Plumbing problems can be a big pain, as everyone knows. One common problem that can be frustrating and time-consuming is when your bathroom of kitchen sink is draining slowly. This can make using the sink very slow, and there are a few common causes to a slow drain. Here are the five steps to fix a slow sink drain when it’s causing you strife. These steps can clean out an existing clog or help you prevent a future slow drain. Still can’t solve your problem? Call your local, professional plumber in Brevard for a quick and easy fix!
1. Use a Tool for Cleaning
Debris can easily collect in your sink. Grease and food bits are a common source of blockage in the kitchen, and the bathroom often has issues with hair and beauty/hair products. Soap can encourage build-up in any sink as well. There are drain snake tools like the zip-it that you can purchase for a cheap cleaning starter tool. Tools like these help pull out debris and hair, and they work well in most drains because they are small. Don’t invest too much in a single drain snake tool, however, because we have other ways to ensure a clean pipe!
2. Use a Plunger
The second step for dislodging crud to fix your slow drain is to use a plunger. Plungers aren’t just great for toilets. They’re also a good tool to use for loosening the debris and extra-stuck grime that’s lodged in the edges of your pipes. Use the plunger on the drain just like you would a toilet. However, don’t forget to cover the sink overflow to create the necessary vacuum for your purposes. And remember, your drain doesn’t have to be completely clogged in order to have an excuse for breaking out the plunger. They’re good for solving the problem of a sluggish drain as well.
3. Use a Gentle Drain Cleaner
Many drain cleaners are corrosive or damaging for your drain (and you) and can lead to problems down the road. That doesn’t mean that you can’t use any drain cleaners, however. The best one that we recommend is a homemade drain cleaner that you can easily whip up with items in your kitchen – and they do all the hard work without any of the damage! This drain cleaner will help cleanse your unhappy pipes and dislodge any additional crud that’s stuck after plunging and snaking. In addition, it can also help with any bad smells that come for the drain. You’ll need boiling water, vinegar, and baking soda – and about 15 minutes.
- Remove any kind of stopper or plug in your drain, if you have one.
- Use boiling water on the drain to soften the clog and grime.
- Pour a 1/2 cup of baking soda into the drain. Follow with another 1/2 cup of vinegar. If it’s bubbling, you know you’re doing it right!
- Cover the drain to encourage the bubbling to go down the drain instead of back into the sink.
- Wait for about ten minutes.
- Pour more boiling water down the drain to clear out the baking soda and vinegar and then follow by running hot water down the drain as well.
Still Draining Too Slow?
If these steps don’t solve your problem, it’s okay. You can always call a plumber in your area, like Anchor Plumbing. A professional plumber can assess the clog, fix the problem, and tell you how to prevent it in the future.
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