Hello. When the title of this posting is read, it may seem as if the solution ought to be fairly simple, but it does not seem to be simple to me. Our grid-gulley outside the kitchen has started "throwing back" water when the bath is emptied. Over the years, this has happened several times, and on the earlier occasions, I paid Dynorod to clear it with a rod and plunger down the gulley. However, at fairly long intervals, it would block again, and I became very reluctant to keep spending money on a clearing service (it's about two hundred pounds sterling to have it done — I live in the UK.) About three years ago, I bought my own rod and rubber disc, and have managed (using all the strength I am capable of — I am a reasonably fit ninety-year-old) to clear it a few times in the last three years.
The thing is, twelve months ago, I bought a sink filter, which is in place for 99% of the time, so there are no (or only very small) bits going down into the gulley. Yet, it is only about four months since it was last cleared, and I cannot understand why or where this outside drain (under the block paving) may be blocked.
Today, I plunged and plunged this gulley, until I felt ready to collapse, but still, the full-gulley level of water did not drop suddenly (as it does, if there has been a successful clearance). It had to be left until another attempt can be made. However, as I was putting back the grid on the gulley, I did notice that the water level was dropping noticeably (though not dramatically), so I can only assume that it (the drain from the gulley) is only partly blocked, now. It certainly would not take a bathfull of water without backing up, but it does take a washing-up bowl of water, so it is not as urgent, now, as it was. Inevitably, it will block again and even now, it will not take the bath-water, as that would be too much all at once.
My assumption is that, at the start of the main drain from the gulley (where there seems to be a kind of S-trap), a "collar" of grease has built up, and that over time, it picks up more grease (which, largely, I avoid sending down from the sink) and eventually becomes too narrow to take a bath-full of water, such is the volume and force of this.
Can anyone suggest a way to clear out this drain, so that, with good management at the sink, it will not block up again? Chemical solvents cannot be applied to the place where the blockage must be — they can only be put into the gulley. Has anyone out there any helpful comments about what to do?
With thanks in advance,
Lucky Luke
The thing is, twelve months ago, I bought a sink filter, which is in place for 99% of the time, so there are no (or only very small) bits going down into the gulley. Yet, it is only about four months since it was last cleared, and I cannot understand why or where this outside drain (under the block paving) may be blocked.
Today, I plunged and plunged this gulley, until I felt ready to collapse, but still, the full-gulley level of water did not drop suddenly (as it does, if there has been a successful clearance). It had to be left until another attempt can be made. However, as I was putting back the grid on the gulley, I did notice that the water level was dropping noticeably (though not dramatically), so I can only assume that it (the drain from the gulley) is only partly blocked, now. It certainly would not take a bathfull of water without backing up, but it does take a washing-up bowl of water, so it is not as urgent, now, as it was. Inevitably, it will block again and even now, it will not take the bath-water, as that would be too much all at once.
My assumption is that, at the start of the main drain from the gulley (where there seems to be a kind of S-trap), a "collar" of grease has built up, and that over time, it picks up more grease (which, largely, I avoid sending down from the sink) and eventually becomes too narrow to take a bath-full of water, such is the volume and force of this.
Can anyone suggest a way to clear out this drain, so that, with good management at the sink, it will not block up again? Chemical solvents cannot be applied to the place where the blockage must be — they can only be put into the gulley. Has anyone out there any helpful comments about what to do?
With thanks in advance,
Lucky Luke
