I recently installed a new sink in the kitchen. Previously it was a dual drain and now is a single drain in the center of the new sink. I now have an issue where the water doesn't drain all the time. It isn't backed up down the line because I can stick a knife or spoon into the water and air will then bubble up and it will all drain. I can also turn on the disposal and not have the water drain. I never need to plunge to get the water to drain just "pop" the air bubble. Because of this it seems like it is an air pocket that is holding back the water from draining. I do not have an air valve installed previous to or after the new sink install. Is this the issue? If so, why wasn't an air valve necessary before the new sink?
Plumbing – New Kitchen Sink not draining properly
kitchensplumbingsink
Related Solutions
That doesn't make sense, but I guess it doesn't have to make sense to be a problem. If you're sure that you didn't drop anything down the drain, I'd try a plunger. The way to use it is not to ram it down hard, trying to power any obstruction through. Rather make many small strokes up and down to break the obstruction up with oscillations. If you think you did drop something in the drain take the trap apart and get it out.
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).
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Best Answer
Sounds like the drain has no vent (or "air valve"). When there were two drains, one was serving as a vent when the other was draining. If you had stopped one side, the other would have exhibited the problem you have now.