A choked bathroom or kitchen sink is a common problem that we face now and then, which is caused by a build-up of everyday food, debris, Fat, oil, grease, cotton wool buds, tissues, paper, drinking straws, soap scum and hairs getting caught in the pipe below the sink. Usually, a trap or blockage can be fixed by using a plunger, a plumber’s snake, or a chemical drain cleaner. It’s essential to know how to deal with this kind of common household issue.
Why do Sinks choke?
Blocked skin can be frustrating especially when you are a clean freak. Sink clogs due to our carelessness, sometimes they got choked anyway. Plenty of factors play an important role in sink clogging. When someone knowingly disposes of food in the sink, it does not go all the way to drain and got stuck. It does not cause blockage at once, however, repetition is what worsens things. Sometimes sinks start over-flowing making it even more difficult to deal with.
How to prevent sink clogging?
Despite our best efforts, sink blockages are bound to happen from time to time, some preventative actions can help minimize its odds. Eatable should be carefully disposed of rather than washed down the plughole. Normally, rinsing the pipes through with soda and hot water will help keep them choked-free. Pouring some white vinegar down the plughole works equally well.
How to unblock a sink by using a plunger?
Evacuation of water & debris from the plughole:
First thing first, drain all the extra water, food fragments, and debris from the sink. The idea is to make it water free. Soaking it up with a sponge is the easiest way to do it. Now unscrew the plug and clean it a bit. If you see any debris or soap scum, try to remove it immediately. If that’s what causes a blockage, then their removal will restore water flow. Open the tap to affirm it.
Use a plunger to unblock the sink:
Before using a plunger, make sure to make the necessary arrangements to counter sink overflow. Use an old towel or something to block the overflow. Now place the plunger around the plughole and pour some lukewarm water to create an adhesive seal. Pump the plunger up and down to dislodge the water or any other solid trapped in the pipe. This method will unblock your kitchen sink. The same trick can be followed to unblock the bathtub drain.
Other methods to un-clog a sink:
By using Vinegar & Soda:
The conventional method of unclogging the drain is the use of Vinegar and baking soda. Pouring 1 cup of baking soda or vinegar directly into the plughole can do the trick. After pouring wait for a few minutes, a chemical reaction is needed to unblock any solids causing clogging.
By using boiling water:
This method is very effective when comes to soap-scum blockage. This trick works great when there is a slow drain. To apply this trick, boil water and then pour it into the plughole in two or three stages and wait for a few minutes to see results.
By using Alka-Seltzer:
Try dropping a couple of Alka-Seltzer pills in the plughole, then pour some vinegar. After some time, pour down some hot water to see good results.
By using a Wire Hanger:
A wire hanger can be used if you don’t have a drain snake at hand. Straighten a wire coat hanger to unclog the solid and clean it. Tamely push the wire down the plughole until you find the barrier. Giggle it a little bit and gradually apply some pressure until the obstacle is removed.
By using Water pressure:
This can be the simplest and the easiest trick that we can apply to unblock a sink. To do this all you need is two bottles of hot water. Put the opening of bottles into the plughole and quickly squeeze as hard as you can to force any barrier that is blocking the pipes down and out.
By removing the U-bend:
The first bend you see in the pipe is the u-bend right under the plughole. To unplug this u-bend you will need a bucket beneath it and gently unscrew each section of the pipe by using a wrench just enough so that the extra water can drip out. Once the water is completely drained out, now you can completely unscrew and remove it and thoroughly inspect what is blocking drainage.
By using Bleach:
The use of bleach to unblock a sink should be last on the list. To apply this trick, you are going to need proper eye and skin protection gear. This will sterilize and freshen the sink but it will not help in removing the barrier that is causing all the trouble. Applying bleach can also damage the sink and other fixtures alongside it. Be advised, you may have to replace your sink if it does not work.
Is the sink still clogged?
After applying all the above tricks and methods, if you have not cleared the blockage, then probably it’s time for you to call a professional drain unblocking service.
