The tank probably won't even drain. The sludge layer has overflowed the baffle in the tank. The co-op building is about 60 years old. What is this sludge, what causes it, and what will clean it out? Anyway, when I took the drainpipes apart underneath the kitchen sink, they were about 50-60% clogged with a black/brown, greasy-looking, jelly type stuff that was just real nasty. If these pipes aren't cleaned a few times a year, the water draining takes forever and the bathtub backs up with black sludge. Understanding this concern, and how to treat it, can keep you and your family safe. The types of home drain pipes that are most typically seen today are either made of copper or the plastics polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS). When you have buildup in the drain pipes, whether it be food residue in the kitchen sink drain or soap scum in the shower drain, you must remove it. It is caused by a variety of problems, and it can contribute to dangerous clogs and mold growth in your drain pipes. Part of the series: Home Sweet Home Repair. Post Reply. Thanks! I checked the cleanout in the basement and see the pipe is caked with a black sludge. NOTE: Do not use this method if you have already used a commercial drain … Join Yahoo Answers and get 100 points today. 1 Answer. The other day, I was installing a garbage disposal under the kitchen sink and had to re-do the drain pipes under there. Black sludge is usually iron and iron bacteria and will build up in all pipe material. How to clean black sludge from sink drain, Black sludge can easily build up in the drain of the bathroom sink from mold and mildew development, as well as toothpaste and other particles you rinse down. soap hair. In either case, they are harmless to you. I was assisting. That sludge has run into the leach field. Every home owner has come across the awful ugly-looking black slime in their pipes. Pull the "snake" back out and then flush drain with hot water. Black sludge clogging up plumbing [ 1 Answers ] I am desperate for answers as my son and I have tried everything. That is a combination of decomposing waste products with bacteria and/or molds and mildews, that we call Bio-Slime! Got out some gunk and a bunch of black sludge. Facebook; Twitter; Print Friendly; If you find mold in your drain pipes, and or a defective seal or a gap around the pipe allowing water to leak, your safest bet to get immediate relief is to place a temporary vapor seal over the infected drains because you and your family could be breathing in the toxic off-gasses and mycotoxins from molds (fungi) and bacteria. In some cases, it can make an awful smell. The black slime oozing upward as you attempt to clean your bathroom sink isn't the creature from the black lagoon, but it's just as nauseating. If you find mold in your drain pipes, and or a defective seal or a gap around the pipe allowing water to leak, your safest bet to get immediate relief is to place a temporary vapor seal over the infected drains because you and your family could be breathing in the toxic off-gasses and mycotoxins from molds (fungi) and bacteria. This slime is not only unsightly, but can also build up and clog your drain and sewage line. The black stuff has many names, such as black sludge, bio-slime, and biofilm. Both share the same drain line. What is the black sludge in drain pipes? I put Liquid Plumber gel down it twice and no change. Ask Question + 100. It's basically a type of soap that doesn't dissolve in water, but rather, Fats, oils, & grease mix with calcium from hard water, (or maybe old milk poured down the drain). How to Get Rid of Slime Growing in a Bathroom Sink Pipe. There is a bit of black nastiness on the outside, but the inside is surprisingly white for something from a sewer pipe. Taking care of … The black sludge at the bottom of your drain is no longer a mystery. The slime is living organisms made up of hair products, skin cells, body oils, food, toothpaste, hair, phlegm, and anything else that can stick to the walls of your bathroom drain. Last month a few weeks after moving into a new apartment I noticed a terrible smell in the kitchen and found the source–a gross black sludge lining the pipes. It’s a communal system like the maze to end all mazes. Small holes in the leach field pipes are being clogged. Any help would be greately appreciated! Sewage sludge is a heterogeneous mix of hazardous materials. Most clogs comprise of biological matter. Trending Questions. You can use an auger or plunger to clear the clogs and stop the black debris from backing up through the sink drainage. What is the black sludge that builds up in drain pipes? As such, bacteria thrives in the clog, thereby turning it black. It has nothing to do with the floor you live on, this happens on both the low and high floors. 