Clogged sinks are extremely common, and our team at Top Notch Plumbing Services Inc. deals with them a lot. While some clogs are severe enough to warrant intervention from professional plumbers like us, many can be resolved with DIY solutions. In this article, our team will go over three methods you can try to fix your clogged sink—if none of them work for you, give us a call to have us fix the problem instead.
- Plunger – One way to unclog a clogged sink is to use a plunger. Use one with a flat cup, not a deep flange, as the latter kind is designed for toilets, not sinks. Seal the cup over the drain and give it 10 to 12 good, forceful pumps—if all goes well, the force from the plunger will push the clog out of the narrow drainpipe and into the wider main sewer line, so water will be able to drain around it once again.
- Hot Water – Another method you can use to deal with a clogged sink is to pour boiling water down the drain. The heat from the water will melt solidified fats and soap scum, which is often enough to dislodge the clog and resolve the problem. You should only use this method if you have a porcelain or stainless steel sink, however, because pouring boiling water in a fiberglass, acrylic, or granite composite sink can cause the material to crack or warp.
- Drain Snake – A drain snake can be useful for deep clogs you can’t reach easily. As it uncoils down the drain, it eventually comes into contact with whatever obstruction is causing the issue. You can either use the drain snake to break up the clog so that it can flow through the pipe or to pull the clog up to the surface, where you can dispose of the debris.
If these DIY methods prove ineffective, give our team a call so we can bring our specialized tools to bear on the situation.