I don't know if you've ever thought about what happens beyond the sink. But there are just a couple of things to know.
One is: How the drain works depends pretty much entirely on what you put into it. Which means you are the one in control of how the drain works and you will need to get it fixed... usually.
- Probably the one case where it is up to the land is where the drain line physically goes outside the house, and maybe the temperature is, like, i don't know, 6º. Then maybe it's the owner's problem.
- If several drains (or all) are clogged or draining to slowly, that could be a clog in the whole sewer line going from the house to the street. In that case you want to call the management right away. That can get very nasty in a big hurry. And if its the result of roots or something clogging the building sewer it will take a bigger tool to clean it out.
Some some things NOT to have in the drain:
- Chicken Fat, Bacon Grease, Any kind of animal fat
- flour or rice,
- and fibrous foods such as asparagus, chard, or corn silk
- hair, (Usually bathroom sink or shower.)
If you do get a clogged drain, there is a huge variety of ways to unclog it. YouTube has dozens of videos on this. Here are a few. Not that we are endorsing these, but they seem ok.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ANwR9VPjqY8
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M_yObnZi9GI
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Igt30xbRB4Q
Some of these guys are pretty goofy.
And don't forget the Plumber's Friend. A plunger costs about $3 or $4. Keep one handy.
