Homeowner Tips: How To Unclog A Kitchen Sink
A clogged kitchen sink is a common plumbing problem that is obviously quite disruptive. Through daily use, debris slowly builds up in the drainpipes of the sink and eventually backs up. Fortunately clearing a stopped up kitchen sink is not a difficult project. The following steps show how to unclog a kitchen sink by starting with the easiest method and progressing to a more involved process for difficult stoppages. Using one or all of these methods should be enough to clear the majority of kitchen sink stoppages.
DIY Project: Unclogging Your Kitchen Sink
- Plunger:
The first step to clearing a clogged kitchen sink is to use a plunger. A clogged kitchen sink drain can often be cleared with a common household plunger. The key to clearing a sink clog with a plunger is knowing the proper way to do it. Try clearing the stoppage by plunging both sides of the kitchen sink. Although using a plunger may appear to be self-explanatory it is possible to use it incorrectly. If you learn the correct way to use a plunger it can become a very effective tool, as it can clear many of the most common drain stoppages in the home. Not sure what we mean by the “correct way?” Just call the Outstanding Plumbing office for help!
Note: Using the right plunger for the job is a good way to ensure that you can clear the stoppage. It’s a good idea to have a plunger for each type of drain handy.
- Remove the Trap:
When you have a stubborn kitchen sink clog that cannot be cleared with a plunger, the next step is to remove the trap. The shape of the trap serves an important purpose, but it can easily become clogged with debris that gets washed down the sink drain. Removing the drain trap will give you direct access to the clog making it easy to clear it out. If the clog is not at the trap itself you can visually inspect the surrounding pipe. With the trap removed, look inside the pipe that sits before and after the trap to determine if the clog is somewhere you can see. If you can see the clog, that means it’s easy to clear out. If you cannot see the clog, then the blockage is further down the drain pipe.
- Drain Snake:
When a kitchen sink clog cannot be cleared by using a plunger or by removing the trap the next thing to do is to snake the drain. While there are various drain machines to choose from the best option for a kitchen sink drain is the mini-rooter or medium drain machine. Most people do not own drain snakes since they are not inexpensive to purchase and they are not used often enough in the average household to make the purchase worthwhile. Fortunately drain machines can be rented by the day and the rental fee is usually quite affordable.
Note: In a pinch you can try using a top snake to clear a clogged kitchen sink drain. Usually a top snake is not a good option for a kitchen sink stoppage because the cable is not very long. However, a top snake may be all you need if the clog is not too far down the drainpipe and it is not too compacted.
- Drain Cleaner:
If clogs are a common occurrence for your kitchen sink it may be a good idea to use Bio-Clean. Bio-Clean is a blend of bacteria and enzymes. The bacteria are natural, not genetically – engineered. The enzyme concentration is the most powerful on the market.
Bio-Clean is a safe, non-poisonous project. It creates no heat, no fumes, no boiling. It does not attack live tissue or inorganic materials – only organic wastes like grease, hair, food particles, paper, cotton & sewage. This makes Bio-Clean safe for people, plumbing systems,and the environment. Bio-Clean changes the waste particles into water, carbon dioxide and mineral ash which run harmlessly out of your waste system. These elements are then available for plant life.
Within an hour after pouring the bacteria into the drain, the bacteria begin to eat their way into the waste that has accumulated on the sides and top of the drain pipe. This is their natural food. They digest the waste and spread throughout your system, cleaning it completely.
If all of your efforts to clear that clogged drain are not seeing success, it may be time to call in a professional. Choose the experts at Outstanding Plumbing for all of your drain cleaning needs!