How to Clear a Clogged Drain

 

Dealing with a clogged drain is one of the most common things that homeowners face. If you find yourself in this situation, you’ve probably searched the internet on how to repair it. If you have tried all of the methods you have found online and you haven’t had any luck, it might be time to call a professionally licensed plumber.

Whenever your shower or sink randomly stops draining, you can try some of the methods below to clear out any stopped up pipes. 

In most cases, a clogged drain is caused by a blockage in the pipe from debris, an item that shouldn’t be there, or a build-up of residue. Sometimes, the real challenge when it comes to unclogging a drain is trying to do it with standing water. If you are unable to catch and fix the blockage fast enough, you might have a huge mess to clean up afterward.

Drain Clog Cleaner

In many cases, a clogged drain can be cleared by simply using drain cleaner. You can purchase this at your local supermarket or hardware store. However, if you feel as if the clog isn’t that severe, you can always try baking soda and vinegar as an alternative. For those who prefer a non-chemical method, pouring vinegar and baking soda down the drain will produce a fizzy reaction. Although, it’s important to keep in mind that this mostly works for small clogs.

Using a Sewer Trap Plunger

Using a plunger is another great way to get the job done fast. However, make sure you are using the right kind of plunger. Using a plunger that’s mainly used for a toilet won’t do much good for a clogged sink. Instead, you’ll need to purchase a mini-plunger to get better and faster results.

Snaking the Drain

A snake is another common tool that’s used to fight clogs. A snake is usually a small piece of plastic that’s able to be put into the drain. It also has tiny edges called teeth on each side to remove against any hair that can be stuck in the drain.

Fixing a Clogged Kitchen Sink With Standing Water

 

Fixing a clog does depend on what it’s connected to. For example, a kitchen drain can give you a different set of challenges than a bathroom sink because of what usually goes down it. A good example of this would be grease. Grease is a recurring issue with kitchen sinks due to its ability to catch debris and food particles. If left unchecked, grease can end up causing a very bad blockage. 

When fixing a clogged kitchen sink, you have to be extra careful. Turn off the power and make sure that you don’t accidentally damage the garbage disposal. With that out of the way, here are a few ways you can fix a clogged kitchen sink.

Pour Boiling Water Down the Drain

Before anything, make sure to remove as much standing water from the kitchen sink as you can. You can do this by using a container or a cup. After that’s done, pour an entire pot of boiling hot water down the drain. Depending on the severity of the clog, you might have to do this more than once for this to work. 

Regardless, it’s one of the easiest and cheapest methods you can do. If boiling water alone isn’t working, remove any standing water once again and pour salt down the drain before the water. Give it time to sit and then flush it one more time with hot water.

Trap Cleaning

There’s something that’s called a p-trap at the curve of your kitchen sink’s drain pipe. It’s mostly found in the cabinet located underneath the sink. This may be the source of your clog, however, it’s going to take more than a snake to fix it. To repair it, you’ll need to unfasten the p-trap from the pipe, thoroughly clean it out and then fasten it back into its proper place. However, if the clog is located past the p-trap, then you’ll need to use a snake to clear it. 

Having a clog is nothing short of frustrating. However, it’s one of the easiest things that you can fix without having to call a professional. But there may be a time where the clog is too severe for you to handle. So, to prevent your clogged drain from becoming a massive repair, give The Plumber Guys a call and we’ll send out a trained professional to help.