Slow (non) draining head sink

[OS2Dude]

When we bought our boat (1985 Catalina 30 Mk I) it had the sink drain and head input sharing the seawater intake seacock. It worked after a fashion, (SLOW) but now the sink will not drain at all. (Even the head pump does not draw the water level down.)

I'm assuming there is a clog of some kind, but since I've never owned a boat with a head sink, I'm not sure how to clear it. I take it the normal 'clog removers' are not the way. Should I try a plunger to force it through? I've even thought about removing the line from the seacock and running a wire or something through it. Or maybe just replace it outright. (The head still draws seawater fine, so I don't think the seacock is blocked.)

I don't want to cause more issues, so thoughts would be welcomed.

Thanks!

 

[Stu Jackson]

1 Correct, don' use them.

2 NO

3. Yes, good start

4 Even better.

Actually, having it that way is a very good solution, since it allows you to use fresh water for the last flush of the day, like this:

Head Odors 101.1 - "T" into sink drain: http://c34.org/bbs/index.php/topic,5755.msg38216.html#msg38216

1 I take it the normal 'clog removers' are not the way.

2 Should I try a plunger to force it through?

3 I've even thought about removing the line from the seacock and running a wire or something through it.

4 Or maybe just replace it outright. (The head still draws seawater fine, so I don't think the seacock is blocked.)

 

[Peggie Hall HeadMistress]

Drain is prob'ly just clogged up with the stuff that goes down the drain...l toothpaste, body oils, dirt, soap scum etc. sea water minerals and toothpaste...and sorry, Stu...but a slow running drain will mean that stuff gets pulled into the toilet pump unless everyone is careful to wait till the sink drains to use the head (which should be a lot of fun first thing in the mornings)...so it's not such a great idea after all.
A 20% solution of muriatic acid--available from any hard ware store--will clean it out. Close the seacock, add the acid solution...wait 45- minutes to an hou--no longer!...open the seacock, turn on the water to flush out the drain. If the buildup is really serious, you might have to do this twice. Or...just replace the drain line...unless access to do it is a problem.

 

[Stu Jackson]

No worries, Peggie.

FWIW, we never use our head sink, because the, ahem, headroom sucks there, so we use the galley sink. So we never have a gunk-up on that line.

 

[Bob 04 H260]

If you have an inflatable dinghy you could try using the air pump to blow the debris out. Use a wet rag to seal the hose to the drain. Our drain has its own thru-hull so not sure how well this might work if yours still shares with the galley. We run some vinegar through the drain about once a week when we live aboard, seems to keep it smelling and draining better. Part of our problem I think is marine growth in the thru-hull.
Good luck, Bob