I have adjacent sink basins in the kitchen with the garbage disposal on the right hand side. Individually, both basins drain quickly when the garbage disposal is not used, even when filled with water. However, when using the right side basin with the disposal going, it drains as quickly, but water will almost immediately backup into the left side basin until it reaches the same level as the diminishing water level in the disposal basin. Both drains then subsequently drain leaving food debris in the left basin. Is this a case of there being a partial clog some distance down the drain pipe? It may be implied that the volume capacity of the drain pipe is easily sufficient for water draining from a full sink without the "push" of a garbage disposal, but once the "push" factor is added with the garbage disposal going, the flow into the drainage pipe is increased sufficiently that now the capacity of the drain pipe (with a partial clog far down it) may not be enough to handle it. The added water in the drain pipe has no place to go but into the adjacent sink basin. Is this a correct interpretation of the problem or is there something more obvious going on?
Kitchens – Water backs up in adjacent sink only when garbage disposal is used
kitchenssink
Related Solutions
Sounds like the drain after the disposal and connection to the other sink is partially blocked. I'd start with a drain cleaner that's designed for a partial blockage. In the kitchen, it's likely a buildup from cooking oils and grease that got into the drain. If that doesn't work, then you can remove the trap under your sink and remove as much crud from it as you can get. Note that the trap will be full of dirty water, so have a bucket under it when you remove it. If it's still giving you trouble, snake the line after the trap.
Plumbers putty , in a 3/8 in thick rope circle, goes under the top part.
It helps to have a helper push it straight down and keep it from turning while the jamb nut and rubber washer and (sometimes paper) thrust washer. The rubber washer goes against the sink. The thrust washer goes between the rubber washer and the jamb nut.
If someone used some thread dope previously, get the mating surface of the sink cleaned off.
If the rubber washer or the thrust washer is deformed, replace them.
This video from Anaheim shows the mounting of the "Cushion ring" in step 6
A locknut wrench helps to loosen/tighten the nut.
This video shows replacing an ISE with a Waste King
Related Topic
- Plumbing – How to disassemble this P-trap
- Plumbing – Strange sink behavior — sink fills partially then drains at a normal pace
- Plumbing – Moving kitchen sink in slab foundation
- Kitchen sink/garbage disposal waste draining into backyard
- Plumbing – Specific name of this faucet / sink type
- Plumbing – Garbage disposal drain is slightly higher than drain pipe
- Plumbing – Need help with new kitchen sink plumbing
- Why does one of the bathroom sinks drain slowly when the water is running, but drains quickly when filled and drained
Best Answer
You probably have a bit of a clog in your trap or a bit further down.
Likely, your plumbing looks like this:
The disposal is trying to pump water down the pipe much faster than it would passively flow. This means there is enough water getting into the shared pipe that it backs up into the sink on the right in the picture, bringing disposed food with it. Basically, it's probably exactly what you thought it was.
Try removing and cleaning the trap. If the problem still occurs, start trying some other drain cleaning techniques (snake, chemical clear, etc).