More than 1.5 million Americans have recurrent issues related to plumbing connections and sewage system failures. Plumbing fixtures are among the most important systems in a house, considering their role in ensuring the flow of water into the home and the discharge of wastewater.
The kitchen is among the spaces where you spend most of your time. Whether it’s washing dishes or preparing food, having a clear kitchen drainage system is vital. As such, it can be a helpless situation when the kitchen sink won’t drain.
Learning how to unclog a sink during such cases can come in handy.
Kitchen faucets account for about 19% of your home’s water usage. Ensuring that the sink drains are working perfectly is imperative. Here, we provide a guide to 10 unique ways to unclog your sinks and keep the kitchen drainage system in tip-top working order.
1. Using Boiling Water
Dealing with a clogged sink is exasperating. It’s worse when you aren’t sure of the actual cause of the problem. However, before you call in a plumber, using boiling water should be your first course of action.
You can do this by heating water up to a rolling boil level. Before proceeding, remove any standing water from the sink. The next step should be to pour the boiling water straight into the drain.
Most of the kitchen drains clog due to the accumulation of cooking oil, grease, and fat along the drain pipes. Hot water can help dissolve these clogs and clear the drain pipes. However, it’s important not to pour the boiling water directly into any porcelain sink to avoid cracking it.
2. Using Baking Soda and Vinegar
The use of baking soda to unclog drains is among the oldest methods used in most kitchens. This technique is cheap and effective. You only need a cup of baking soda, water, and a cup of vinegar.
You should then mix the baking soda and the vinegar with water to make a solution. Next, pour the solution down the drains and cover the drain plug for up to 10 minutes. You can then pour boiling water into the pipe again to clear any remaining debris.
The best thing about this method is that you make use of things you already have in the house.
Vinegar and baking soda produce a fizzing action when mixed, which helps remove the hair and grime from the kitchen drains.
3. Wet and Dry Vacuum
When dealing with clogged drains, sometimes you need a wet and dry shop vacuum to help you deal with the mess. You only need to fix the vacuum’s hose into the drain hole and start the machine.
This machine works like the plunger, only that it has more suction power.
Using a wet and dry vacuum is among the expensive kitchen drain unclogging methods. However, you don’t need to own one to use it. There are multiple rental stores where you can rent one for a small fee.
Even though expensive, this method guarantees you an effective process. The best part is that the wet and dry vacuum dislodges even the most stubborn clogs.
4. Baking Powder and Salt
The combination of baking soda and salt also works wonders. You only need to mix a ½ cup of each in a bowl. Then wait for the mixture to dissolve, pour down the drain, and let it sit for several hours.
Then, flush boiling water into the drain pipe until it starts to drain.
5. Checking the Disposal System
Before you look for a plumber, you could consider checking the disposal system first. At times, the clogging is caused by a simple hitch in the garbage disposal system.
Inspect the parts around the garbage disposal system for any issue. Overheating could be a reason for the problem. You can flip the switch underneath the sink to solve the heating issue.
If the problem is a jammed disposal system, you might need more time to solve the problem. Even then, you can insert a garbage-disposal-wrench down the drain to clear the clog.
6. Using a Plunger
If you are wondering about a DIY method to unclog a sink, then using a plunger is a perfect solution. Your first step should be to place a wet piece of cloth over one of the sink drains. The move seeks to ensure that the sink drain has a seal to enhance the suction pressure.
You should then plunge the plunger up and down for about 20 seconds non-stop. This helps to push as much water down under high pressure.
Plunging applies the concept of suction and compression. When you pull the plunger upwards, the water in the drain moves up. When you push it downwards, the water is forced down. The up-down effect breaks up the clog so the water can move down the drainage system.
The plunger should be at the center of the sink at all times. You should then remove the plunger and flush some water down the drain. Repeat this procedure as many times as possible until you remove all the debris from the system.
If plunging doesn’t now work, try the plumbing snake method.
7. Considering a Plumber’s Snake
The process of unclogging drains differs depending on the underlying cause. Sometimes you need a plumber’s snake to deal with clogs affecting the drainage system. While this tool might seem complex, a plumber’s snake is easy to use and you might not need a specialist to unclog the drain.
All you need is to visit a plumbing shop near you and ask for a plumber’s snake. You should then disassemble the drainpipes and the P-trap to access the stub pipe underneath.
You should then push the snake until you break up any dirt causing the clogging. This method is especially useful when you want to protect your fire clay sink from damage caused by abrasive unclogging chemicals.
Using a plumber’s snake and a helpful guide on effective sink cleaning from Magnus Home Products, you no longer have to worry about drain clogs.
8. Focus on the P-traps
When you realize that the drains still have clogs despite various efforts, you should consider cleaning the p-traps. The curve is often under the sink and can be the reason for most drain clogs. You should check to see whether the p-trap is under the cabinet, if it’s not easily visible.
The p-trap can trap a lot of debris. It would be best if you considered placing a bucket under the sink to prevent wastewater from messing the kitchen.
Once the T-trap is clean, you should then fix the system back together. Ensure that you refix the T-traps properly to avoid the possibility of leaks.
9. Coat Hanger
If you’re stuck trying out ways on how to unclog a sink, a coat hanger can come in handy. This can be a perfect solution when you don’t have a plumber’s snake. You only need to ensure that the coat hanger is long enough to reach deep into the pipes.
You should then insert the coat hanger into the drain or the stub pipe and push it in as much as possible. However, work with extreme caution to avoid scratching your sinks.
The best part about using a coat hanger is that you don’t have to incur the cost of buying a plumber’s snake.
10. Salt and Boiling Water
If you don’t have access to all these things, you have salt and water at home. You don’t have to struggle anymore with how to unclog a sink. With salt and boiling water, you should prepare a solution and pour it down the drain.
If the clog is caused by grease and other oily stuff, this solution will dissolve them and unblock the system.
How to Unclog a Sink the Natural Way
Forget the numerous chemical products hyped on advertisements. You can still unclog a sink naturally and easily.
Have you been wondering how to unclog a sink the natural way? These ten different ways could be all you need to achieve that all-important free-flow of wastewater down the drains. Apart from the plumber’ snake, baking soda, and vinegar, which you might need to purchase, most of the other solutions shouldn’t be hard to execute.
You only need to be careful enough not to damage your sinks while undertaking the procedures.
There’s so much more to learn about DIY tricks on our website. Explore more great articles today.
