galley sink slow draining

ericdata

Hello Everyone,  

My sink is backed up,  and drains really slow.  Anyone have any tips on how to fix this?  

Thanks! 

Black_Diamond

1. Don't use drain cleaner, it will eat the plastic piping

2. Look at the thru hull and see if it is plugged there

3. Use a hose to blow some pressure through it

4.  Worst case, get under the sink and take the tube off and clean it

ericdata

Thanks BD!

gslpro

Eric,

   Does your galley sink drain to the outside or to a holding tank?  If tank, then check that the sump box under the sink is working.  They tend to clog with some of the gel hand soaps and cooking greases.  If it is clogged because of the pump, then your carpet should probably be wet.  under my sink, the hose was bent pretty bad by the privacy wall in there.  The thing they put in to make it look nice.  It should have had a cut out in the top for the hose to be straighter.  Start there.

ericdata

Thanks gslpro, I don't think there's a holding tank,  pretty sure it drains out from the side of the boat.  I'm going to try to blow pressure with my shop vac this weekend and pay my results.   Cheers!

Shaun

Eric , my galley sink drained so slow last year it took five minutes to empty a sink full or so it seemed. I removed the hose coming off it in the winter then unscrewed the drain. The plastic piece under the sink but before the barb for the hose had what I can only describe as a funnel inside it. I saw no use for it and removed the inner funnel with a die grinder. Took about 10 seconds. Sink drains perfect now. Hope this may help you.

Babyboomer

There's no trap I used a long wire strap and ran it down the drain

Black_Diamond

@Shaun, I bet that funnel piece was to limit backflow too, in case water was coming UP the drain.  A big issue for sailboats since they heel over so far, hence why they have a valve on every thru hull. 

I know on mine, if I get water coming up with the distance it would have to go, I have bigger issues.  I suspected this issue on my bilge pump (backflowing) so I added in a pipe loop to the through hull (and changed the thru hull to a 90 degree type)

vquad

ive had mine get clogged by a mud daubers nest before

I took a water hose and a coat hanger and cleaned it out

raybo3

Try shop vac...

Shaun

BD, I kind of figured that was what is was but like you if I needed it I figured it was too late.

ericdata

Hey everyone just to follow up,  shop vac to blow and sink cleared in a few seconds.  

Cheers! 

Black_Diamond

Got to love an easy solution. Proving again a good blow ... helps everything. lol

raybo3

Love those easy fixes.......