DIY Plumbing: Unclogging A Kitchen Sink – Issues You Can Fix
While some plumbing jobs are too big to handle on your own, there are plenty of everyday situations that you should be ready for. Read ahead for some of our DIY tips for unclogging a kitchen sink and solve other common problems in your kitchen.
Unclogging A Kitchen Sink
Clogged sinks often happen at the worst of times – with guests over, or large piles of dishes on the side, it may be your first thought to call for plumbing services. Before placing a call, we recommend these few home remedies to get your sink flowing as usual.
- Boil a pot or pitcher of water while you drain your sink of any still water. Pour the boiling water into the sink and give it a few minutes to start draining. If you have no success the first time, you may need to be patient and give it a few more attempts. You can also add a half cup of salt in the drain before pouring any more water.
- Check your garbage disposal for any clogs. If your disposal is overheated, you may need to flip the switch.
- Remove any standing water and pour in one cup of baking soda followed by the same amount of white or apple cider vinegar. The solution should bubble and die down, at which point you need to cover with a stopper and wait for 20 minutes. Run hot water afterwards and see if the clog has cleared.
- If you have no vinegar, you can mix a cup of baking soda with a half cup of salt and allow it to sit in the sink for a few hours. Pour in boiling water to see if the clog has cleared.
- Use a plunger. If you have a double sink, be sure to cover one side. You will need a tight seal around the plunger, so be sure to leave some water in the sink you plan to unclog. Plunge for a few minutes and listen for a suction noise indicating a cleared clog.
- Check the P-trap, often located at the curve of your drainpipe under the sink. You can unfasten the pipe and attempt to clear any clogs inside. Reconnect and run water through to test it again.
- You can attempt to use a plumber’s snake. This tool is inserted inside the stubout behind your cabinet wall, and will require you to disconnect the drain pipe and P-trap. Insert the snake until you feel resistance, and try to dislodge whatever is stuck. If you do not own a plumber’s snake, a home solution is to use a wire hanger wrapped in a cloth. The downside to using a hanger is the short length you will be limited to, although in some cases it may be enough to clear any clogs.
Prevention Tips
While clogs are inevitable, there are steps you can take to prevent them from happening frequently. If you use a garbage disposal, be sure to only feed in small amounts of appropriate scraps at a time, so you do not risk overloading it. Grease, oil, and coffee grounds should never be run down a disposal, and should be disposed of properly. Once your sink is cleared, you can routinely pour in equal parts vinegar and baking soda for a few minutes before draining with hot water. This will help keep buildup minimized and also work to keep foul odors trapped. If you’ve found that nothing has helped your clogged sink, Reddi Services is here to help – give us a call and we’ll clear it out right away!
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