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Kitchen sinks getting clogged up are a natural occurrence and at some point of time, you will have to Google search on how to fix it (unless you are a plumber or have a friend who happens to be a professional plumber, then lucky you!).
If you see that your sink drains water slower than usual or it doesn't drain at all, your initial reaction is to "call the guy", but as a matter of fact, unclogging your drain can be as easy as pie.
With a few simple tools, it will be a painless process and you will save money by doing it yourself.
These tips can help you better understand your water pipes and also learn to do something new around the house.
You will be thankful to yourself for making your clogged drains work like new again, and then you can treat yourself with a beer and an episode of your favorite TV show!
Usually, pipes get clogged somewhere around the P-trap, which is the pipe in your pipe cabinet that looks somewhat like the letter P.
If, however, your blockage is deeper in the system, it will make things a little more difficult for you to reach it. Keep reading and you will find out how to handle even these types of blockages!
How do I know if my sink is clogged?
Have you noticed that your sink drains water slower than before?
If you have, then it means that even if your pipes aren't blocked quite yet, a small blockage has formed and it will get bigger, causing your flow of water to eventually stop.
If you find standing water in your sink be sure that your kitchen sink is completely clogged and there is no postponing this issue. But how does this happen?
Well, a clog is almost always formed from food leftovers. It's enough for one part of food to get stuck in a pipe and if it's not washed away soon by water it will collect other parts of food that find their way there and form a solid clog.
Another sign that you might pick up on is that leftover food is floating around in standing water, or an unpleasant smell is coming from your kitchen sink.
This is why you can't procrastinate on fixing this - the smell from a clogged drain will get a chance to spread through your kitchen, and then throughout the rest of your home.
How to prevent this?
The best answer to this question would be - "Be careful what you put in your drain". But this is not concrete enough, is it?
Every food has the possibility of being the cause of a clogged drain, but there are some which are more troublesome than others:
- coffee grounds - they have a tendency to get stuck in a pipe because it stays solid
- grease - it can easily collect more food and create a solid clog faster
- meat - especially the greasier kind
- cheese - it can spread and fasten the process of creating a clog
- hair - this is not food but should be on the list so you know you should watch out for it, the shower drain isn't the only drain that can get clogged by hair
You should always avoid allowing these things to go into your drain and here's how:
- Collect them and put them in a can or cardboard milk container and throw it in the garbage can later
- Use a drain-grate to stop unwanted particles from going down the drain. You can look at your local plumbing supply store and see all kinds of drain-grates now, so for sure you will find one that is perfect for your sink!
- After each use of the sink you can pour boiling water down the drain. This can immediately help with prevention of food getting stuck, so if you want to be proactive this is an awesome method that your pipe system will thank you for!
Kitchen Sink Clogged Past Trap: How can I fix it?
- Throw a handful of baking soda in your drain, leave it there for a couple of minutes and wash it down with boiling water. Baking soda is great when it comes to cleaning your pipes because it also washes out the foul stench, but it's not as dangerous as chemical drain cleaners.
- Put white vinegar and let it be for 30 minutes. The acidic reaction will bite out the leftover food and then you can pour hot water in your pipes to make sure everything is clean as it should be.
- You can also mix white vinegar and baking soda just to be sure that you've done everything you can before moving on to fixing this problem with tools. Put this mix in your drain and pour boiling water over it a couple of times.
- This is the commonly seen solution for this issue - use a plunger. Place the lips of the plunger around the sink so that they stick completely, push it up and down about ten times and you will hear when your clog is sucked out successfully.
- Unscrew your P-trap and see if you find the blockage in it, just be careful when doing so since water can spread all over. To avoid that have a large enough bucket close by. If you haven't found the clog there then it is probably past the trap, and you will need some tools to get it out.
- Use a plumber's snake (also called drain auger), a tool that has further reach than a plunger and is used to either pull the clog out of the pipes or to push it down ahead. If you don't have one at home you can easily find them online or in a plumbing-supply store.
