Kitchen Sink Only Drains When Garbage Disposal Is On
Sometimes, after washing dishes in your kitchen, you turn on the tap and notice that the water starts to fill the sink. But when you switch on your garbage disposal, the sink begins to drain the water.
Why does this happen, you ask? It seems like a small thing, but it’s actually a warning sign that something’s off with your sink setup. If you don’t deal with it, this little issue could cause a big problem, like blocked pipes or even damage to your garbage disposal. Think of it like a tiny leak in your roof – ignore it, and soon you might have a big repair job on your hands.
How does the sink drain when the garbage disposal is on?
Garbage disposals help dealing with kitchen leftovers by chopping them up into tiny bits. These bits can then easily go down your pipes. If your sink only empties when the disposal is running, it usually means there’s a blockage or something odd with your pipes. The spinning part inside the disposal creates a centrifugal force that can help push water past these blockages, letting it flow through.
Whether you have a corded or non-corded garbage disposal, understanding its mechanics is crucial for troubleshooting drainage issues.
Common Reasons Why Your Sink won’t drain Without the Garbage Disposal
There are 3 major reasons why your sink won’t drain without the garbage disposal:
- Faulty Plumbing Setups
- Clogs and Blockages
- Venting Problems
1. Faulty Plumbing Setups
A big reason why sinks don’t drain right is because the pipes under the sink weren’t put in correctly. A common mistake is when the pipe from the garbage disposal is put in lower than it should be, which goes against how gravity helps water flow. This causes water to just sit there in the sink, and it only moves when the disposal is on, pushing it through.
Figure Out Pipe Mistakes
When pipes under the sink aren’t set up right, it can cause a lot of drainage trouble. Here’s what often goes wrong:
- Pipes Not Lined Up Right
- Pipes at the Wrong Angle
- Loose or Bad Connections
How to Fix pipe Issues by Yourself
Here’s a simple guide to help you fix some common setup mistakes with just a few tools:
- What You’ll Need: A list of simple tools like wrenches and plumber’s tape
- Safety Precautions: Remember to turn off the water and disposal before you start working.
- Line Up the Pipes: Make sure the pipe coming out of your garbage disposal and the pipe in the wall are at the same height. They should meet up nicely without any forcing or bending.
- Angle the Pipes Right: Pipes should gently slope downwards towards the wall. This helps water flow out easily, just like a slide at the playground.
- Tighten Everything Up: Check all the connections where the pipes join together. If any part wiggles or feels loose, tighten it with a wrench. Use some plumber’s tape on the threads to make a watertight seal.
2. Clogs and Blockages
Sinks and disposals often get clogged with leftover food, grease, and other stuff that shouldn’t be there. These clogs stop the water from flowing out like it should. Knowing why clogs happen helps you stop them from starting or fix them when they do.
Common Causes of Clogs
- Food and Grease: Cooking and cleaning in the kitchen can leave bits of food and grease in the pipes, which can stick together and cause a blockage.
- Other Stuff: Sometimes things that aren’t food, like silverware or small toys, can accidentally fall in and cause clogs.
How to spot a clog
- Water Drains Slowly: If the water isn’t going down the drain as fast as it used to, you might have a clog.
- Weird Noises or Smells: If your disposal sounds funny or there’s a bad smell coming from the sink, that’s another clue you might have a clog.
How to fix clogs
There are a few ways to fix clogs, from easy fixes you can do yourself to tougher ones that might need special tools.
Natural Solutions for Minor Clogs
- Baking Soda and Vinegar: First, pour 1/2 cup of baking soda directly into your drain. Then, add the same amount of vinegar. You’ll see it fizz up – that’s it working to break down the clog. Now wait for some time and when it stops fizzing, flush it all down with hot water. This can help break up small clogs.
- Boiling Water: Boil a pot of water and carefully pour it down the drain. The heat can help melt and dislodge any greasy buildup, keeping your pipes clear. Doing this now and then can help prevent clogs before they start.
Mechanical Methods for Stubborn Clogs
- Using a Plunger: Pushing down and pulling up with a plunger can sometimes push out what’s clogging the sink. Just be sure you’re doing it the right way.
- Using a Snake Tool: If the clog is deep down, you might have to use a long, bendy tool known as a snake or plumber’s snake to either break the clog apart or pull it out.
3. Venting Problems
Having the right air flow in your pipes is key for the water to move well. If the air vents for your sink are blocked or not set up right, your sink might drain slowly or not at all. Here’s a quick look at why good air flow is important, how to tell if there’s a problem, and what you can do about it.
Role of air vents in Plumbing
Air vents help balance the air pressure in your pipes, making sure water and waste can flow easily. If vents aren’t working right, a vacuum can form in the pipes, slowing down or stopping water from draining.
how to identify Venting Issues
Slow draining, weird gurgling noises, or water backing up might mean there’s an issue with your vents. Look at places like vents on your roof or near your sink for any blockages, like leaves or debris.
how to Resolve Venting issues
Fixing vent problems can help get your sink draining properly again. Here are some tips:
1. Clear Blocked Vents
Carefully look inside vent pipes for any blockages. You might find stuff like bird nests or leaves clogging them up. You can try to clear blockages with long poles, brushes, or even a hose to push out the blockage from the vent opening.
2. Improve Air Flow
If your system doesn’t have enough vents, putting in more can help. You can use things like air admittance valves(AAV) or extra vent lines. Sometimes, making sure vents aren’t covered or blocked by parts of your house or things outside can help improve air flow.
Here is a complete video guide on “What is Air Admittance Valve”:
Conclusion
To wrap it up, fixing a kitchen sink that only drains with the garbage disposal on requires looking at several things. It’s important to really get how your plumbing works, from how it’s all put together to how air moves through it and what usually blocks the pipes. We’ve seen that the trouble with draining could be because of how the plumbing was done, stuff blocking the pipes, or even issues with the air vents that mess with the pressure and flow in the pipes.
If you’re thinking about purchasing a new garbage disposal and you’re confused which garbage disposal should you buy that will fit under your sink then you you might want to see our article:
5 Best Garbage Disposals Of 2024
