Clogging is among the most common plumbing issues that homeowners face. If your kitchen sink is clogged up, there are several factors that may have caused it. It may be due to grease that has already solidified inside the drainpipe. It may also be due to the presence of stringy food wastes that clung onto the walls of the pipe. It may also be due to vent problems or a clogged main drainage line. If the blockage is not that bad, you can actually fix the problem on your own. Here’s a step-by-step guide to help you out.
1. As always, try using your ever reliable plunger first. Simply fill the sink with water. Make sure that when you position the plunger right on top of the sink hole, its rubber part is soaked completely in water. Note that if you have a double sink, you have to plug the other drain to avoid backups. Plunge up and down quickly, in a consistent pace. Repeat the process for about 15 times and then pull the plunger off. If the clog has been removed, you’ll notice that the water will flow smoothly down the sink. To make sure that the drain is finally okay, run the tap. If water continuously flows down the hole, then the problem is resolved.
2. If, on the other hand, the clog persists, try using baking soda and vinegar. Protect your hands by wearing a pair of rubber gloves. Remove any standing water from the sink by scooping it out and transferring it to a bucket. Get a cup of baking soda from your cupboard and pour it into the drain. Follow it up with a cup of vinegar. Plug the hole with an old cloth ASAP because it will immediately form a chemical reaction that causes a fizzing effect. Leave the sink for a while as the two ingredients are working their magic. If you no longer hear any fizzing sound, then it’s done. Pour a kettle of boiling water into the sink hole to wash away the ingredients you used. Run the tap and check if the clog has been removed.
3. If it’s a nasty, stubborn blockage, you might want to hook the clog out. Open your sink cabinet and put a bucket under the pipes. Disconnect the trap by unscrewing the PVC pipes using your hands. If the trap won’t budge, use a wrench. Make sure that the bucket will efficiently catch and hold the water that will come out of the pipes. When the pipes are no longer dripping, get your plumbing snake and insert it into the system. Once the snake touches on a solid object, keep on turning the crank clockwise while pushing the wire further to break through the clog. When there’s no more resistance, slowly pull out your snake and dispose the waste that you just hooked out. Reinstall the trap again and run the tap to check if there’s no more blockage.
Hopefully, this DIY guide is helpful enough to teach you how to unclog a kitchen sink. If the problem persists and you need professional assistance, just call the most trustworthy Washington DC plumber. Plumbers 911 Washington DC delivers first-rate Washington DC plumbing services including drain cleaning, faucet repair, leak detection, camera sewer inspection and many more! Call us now at (877) 932-5325 to schedule a service!
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