Tips for Unclogging a Sink

The first thing you need to decide when unclogging a sink is if you are going to use chemicals to handle it or try to handle it without the use of chemicals. If it is a normal clog, like hair , then a chemical will work to remove the clog, but if it is something else stuck down the drain then you will need use a different method to remove the clog.

If you are going to use a chemical and the sink is clogged then you can more the bottle into the sink and follow the directions on the bottle. If it is a slow drain then fill the sink up with water, do not close the drain and then pour in the chemical. Follow the direction on the bottle and wait to see if the clog is cleared. If it is, congratulations, if it is not then we will go to the next step.

If chemicals didn’t work to unclog your sink or you opted not to use them, then we are on the next step. Depending on what type of drain you have, underneath the sink the drain is hooked up to a latch to close the sink. You need to disconnect this latch and lift the drain plug out of the sink. This will allow you to get into the sink to clean it out. You will need to have a plastic bag handy to throw your mess away into. Look down the drain and see if there is anything you can pull out. Just a reminder you also might want to wear plastic gloves to clean out the drain. You can then take a snake (a tool you can buy at your local hardware store that goes down drains and pushes the debris out in front of it) and push it down the drain. Normally this will take care of your problem, but be careful that you don’t push too hard when you are using the snake as you could break a pipe. If you hit a spot where the snake doesn’t want to continue then you might have to take the pipe apart to clean out the debris.

When you have to take pipes apart, you will need an old bowl to catch any water drippage so that you don’t soak your floor. Place the bowl underneath the pipe you are going to take apart, then undo the piece holding the pipes together. Remember it is righty tighty and lefty loosy. Once you have loosened the pipe slowly take it out over the bowl and set it into the bowl. You will have water coming out. Look into the pipe and clean out any debris you find. If it is clear make sure you look in the other direction and make sure it is clear. Then put the pipe back together, tightening the connection. Once you have determined the pipe is back together securely then turn the water on to see if it flows freely.

If it works then congratulations on a job well done, but if it doesn’t I would recommend you call a plumber because the clog could be further along in the pipes under the house. Also don’t forget to reconnect the drain plug to the hook under the sink. Otherwise your drain will not work.