It’s hellish to plunge your hands into a filthy, dirty sink filled with standing water to attempt to clear a blocked drain.
A blocked drain may suggest additional plumbing issues, which demand expert help, but if you have to clean the sink immediately, several options are worth considering.
1. Attack with Boiling Water
If your drain is clogged with grease, soap, or other material, hot water may be all that is required to remove the blockage. If you’re attempting to unclog a sink, this is the first thing you should try.
Here are a few steps to follow:
- Empty the boiling water down the drain
- Check if the water drains steadily by turning on the faucet. If the water is still draining slowly or standing motionless in the sink, repeat the method.
However, if your drain is linked to PVC pipes, never attempt this approach since the hot water might melt or otherwise destroy the plastic. And if the second attempt doesn’t yield any fruits, you should consider altering your strategy.
2. Use the Plunger
Plunging your sink is the simplest technique to get motionless water down the drain. If you’ve got a double sink, it’s important to remember to plug the other end before you start so that the seal stays intact and no water escapes.
After mounting the plunger over the drain to generate a suction effect, strenuously pump until water starts draining out of your sink. Afterward, flush the drain with clean water to make sure it’s clear of any remaining stagnant water. If it’s not, you’ll have to plunge once more.
However, pumping the drain wrongly might result in an overflow of debris and water in your sink. And you don’t want to mess up by pumping up too quickly, so don’t do that. You don’t want to suck anything out of the drain when you release the plunger’s grasp on the sink.
3. Check the Garbage Disposal
If the kitchen sink doesn’t drain, check the garbage disposal. Run the garbage disposal for several minutes with the hot water on to see if it helps. If that doesn’t help, ensure the disposal is switched off and properly inspected.
4. Hydro-Jetting
For stubborn clogs, hydro-jetting is a reliable and unique solution. The approach uses specialized equipment to blast a pressurized water spray into the obstructed pipe. The technique is swift; hence, normalcy is restored very quickly.
Since hydro-jetting is both solid and delicate, it can be used on any pipe or obstruction, even tree roots. Hire a skilled plumber to do hydro-jetting.
5. Have the P-Trap Cleaned
A little volume of water is retained when a sink drain is connected to the wall by a P-trap. The P-trap can get clogged with grease, hair, and other remains.
Unless you’re an expert, it’s better to leave the P-trap plumbing repair to the experts. When you call BEST Air Conditioning Plumbing Repair, we’ll send over one of our experienced plumbers to get the repair done fast so you can go back to using the sink.
6. Try the Plumber’s Snake
The stubborn blockages, which vigorously fight back, will necessitate using a plumber’s snake to combat the blockage. The device features a spiral snake that extends into the drain. Once the snake meets a blockage, you may turn the handle to release the impediment and remove it from the drain. Electric snakes have a greater capacity to clear blocked drains.
Using a coat hanger, you can fabricate a substitute for a plumber’s snake. Undo the hanger into a long wire using a pair of pliers. Be sure to save the hooked end to grab hold of any loose debris.
Simply feed the instrument you’re using several inches at a time down the drain. If you use too much force, you may accidentally push the obstruction farther down the pipe. When you detect the tool’s tip, strike a blockage, hook it and draw the debris up through the drain. Continue until you are sure that the obstruction has been removed. Use hot water to flush the drain to establish if you are correct.
Final Thoughts
Follow up with one of our skilled plumbers from BEST Air Conditioning Plumbing Repair if you’re still having trouble draining your sink after attempting these suggestions. Call us for all of your plumbing needs in Las Vegas and surrounding areas.
