Nothing ruins a great dinner quite like a backed-up kitchen sink and clogged drain afterwards. Similarly, nothing worse than standing ankle-deep in soapy water during a morning shower. Usually, these inconveniences occur at the worst moment—when the sink is clogged with food particles, toothpaste, or even more offensive things that we dare not discuss here (for shame).
If you have a clogged drain, don’t worry -you are in the right place.
Here are some simple tips to handle these critical plumbing issues.
How To Clear a Clogged Drain?
Unclogging a drain can be costly and time-consuming, often requiring emergency plumbing services. However, sometimes, this task is a DIY-friendly one.
Here are some simple methods that are used to clear a clogged drain:
Boil the Clog Away
Boiling water down the drain effectively unclogs (or unclogs) a mildly clogged drain. The science behind it is that extremely hot water will dissolve the clog until it can easily pass down the drain.
For this technique, boil eight to 12 cups of water in a pot. Then, carefully bring the hot water to the sink and pour it down the drain, roughly two or three cups at a time. Before adding extra hot water to the drain, let it sit for a minute. The clog may require multiple repetitions before it is cleared.
Keep in mind that this method is not a guarantee for fully stopped drains. The boiling water quickly cools down in the sink due to the existing water, and it might not get hot enough to remove the clog. However, this may work well for slow drains.
Try a Clog-Busting Household Cleaner
In some cases, grease buildup may cause a clogged drain in kitchen sinks. Dish soap is an effective product for removing this buildup.
In this technique, pour a few tablespoons of dish soap down the drain and let it sit. If the dish soap reaches the clog, it will start dissolving the grease and its attachment to the pipe.
After a few minutes, apply boiling water to the blockage. This might unclog the drain or, at the very least, restore its flow.
Take the Plunge
If none of the above methods cleared the clog, a plunger may be required. Use a toilet plunger for toilets and a sink plunger for sinks. Sink plungers just rest on top of the sink drain, whereas toilet plungers have an extended flange that fits into the toilet drain.
Over the drain, place the plunger. If this is a sink, make sure to use a damp cloth or finger to block the overflow hole, which is usually located close to the sink’s rim. Add a small amount of water to the sink as well.
To push water into the drain, slowly apply pressure to the plunger’s handle. Open the overflow hole, let the plunger rise again, close the hole, and keep doing this until the sink is clear.
Snake the Drain
If a plunger doesn’t clear a clog, the dish soap or baking soda will likely not work. Use a plastic drain snake for sinks and a toilet snake for toilets. Feed the snake into the drain, clean it off, and run water to check if the drain is clear. Furthermore, if you’re still struggling with a stubborn clog, it might be time to call a professional clogged drain repair service.