- You don't have a plumber's snake and want to create a tool for unclogging sinks out of something everyone has in their house? Lucky for you, a coat hanger wire can be used for this! Simply stretch it out so it can reach the clog that is trapped inside the pipe and either pull it out or push is further into the sewers.
- Lastly, don't forget you can always use drain cleaners meant for kitchen sinks.
Final Word: On Clogged Kitchen Sinks Past P-Trap
Most people don't know how to do basic work that needs to be done in order for their home to function normally. One of those tasks is to fix a kitchen sink that is clogged.
Before you call a professional and pay money for this service, give these tips a try and see for yourself how much you are able to accomplish by yourself. If after all these tips haven't fixed your drain, then the problem is more complex and you should call a professional service.
All in all, this task is not rocket science and most of you should be able to do this on your own. Sooner or later every kitchen sink gets clogged and this problem occurs.
It's almost impossible to keep it safe from everything and one little mistake is enough for one piece of food or hair to find its way down there and make room for more.
Don't panic if you see standing water in your sink with floating pieces of food. Relax, take this article, read it from the top and apply the solutions. Believe in yourself, you can handle this!
FAQs
Why is my kitchen sink still clogged after snake? ›
If your snake isn't unclogging your drains, it could be because the thumbscrew is loose, the clog is too severe, or the auger is dirty. Or maybe you just need a refresher on how to use a drain snake. A drain auger (snake) is a simple, inexpensive necessity for every homeowner.
How do you unblock a sink past the U bend? ›Look under your sink and find the U-bend, it's the first bend in the pipe immediately below the plughole. Put your bucket/dish under the U-bend and carefully unscrew the section of pipe. The U-bend has two sets of threads, one at either end. As you loosen them any backed up water will drain out, so take your time.
How do I unblock my kitchen sink with standing water? ›Use a plunger
If you've got standing water in your sink, the best way to get it to go down the drain is to plunge it. You'll need a plunger -- but preferably not the one from your bathroom (yuck), so use a clean one. It's a good idea to store a small plunger beneath your sink for this very purpose.
The proper way to use a snake is to insert the head into the drain and push very slowly without cranking. If you try to force it, it can bend back on itself and actually come out of the drain. Push gently and slowly, and if the auger is the right one for the job, it should slide smoothly through the pipe.
Can snaking a drain make it worse? ›If you have a clogged pipe, a drain snake is a simple and cheap tool you can use to fix it. These are advertised as devices that anyone can use to unclog a drain. But if used improperly, drain augers could make the clog worse. You could jam the obstruction in there tighter, or worse, do damage to your pipes.
How do plumbers unblock sinks? ›For the toughest of clogs, a plumber may use a hydro jet. This tool sends pressured water through pipes to break down drain build-up. This tool is often faster and more efficient than a typical drain snake. Hydro jets get rid of the clog, but they're also effective for cleaning drains.
Why is my kitchen sink not draining but pipes clear? ›Clean the P-trap. If the water is still not draining correctly, there might be a blockage in the P-trap, aka the elbow-shaped pipe under your sink. Food, grease and other debris may be stuck in the pipe, causing your sink to drain slowly or not at all because the water hits a snag on its way down.
How do you clean U-bend under kitchen sink? ›Unclogging the U-bend
Unscrew the threaded caps on the ends of the U-bend. Hold the U-bend while you do this so it doesn't fall off. Once you've removed the last threaded cap, carefully remove the U-bend, with the bucket in position underneath. You should see some water drain out from the sink.
Unclog a Sink With Vinegar and Baking Soda
Vinegar and baking soda have long been effective in clearing stubborn drains. This solution is also safe and household friendly compared to chemical-based drain openers. Allow your sink to drain completely. This may take time, but it will eventually clear.
- Best Overall Drain Cleaner: Drano Max Gel Liquid Clog Remover.
- Best Drain Cleaner for Hair Clogs: Liquid Plumr Clog Destroyer + Hair Clog Eliminator.
- Best Single-Use Drain Cleaner: Green Gobbler Drain Opening Pacs.
- Best Enzymatic Drain Cleaner: Bio Clean.
