Written by Plumbers of Perth
on 3 September 2021
A clogged sink – the problem that plagues a majority of homeowners.
Picture this – It’s an average day in your cosy home. You go to clean the dishes and begin to notice the water in the sink isn’t going down the train. You open the drain to have a look, but there is nothing obvious blocking the passage.
When it comes to fixing drain blockage, the most obvious solution would be to use your chosen Drain Cleaner or another chemical-based drain cleaner. However, these chemicals can sometimes cause more damage to your system and can be a strong corrosive to the drain. Even if it seems to fix the problem initially, you could be setting yourself up for more stress in the long run.
Fear not; you can fix these problems yourself safely to unclog the kitchen sink. So don’t call a plumber just yet, here are some handy tips on how to fix a clogged sink yourself!
Attack With Boiling Water
Boiling water should be your first plan of attack when it comes to a sink clog.
After all, hair, grease and soap and other debris get stuck in your drain.
Boiling water may be all your pipe needs to loosen the blockage.
Boil about a litre and a half of water in a kettle or, if you don’t have a kettle, you can use your stove.
Pour the boiled water directly into the drain opening with a bit of dishwashing soap. You can also use any type of reputable drain cleaner.
After this, turn on the tap to see if the water drains. Suppose it’s still draining slowly or not all. Repeat this step or move onto the next step.
Plunge Away
It’s time to bring out the plunger.
You need to use the correct plunger for the drain.
You can use the toilet plunger if you have one on hand, but it is suggested that you use a flat-bottomed plunger for the job.
Fill the sink with hot water until it forms a seal over the drain, position the plunger over the drain, and begin quickly pumping up and down the drain.
Remove the plunger and see if the water starts to drain normally. Repeat the process until the water starts to drain.
Baking Soda and Vinegar
Using baking soda and vinegar or salt is a neutral, safe alternative to using chemicals such as Draino.
First, remove any water from the sink with a cup. Pour one cup of baking soda down the drain, then pour one cup of vinegar down the drain.
Place a stopper or a sink strainer over the drain and seal the opening so the mixture can’t escape. Let this sit for 15 minutes. Remove the cover and pour hot water down the sink to break up more intense clogs.
Try The Plumber’s Snake
Some clogs will put up a fight, and if the above method doesn’t work, then perhaps it’s time to check the plumber’s snake.
A plumber’s snake is a tool that works by reaching down the drain with a coiled spiral, once the snake hits whatever is blocking the pipe. Lower the snake down a few feet at a time until you hit whatever is blocking the drain. Be careful to not accidentally push it down further. When you feel
the plumber’s snake hit the top of the obstruction hook onto it and pull the obstruction up through the drain.
Repeat this action until you are sure the blockage is gone. Pour hot water down the drain to see if it’s worked.
Clean The P-Trap
If the water is still not running correctly, there might be a blockage in the P trap. You can fix this by taking apart the drain and cleaning it out.
Place a bucket underneath the pipe, to catch anything stuck in the pipe and water. Take apart and remove everything stuck in the P-trap. Reconnect the pipe and run water down the drain.
How To Prevent Future Clogs
Now that your sink is hopefully draining again properly, here are some handy tips to prevent it from happening again.
- Don’t put any food waste down the drain. Use a drain cover to filter any food when cleaning dishes to avoid any food particles going down the drain.
- Do not put any grease, oil or coffee grounds to run down the drain.
- Don’t put any other substances down the drain such as paint, paper towels, food wrappers and gum.
- Periodically clean your drain. Use vinegar to regularly clean the drain. Alternatively, pour hot water into the drain to help keep the drain cleared.
So there you have it some handy tips on how to fix a clogged sink, for more handy tips see more of our blogs or visit our Facebook page.
