Why Does Water Flow Through the Sink (and How to Fix It)
As annoying as a slow-draining sink or bathtub might be, it could be worse: the water, along with sediment or other debris, could be coming out through the drain. Just like our digestive tract, our drains are supposed to be a one-way highway, and when they work in the opposite direction, things can get pretty nasty. That’s why I asked two experienced plumbers to explain what causes water to rise up through sink and bathtub drains and what we should do if it happens.
Why is water flowing from the sink?
To understand why water is flowing through the drain, Roy Barnes, a plumber for about 30 years and co-owner of Service Force Plumbing in Rockville, Maryland, says it helps to have an understanding of how the plumbing in a home works. .
“The plumbing in your home is like a vein system: small drain pipes connect to other drain pipes and feed into increasingly larger pipes that eventually lead to one large drain pipe—your main sewer pipe that goes outside, or your septic system. ” he says. “Using this information, homeowners can solve some problems themselves.”
For example, drainage from a bathroom sink ends up in the toilet drain before leaving the bathroom entirely, Barnes says. “So if only the bathroom sink is locked, the clog is almost certainly only in the sink. And if there is a plug in the toilet but not in the sink, then the clog is probably still in the toilet plumbing and not in the drain.” pipe.” If both the sink and the toilet are locked, then the blockage is either in the pipe that drains water from the entire bathroom, or somewhere further down.
“The key is to have a backup at the lowest point in the house,” Barnes says. “If you have a toilet or a shower in the basement, or some other lowest drain in the house, and they are backed up, that often means the main line is backed up, which is the biggest [plumbing] problem in the house. .You can’t use the running water.” You will need to call a plumber immediately.
What is causing the problem?
So what caused your drain to run backwards? “When water flows upward from a drain, it means you’re dealing with a clog or other type of blockage further downstream within the system,” says Mark Collins, a fifth-generation plumber and CEO of 1-800-Plumber + Air . .
“This could be the result of inappropriate things, such as grease, getting into the drain, causing a stoppage,” he explains. “It can also be the result of hair and other biological substances collecting in the pipes, causing a blockage.”
But it’s not always a clog: Water coming up through the drain can also be a sign of a much larger problem with your plumbing system, Collins says, such as a broken line, roots growing in a sewer line , or a pipe that isn’t working. It takes longer to flow down due to soil displacement or the growth of tree roots.
These are not problems to be solved on your own: you will need a licensed plumber to evaluate the system (perhaps using a camera to visually inspect the sewer line) and determine if further action is necessary to correct the problem.
What to do if water is flowing from the sewer
No one wants to walk into the kitchen or bathroom and see the sink or bathtub drain running backwards, especially since the water coming out of the drain likely contains sediment, dirt and God knows what else.
Of course, you’ll want to stop the water supply as soon as possible to prevent further damage, but ultimately, Barnes says, it’s important to pinpoint the root cause of the problem. “The problem needs to be understood not only as ‘how do we unclog this drain’, but also as ‘why is this drain plugged’ because if there is a lubrication problem, or a damaged pipe, or roots in the line, or LEGO or Hot Wheels is there, the problem will keep coming back,” he explains.
Don’t use water
Collins advises that as soon as you notice water coming from your drain, you should immediately stop using sinks, bathtubs, showers—or any water, really—throughout your home to prevent further damage. “All of your drain pipes are connected, and using water in one part of your home can cause problems in another.”
For example, if you have a two-story home and the drains throughout the house are clogged, and you turn on the sink on the second floor, it could cause the sinks and toilets downstairs to overflow, says Collins. “To avoid water damage to your home, I strongly recommend that you stop using water until the problem is diagnosed.”
Get rid of water
Do your best to hold back the water coming from the drain until it stops rising. Then, if the water in your sink or bathtub doesn’t go back down the drain on its own, you can use a bucket to drain the water, especially if it smells bad.
While Collins says it’s okay to drain a sink or bathtub in an area of the house where the plumbing is working properly, he urges people to exercise caution and only do so if you’re absolutely sure the problem isn’t affecting other parts of the house. Instead, you can throw the dirty water outside. Either way, Collins stresses that this is only a temporary fix, and you’ll still have to fix the problem that caused the backup leak in the first place.
Take the plunge (c)
If a homeowner wants to try to fix the problem themselves, they should use a plunger, Barnes says. “The plunger should be used quickly, not just pressed and waited,” he says. “If a plunger doesn’t do the trick, most homeowners should call a plumber.”
Put the chemicals aside
Both Barnes and Collins advise against pouring chemicals down the drain in an attempt to clear a clog. “The illusion that [Drano and similar products] can clean out any important backup is just marketing, and in the meantime you’re using a bunch of nasty chemicals,” Barnes says.
According to Collins, acid-based drain cleaners are not only harmful to your pipes and plumbing fixtures, they’re also dangerous to anyone who works with them. “If drain pipes need to be removed and they are filled with dangerous acids, it can be very dangerous for the plumber working on it in your home,” he notes.
When to call a plumber
Even if you seem to have cleared the clog, Collins still recommends calling a plumber. “Drain problems don’t go away on their own—or, as I often say, a properly functioning drain line never works,” he says. “So if you’re having problems with your drain, it’s always best to have a professional plumber inspect the system to make sure you don’t have a more serious problem. Don’t ignore early signs of slow drainage. or gurgling sounds from pipes.”