
The basement laundry tub was backing up with dirty water. The homeowner explained that this drain line is shared with the kitchen sink upstairs. It had clogged once about four years ago, again about three months ago, and now again. They asked whether we could use a camera to find the cause.
What's going on
When a basement fixture backs up on a line shared with a sink upstairs, the blockage is usually further down the shared drain line, past where the two drains meet. Kitchen drains often clog from grease and food waste that build up over time. Repeat clogs on the same line can point to buildup, a sag or a damaged section, so a camera look is worth doing. A camera can't see much while the line is full of standing water, though. The line has to be cleared first.
What we recommended
- Reviewed the homeowner's photos of the backed-up laundry tub and the drain piping behind it.
- Our technician gave an estimate to clear the line with a drain snake. The quote depends on whether the blockage is in the laundry drain or further down in the main line.
- Explained that a camera inspection can be done once the line is cleared and flowing, to look for the cause of the repeat clogs.
Tips for Silver Spring homeowners
- Keep grease, oil and food scraps out of the kitchen sink. Wipe greasy pans with a paper towel before washing.
- If a basement sink or floor drain fills up when you use the kitchen sink, stop running water upstairs until the line is cleared.
- Three clogs in a few years is a pattern. Ask for a camera inspection after the line is cleared, so the cause can be fixed and not just the clog.
- Avoid pouring chemical drain openers into a fully backed-up drain. They sit in the standing water and can make the job harder and less safe for whoever clears it.