my slow drain

[nonposso]

The drain that the sink and the washing machine and dish washer drain into, can't cope any more and floods the area around it. I took off the grid and knelt down and groped and I think I found (is it) the trap. I pushed my hand in as far as I could get it and took out what I could.It started with a pair of pliers! But then I got this strange stuff. It is black and quite friable.

It's like pieces of mud. It's almost in pellets/lumps - typically about 1 inch by 1 inch by half an inch. Any suggestions what it might be please? Might it be - shudder to think - soil? There seems to be a lot of it. Finally, what can I do about my right hand - I've scrubbed it soaked it and sprayed it but it still stinks and my nails are blackened. Do I have to boil it?

All comments very gratefully received

 

[Fluffster]

Wecome to plumbers world, all I can say is next time wear latex gloves.

Get hold of some One shot and follow the instructions.

Are all of your wastes going into a single 40mm pipe with just one trap?

If so time to upgrade the pipework.

Pete

 

[picasso]

dont bite yer nails and what is friable?

 

[glasgowgas]

caustic soda crystals will also help to unblock drains

or get a pro to high pressure jet clean

 

[Hugh Jaleak]

Seriously would recommend you invest in some rubber gauntlets, (elbow length rubber gloves) if you plan on making a habit of this. Not a pleasant job at best of times as you've discovered, and in this age there's always the danger of sharps in a gulley pot.....

Black stuff is decomposing soap, food, grease and everything else that finds its way into a kitchen drain. It solidifies and builds up, eventually causing a blockage as you've described. Swarfega or similar may help to clean it off your skin, but it does tend to stain for a while, afraid I speak from experience.....

 

[Nige F]

Welcome to the Black Hand Gang Friable is OK . Soft and squidgy ( Richard 111 ) is not nice

 

[kirkgas]

"the black hand gang" made me laugh (uncomfortably!!) remembering all the things we used to do at work that i would never consider now, like touching drain rods without gloves etc actually the smell and gunk from a kitchen sink is ten times worse than a soil drain, makes me wonder how we survived unscathed.

 

[fingertight]

A good alternative if you dont want to use acids and your not in a rush is............biological washing powder..yep...works a treat. B4 scrubbing those black fingernails at night put a concentrated amount in boiling water and pour into named gully, do this over 3 to 4 nights and leave each time. The enzymes in the powder are designed to break down fat, skin, food deposits etc and a good job they do of it too...It'll give you lovely smelling hands as well