While clogged drains are an easy DIY fix, being prepared for serious plumbing troubles before they arise is always a good strategy. See how plans from HomeServe can help with the costs of covered repairs.
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There's a good chance you can fix the problem yourself with one of these six methods to unclog a kitchen sink: 1. Attack with boiling water When hair, grease, soap residue and other debris get stuck in your drain, boiling water may be all your pipes needs to loosen the blockage.
Easy as , here are the steps to follow: Bring half a gallon of water to a boil on your stove or use a kettle to heat the water. Pour the boiling water directly into the drain opening. Turn on the faucet to see if the water drains in a steady fashion. If it's still draining slowly or standing still in the sink, repeat the process. Check the garbage disposal If your sink has a garbage disposal, it could be the culprit of your drainage issues.
Plunge away the blockage Once you establish that the disposal isn't the problem, it's time to bring out the plunger. With your plunger at the ready, follow these steps: Fill the sink with hot water until it's about halfway full and creates a seal around the drain. Position the plunger over the drain and begin pumping up and down quickly several times. Remove the plunger and wait to see if the water drains.
Repeat the process until the water drains freely. Break it down with baking soda and vinegar This approach is a natural alternative to using chemical drain cleaners on clogged drains.
Follow these steps to let the mixture work its magic: Remove standing water from the sink with a cup or bowl. Pour one cup of baking soda down the drain, using a spatula or spoon to push the powder down the drain if necessary. Pour one cup of white vinegar down the drain opening. Place a stopper or cover on the drain to seal the opening. Let the mixture sit for 15 minutes. Remove the cover and run hot tap water down the drain.
Use boiling water to break up more intense clogs. Try the plumber's snake The clogs that put up a fight will require the strength of a plumber's snake to battle the blockage.
Clean the P-trap If the water is still not draining correctly, there might be a blockage in the P-trap, aka the elbow-shaped pipe under your sink. When you're ready, follow these steps to clean the P-trap: Place a bucket underneath the pipe. Please contact us if you have any questions.
DO examine the strainer or stopper to see if hair and soap scum are trapped, creating a blockage. To remove the stopper, twist it counter-clockwise lefty loosey; righty tighty , clean it, and insert a wire into the drain.
Twist the wire and pull the blockage up and out. Commercial chemical drain openers can harm your pipes and your family. Are you staring at a clogged kitchen sink? Is the stagnating water in the sink making you feel sick? The good news is you can unclog the sink without calling a plumber or pouring hazardous chemicals down the drain. You can use everyday materials you have at home to take care of this annoying problem.
And then let us know if you have any tips to add! Although the garbage disposal is a powerful and useful way to get rid of food waste, it is not meant for certain vegetables.
These veggies are fibrous or contain a lot of starch which can jam the disposal motor and clog your sink drain-piping every time. There are other food items that occasionally will clog your sink. If this happens, follow the next four tips.
Plunger is a must-have tool for every household because it can be used to unclog any drain in any part of the house including the kitchen. Yes, the simple plunger can unclog your kitchen sink too. When you use the plunger, plug the other holes in you kitchen sink with a rag cloth. Also, ensure that the plunger cup completely covers the clogged kitchen sink hole.
Now, keep the plunger in an upright position and plunge about ten times vigorously. If it is not, then there will be no resistance. Be sure to use a separate plunger for your kitchen sink than the one you use for your toilet. Plunge straight up and down over the drain for 20 seconds. Hold the plunger handle about 6 in 15 cm from the top with 1 or both hands. Press the plunger up and down over the drain vigorously for about 20 seconds.
Pop the plunger straight up and off the drain to create extra pressure. After 20 seconds of plunging, pull the plunger straight up and off of the drain to remove it. You should hear a pop as you do this, which is due to the pressure from the plunger and may help to loosen the clog. Check to see if the water drains and repeat if needed. After you have finished plunging and taken the plunger off of the drain, watch to see if the water flows again. If the clog is loose, the water should flow freely down the drain.
If the clog is still in place, the water will remain standing or it may trickle very slowly. You can repeat plunging as many times as you like, but if the clog does not come loose after the first few times, you may need to try something different, such as cleaning out the p-trap or using a snake to remove a deep clog. David Balkan.
Yes, there always has to be water in the sink. Water doesn't compress, so when you force it through with a plunger, it puts force on the clog. Yes No. Not Helpful 0 Helpful 1. No, never put in a chemical drain cleaner and then use a plunger. The drain cleaner could splatter and burn you. Because the skins are thick and spongy. They just bounce around like rubber balls until they get caught under a cutter.
Not Helpful 1 Helpful 3. What if the garbage disposal starts to leak from the bottom when I'm plunging the other sink? You just have an extra cheap disposer that's not built for any pressure at all. As long as it still works after clearing the clog and doesn't drip anymore, you're all set. Not Helpful 1 Helpful 0.
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