It is so annoying when you noticed your kitchen sink was draining slowly and eventually clogged. This can be vey inconvenience to the entire household.
Every kitchen sink has a drain trap and a fixture drain line. Sink clogs usually are caused by a build-up of greasy liquid, foreign objects and hair in the trap or fixture drain line.
Methods to fix a clogged a kitchen sink varies and depends on what cause the clog and the location of the clog. If you are looking to fix your clogged kitchen sink yourself, read our guide below on how to fix a clogged kitchen sink.
Method 1: Home Remedies
The easiest and least expensive method is to pour 2 cups of baking soda down your sink drain followed by pouring plenty of hot water. Pouring hot water helps to loosen any caked-on gunk in the sink trap.
Other home remedies are baking soda and vinegar or baking soda with salt. Both will create a bubbling reaction that will break down any leftover fat deposits so that they can go down the drain easily when followed by pouring plenty of boiling water.
Before applying home remedies, you need to remove any standing water. Repeat the process several time till the clog clear.
Method 2: Use a Plunger
If home remedies failed to clear clog, the next inexpensive method is to use a plunger to plunge the kitchen sink.
Remove the sink plug and plug the overflow hole by stuffing a wet rag into it. That will create air pressure with the plunger. If you have a double sink, then you need to cover the other sink’s drain with another wet
rag. This will keep the seal intact and prevent any water from spewing out of the sink drain when you plunge the other sink drain.
Pump the sink drain by moving the plunger up and down vigorously for at least 20 seconds. Roll the head of the plunger into the standing water so you force water, not air, into the drain. If you see water swirl straight down to the drain, the clog is clear. Pour boiling water with dish soap to clear the remaining residue in the sink trap. Dish soap helps to remove grease and oil.
If that doesn’t work, probably there is large clog at drain line.
Method 3: Remove Sink Trap
Place a bucket and rag under the sink trap to catch water and debris when remove the trap. Unscrew the slip joint nuts by hand or channel-type plier. Remove the sink trap when the slip joint nuts completely loose. Keep track of the o-rings on either side of the fittings as that were essential when reassemble back. Inspect the o-rings for any crack or signs of wear. Replace a new one before they cause leak.
Dump out debris and clean the trap with a toothbrush or bottle brush from sink trap and pipeline. Scrub the pipe interior surface to remove any build up debris.
Reassemble the sink trap and tighten with channel-type pilers. Ensure do not over tighten to avoid crack or break.
Turn on water to check whether water can flow freely and there is no leakage at sink trap and slip joint areas.
Method 4: Hand Auger or Plumber’s Snake
If the clog is downstream of the sink trap, remove the fitting at the wall. Look into the fixture with a flashlight. If you see water, that means the fixture drain is clogged. Use a hand auger that comes with a thin and flexible cable. Hang auger can be purchased on-line or from local hardware store. There are various types of augers, I shall suggest a hand auger comes with a rotatable drum that store longer coiled cable. Prepare bucket and rag around the drainpipe opening and push the end cable of hand auger inside. Turn the handle of the drum that contained the coiled cable and continue pushing further until you feel the resistance of the clog. Rotate the cable against the clog. The corkscrew at the end cable will entangles the clog. Pull the cable slowly out by rotating the drum. Clean off debris from the corkscrew.
Method 5: Cloth Hanger
If you do not have a hand auger, you may try using a wired cloth hanger as a substitute by straightening it flat and bend one end to create a hook. However, its length may not reach as far as compared to the flexible cable of a hand auger. Carefully insert the straighten hanger into the drain opening to dislodge any food chunk that could have stuck in the drain.
Method 6: Hand Crank or drill-powered auger
If using a plunger or hand auger does not clear a clog in a fixture drain line, it means that the blockage may be in a branch line, the main waste-vent stack or the sewer service line. Wastewater may be backed up in the drain lines. Use a hand crank or drill-powder auger to clear the branch line closest to any stopped-up fixtures. You may purchase on-line or from hardware store. Place bucket and rags under the opening to catch wastewater. Never position yourself directly under a cleanout opening while unscrewing the plug or cover.
Method 7: Power Auger
If using an auger on the branch line does not solve the problem, the clog may be in a sewer service line. To clear the stack, run power auger cable down through the cleanout. Power auger is a large and heavy equipment and require skills to operate.
Method 8: Pipe and Sink Chemical Declogger
There are various pipe and sink chemical cleaning products form local supermarket or hardware store to clear clogs. Follow the safety precaution and direction as stated on the product packaging.
Consider the level of your do-it-yourself skills versus the price of a professional plumber. And improper maintenance can cause further damage to your pipes. It is wise to get professional plumber to fix the clogged kitchen sink.
If you are looking for a professional plumber, call Crystal Plumbing, Singapore most recommended and trustable plumber. Crystal Plumbing has the expertise and solution to unclog all chokes plumbing problems. Call Crystal Plumbing for a transparent and non-obligation quotation at 9234 2672.