2 2. Open the drain valve on the hot water tank and take a look. I manage a block of flats for older people in the UK, and several residents have…black sludge coming through their pipes, toilets, showers etc. This is often caused by minerals ( calcium ) in the water. Join. The black matter coming out of your sink drain might be caused by a clog. 1 decade ago. Installing a water filter either at the kitchen sink or the main feed to the house will stop the problem. If the drain is clogged, a flexible metal snake (purchased at your local home improvement store or hardware store) can be put down the drain to loosen the clog. The water forced through the drain should clear out clogs and build-up. Your information has really helped. However, replacing the pipes is not a major expense, and getting good seals at the connections is a lot easier with new pipes and compression nuts than with the old ones you just removed. While certainly alarming to find, it shouldn’t leave you scared. Put the pipes back together, ran some more water and it backed up again. Right now I have samples soaking in bleach and vinegar. Pour 1 cup of vinegar down the drain and let it sit for 30 minutes; then chase it down with very hot water. The resultant harmless chemical reaction will cause a foaming action that will break down the sludge in your drain. Still have questions? Magnesium is often found in water and when mixed with oxygen, turns black. After about 30 minutes, flush the drain with boiling water. The ice cold condensate travels through the hot pipes of the attic and walls festering and growing into your very own science project in your pipes. Vinegar is a wonder cleaner. This same type of slime is what builds up and eventually clogs up your sink drain that is tied into your AC unit. Okay, maybe not like a rose, but a lot better than they otherwise would. Other types of drain pipes are sometimes encountered in pre-1960 homes, such as drain… Get your answers by asking now. Black sludge can easily build up in the drain of the bathroom sink from mould and mildew development, as well as toothpaste and other particles you rinse down the sink and thereby allow to accumulate in the drain pipe. The slime is usually a buildup of bacteria living on hair, hand lotion, soap film, toothpaste and phlegm. The fat/oil/grease mix w/ the calcium and I guess kinda turn into a dense foam that sticks to the pipes. Using a plunger with water and chlorine bleach will be time consuming and like others have mention will require cleaning the sink after each attempt with the plunger. Sludge is a product of different things going down the drain–toothpaste, food particles and maybe some grease. The condensate from the AC drips to this drain. Black sludge in bathroom sink drain [ 2 Answers ] There's an accumulation of black slude in my bathroom sink drain and it's preventing the water from draining properly - - it's just getting worse and I'm wondering what to flush down the sink to get rid of it. Hi! Favorite Answer. The baking soda will deodorise and clean the drains while working as a nonabrasive agent that will break up the black sludge. If you use chemicals to clear away the sludge, they may eat holes in your pipes. The job requires ingredients that combine to dissolve the buildup without requiring you to take apart the drain. I was once called to fix a kitchen sink disposer at a condo. If you’re a family with teenagers, slow-moving sinks are a common occurrence. 6 Common Causes of Black Specks in Your Water Water quality is an issue that has been getting a lot of national attention in the past few years. Minerals, including iron and magnesium, algae, pipe degradation and resin beads can all cause black water. If you look in your toilet tank and the inside is black, then you have magnesium and probably iron in the water. If your drain is heavily clogged with the black sludge then be prepared to do some work. Dump 1 cup of baking soda into the drain. The bleach will help kill the bacteria and loosen it up and clean the pipes and the sink. Baking soda is a terrific cleaning agent, and it’s also great for absorbing foul odors and leaving your drain pipes smelling like a rose. Lv 4. This happens because bleach is a very powerful chemical that can have severe adverse reactions with lots of other things. On the other hand, if you try to pour bleach down the drain in big amounts, then yes, your drain pipes will definitely be damaged and you can just throw them. Usually, the cause is bio-slime and … If you are talking about a different kind of white build up like kind of soapy and greasy then Grease from dishes and frying pans along with powder type cleaners can build up and cause this. Otherwise, you will eventually have a clogged drain that does not empty properly. Follow this with 1 cup of white vinegar. I tried 8oz of DrainCare over night and ran boiling water down the drain and so far nothing. In general terms, there are only three things you could pour down the drain besides water to fix problems: A base (high pH), an acid (low pH), or an organic solvent. Bio-slime is that gross black gunk that you often find in your drain pipes. Mold and mildew can also cause sludge problems. Vent Pipes I'm sure somewhere down the line the pipes will have to be replaced. Relevance. lucas8888. Looks like this: It is feared almost as much as poo. Answer Save. It’s not as spooky as it seems–just a little stinky and slimy. 2. After a lot of sweat and paper towels I managed to clean out the majority of it and got rid of most of the smell. The reason it isn't visible in the hot water is that it settles out in the hot water tank. Under normal conditions pectins and gums partially clog these small holes in the leach field. Re: Black sludge in washer drain pipe; Author: HytechPlumber (LA) Depending on the layout of the home the utility room and the kitchen sink are often caught on the same branch line before connecting to the main sewer. Tried a plunger in the sink but all that did was bring more black crap up into the sink. Probably the same stuff that is in most drain pipes. Its almost like thick oily grease. The good news is that most of us can enjoy fresh, clean, and healthy water from a municipal water supply or a well system. 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