How do you clear a slow draining kitchen sink? ›
Pour a half cup of baking soda down your drain followed by a half cup of white vinegar. Let it fizz and bubble for five to ten minutes or so. Then, carefully pour the pot or kettle full of boiling water down the drain. Turn the faucet on and see if it's draining faster.
Can a drain snake go through a trap? ›While a normal bathtub drain is usually 1 1/2 inches in diameter, a shower drain is often 2 inches in diameter, making it easier to insert a small drain snake directly into the drain opening and down through the trap, where most clogs are found.
What if snaking a drain doesn't work? ›If your snake isn't unclogging your drains it could be because the thumbscrew is loose, the clog is too severe, or the auger is dirty, for example. A drain snake (also known as an auger) is a simple, inexpensive necessity for every homeowner.
How much does it cost for a plumber to snake a drain? ›How much does it cost for a plumber to snake a drain? According to HomeAdvisor, the average cost to have a drain professionally snaked is $220, with a range of $136 to $305.
How do you unclog a deep clogged? ›Pour one cup of fresh baking soda down the drain, followed by one cup of white vinegar. Place a rubber stopper or other sink hole cover over the drain opening. Wait 15 minutes to allow the vinegar and baking soda to unclog your drain, Then take out the drain cover and run hot tap water down the drain to clear the clog.
How much does it cost to unclog a drain? ›How much does it cost to unclog a drain? Nationwide, the average cost to clean a clogged drain is $150-$202. Plumbers charge $56-$75 on the low end and $450-$575 on the high end to repair a drain. Some plumbing projects may cost even more, depending on the scope and severity of the clogged drain.
Can a drain snake break a PVC pipe? ›If the bottom of the pipe or fittings are missing this can cause the snake to catch and break the pipe. It can also cause the equipment to get stuck. Broken PVC pipe is another issue with drains. If PVC is installed correctly there is usually no issues.
Why is my kitchen sink not draining but pipes clear? ›Clean the P-trap. If the water is still not draining correctly, there might be a blockage in the P-trap, aka the elbow-shaped pipe under your sink. Food, grease and other debris may be stuck in the pipe, causing your sink to drain slowly or not at all because the water hits a snag on its way down.
Why is my shower drain clogged after snaking? ›If your snaking session yields plenty of hair and soap scum, but still leaves you with a slow drain, there's a good chance that the P-trap is still obstructed. To clear it, plug the overflow hole with a rag and fill the tub drain with hot water, which will help to soften and loosen soap scum.
How do you clear a clogged drain pipe? ›A lot of folks know the baking soda and vinegar trick. Simply pour some hot water down your clogged drain and follow it up with equal parts baking soda and vinegar (baking soda first), cover the drain with a plug if you have one, let it sit for 20-30 minutes, then follow it up with more hot water to clear the clog.
How do you unclog a drain with a water bladder? ›
How to Use a BrassCraft® Drain Cleaning Bladder - YouTube
Will a clogged sink eventually drain? ›Unclog a Sink With Vinegar and Baking Soda
Vinegar and baking soda have long been effective in clearing stubborn drains. This solution is also safe and household friendly compared to chemical-based drain openers. Allow your sink to drain completely. This may take time, but it will eventually clear.
Use baking soda and salt. Mix about a cup of baking soda with half a cup of salt, and pour this mixture down the drain. Let the mixture sit for several hours, then flush with boiling water. You can repeat this process if it doesn't clear the clog.
Does plunging a sink make it worse? ›While it won't necessarily cause damage, you should not plunge a shower drain. It will only cause the clog to travel further down your plumbing.
How do you snake a kitchen drain? ›How To Unclog a Sink Using a Drain Snake - YouTube
Does baking soda and vinegar help unclog drains? ›The bubbling reaction from the baking soda and vinegar helps to loosen the drain clog, and the boiling water in step 4 helps remove it from your pipes. Baking soda and vinegar can serve as a natural drain cleaner.
What dissolves hair in a drain? ›Use Baking Soda and Vinegar
Baking soda and vinegar is a very powerful combination that can help clear nasty hair clogs. Besides helping dissolve hair in your drain, baking soda also has disinfectant qualities that can fight fungi and bacteria.