What’s the Black Stuff In My Toilet or Sink?
Get the Answer From Our Plumbers!
Is there a strange black sludge coming up through your toilet or into your kitchen sink from the drain down below? This may not be a horrible slime creature from the sewers coming up to try and get you, but the answer to what this stuff is still isn’t pretty. And unfortunately it usually indicates a problem in your plumbing that needs to be fixed as well.
That black substance that keeps seeping into your sink or toilet is usually bacteria that’s clinging to waste in your drain lines. This bacteria tends to grow and spread over time, particularly because the matter that goes down these drains is organic in nature, providing a food source for the bacteria to live on. Everything from hair, soap film, hand lotion, food waste, phlegm, and so much more can all accumulate in your plumbing lines, and over time create this bacterial buildup that finds its way back up your drains into your sink.
Drain Clogs
What this also usually indicates is that there’s a clog forming in your drains. The only way the bacteria can generally find its way back up your drains is if the drain itself slows down and the bacteria can float to the top of the water as it drains away. As you might imagine, getting rid of the clog also usually gets rid of the black gunk coming back up your drains, and keeps your drains running smoothly.
In bathroom sinks, clogs are usually hair, soap film, scum, toothpaste, and other waste that finds its way down the drain. These clogs generally form near or in the trap beneath your sink, or an area where standing water prevents foul odors from your drain and sewer line from traveling back up your pipe and out through your drains. A snake or auger can take care of this issue and remove the clog.
In kitchen sinks, food waste is the number-one cause of clogs. Snakes will also take care of this issue, but they do often involve disconnecting your drain line from your garbage disposal. In toilets, the clog may be a little further down the drain line, and hair and other waste tend to make up these clogs. Hydrojetting is also a popular way of getting rid of these clogs for good.
How to Unclog a Sink or Drain
If you have a clogged sink, don't panic. There are a few things you can do to try to clear the clog on your own. Start by running hot water down the drain for a few minutes. This will help to loosen any debris that may be causing the blockage. However, this method comes with some risks. If your pipes are not rated for a minimum of 212 degrees Fahrenheit, then pouring boiling could melt or deform the drain piping and cause leaks.
This is only a problem if you have PVC or plastic pipes. If you have metal pipes, boiling water is safe to use. Just be sure to let the water cool before pouring it down the drain. Boiling water is also effective in breaking up grease and soap scum build-up. So if your sink is starting to slow down, give it a good boil before reaching for chemical cleaners.
Next, try using a plunger to dislodge the clog. Unplug the garbage disposal and plug the dishwasher drain. This will prevent water from being pushed into your dishwasher. You may also want to disconnect the dishwasher from the kitchen sink if it is connected via a garbage disposal.
Fill the sink with a few inches of water to create suction so the plunger can force water against the clog. Be sure to cover the entire drain opening with the plunger and use firm, consistent strokes to create suction. After several good plunges, the clog should start to dissolve and the water should drain. Run water down the drain for a few minutes to see if the water flows down freely and the clog has dissolved.
If those methods don't work, you can try using a plumbers' snake or auger to reach down into the drain and physically break up the blockage.
If you’ve got a clog that’s sending bacteria back up your drain lines, call Dutton Plumbing at (805) 849-0965 to schedule your service today.
