3 Tips on How to Unclog a Sink

Most of the time, a clogged sink is nothing more than a minor inconvenience during the course of your day.  It may happen in the bathroom or it may happen in the kitchen, but more often than not, the water eventually goes down and you forget about it for a while.

Of course, there are those “other” times when the sink is clogged and the water doesn’t seem to want to go anywhere.  These are the times you have to jump into action and unclog a sink yourself.  Here are 3 useful tips to help you out. 

Plunge It Out

In most cases, a minor clog will respond well to basic plunging.  In the bathroom, the majority of sink clogs are from hair and soap, and in the kitchen it’s usually food and grease, so always give the plunger a try first.  If the sink in question has a stopper, try to take it off so the opening will be bigger.

A good tip at this point is to pour boiling water down the drain to help break up whatever is causing the clog.  If there isn’t enough water in the sink to form a good seal and suction with the plunger, fill it until there is enough.  From there, just place the plunger over the drain and start pushing up and down.  After several plunges, stop and see if the water goes down the drain.

Snake It Out

If the plunger isn’t getting the job done, you may need to use a drain snake or auger to break up the clog.  With the auger, you will either break up the clog, hook into it and pull it out.

When you’re trying to snake the drain, follow the instructions that come with the type of auger you have.  In most cases, you will feed the cable down the drain and then turn the crank to bring it back, but the details may vary. If your clogged drain is especially stubborn, you may need to repeat the process several times.

Removing the Trap

That ‘U-shaped’ section of pipe that’s located under the sink is known as the trap.  Sometimes, the clog is right in that spot and removing the trap is the best way to free the clog.  To remove the trap, get some rubber gloves, a wrench or pliers and a bucket.

Place the bucket under the trap and then loosen the metal slip nuts with the wrench or pliers, just enough so you can turn them by hand.  Remove the trap and allow water and whatever else is in there to fall into the bucket.  Scrape out the clog from the trap, then replace the trap and you’re all done.

If none of these methods are able to unclog your sink, it’s best to seek the help of a professional plumber. At ExpressRooter, we can handle any type of drain clogs using the latest equipment. Don’t wait – we offer 24/7 emergency plumbing services so we can unclog your drain quickly. Contact us now to book an appointment.