It’s amazing how much we use our kitchen sink on a regular basis. It’s in operation when you’re washing dishes, when you’re running water to use in cooking, and even when you just pour yourself a glass of water from the tap. It’s important that your drain works properly, allowing wastewater to drain out quickly and completely. If yours is backing up, or has slowed down, it might be time for Anchor Plumbing.. However, there are a few things you can try on your own first. Here are four tips to help you unclog that sink drain.
Remove Visible Debris
Sometimes, the clog is pretty close to the drain and you might be able to actually see it. Use a flashlight and look into the drain to see if you can spot the problem. If it’s close to the bottom of the sink, you may be able to fish it out using a bent wire coat hanger (shaped like a hook, so you can pull the blockage out of the drain). If you can’t spot the issue, you may need to call licensed Brevard plumbers to handle it, but another tip might also help.
Use Boiling Water
Boiling water can loosen debris blocking your drain and help flush it all away. Boil a gallon of water in a pot on the stove. You can also heat water in a tea kettle, or even put it in a microwaveable bowl and heat it up in the microwave. Slowly pour a little of the hot water down into the sink drain and let it sit for a bit. After you’ve waited several seconds, pour a little more water down the drain. You’ll often find that this clears the blockage and gets things back to normal, but if it does not, be prepared to call a plumber to tackle the problem.
Put That Plunger to Use
Your toilet plunger can be used on more things that just a clogged up commode. It can be used on almost any drain, actually, as long as there’s enough room for the plunger’s bulb to fit (the rubber part on the end). Run water so that the sink fills up a little bit, and then put the plunger over the drain. Check that it covers the drain completely before going any further. If you have a double sink with a single connected drain, you’ll want to put a wet rag into the other drain. Plunge the drain several times (up to about eight) and see if the clog has been removed. If it hasn’t, you’ll need to consider Anchor Plumbing.
Clean Out the P Trap
If you’re feeling particularly handy, you can try cleaning out the P trap under the sink. While this won’t always get the clog (especially if its farther down the line), it can help. You’ll need a five-gallon bucket, and a pipe wrench to start with. Empty the sink of any standing water, and then open the cabinet under the sink. Locate the bend in the pipe (it looks like a P, thus the name). Put the open bucket underneath, and use the pipe wrench to turn the fittings. If your pipes are chromed, you’ll want to pad them with a rag to prevent the wrench from scratching them.
If none of these methods works, it’s definitely time to let professional, licensed, insured and reputable Brevard plumber, like Anchor Plumbing have a go at it.
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