It’s safe to say that your kitchen is one of the most visited spaces in your home. From early morning breakfast to late-night snacks, your family is constantly spending time in this vital room — which means they’re also using the sink. As a result, you may wake up one day and discover that your kitchen sink has become clogged, causing water to fill up the basin with nowhere for it to go.
If you’re currently dealing with a sink clog in your kitchen, it can be easy to panic. Fortunately, there’s no reason to worry. There are many ways to fix this problem. Let’s go over some of the best ways to remove the blockage and get your water flowing once again.
Why Is Your Kitchen Sink Clogged?
Kitchen sink blockages can come in a wide range of shapes and sizes. If you’re unsure what could be causing this particular problem in your home, take a look at this guide to better understand what causes kitchen sink drain clogs:
What Is the Best Way to Clear a Clogged Kitchen Sink?
Cleaning your blocked drain can seem like an intimidating task at first — especially if you’re worried about potentially damaging your plumbing or find yourself in a time crunch. The good news is that it’s usually easy for homeowners to learn how to unclog a kitchen sink!
However, it’s essential to be aware that there isn’t one best way to clear a clogged kitchen sink. Some methods may work better than others, depending on the size or type of blockage. So whether you’re dealing with a clog due to coffee grounds, grease, or food particles, let’s discuss what you can do to address the problem.
Inspect the Garbage Disposal
First and foremost, it’s a good idea to check the garbage disposal to see if it has anything to do with the drain blockage. You’ll want to try running the disposal to see if this potentially breaks up the clog. If it seems like the disposal isn’t working correctly, you may need to reset it.
Plunge the Blockage
Have you checked the garbage disposal but still find yourself dealing with a stubborn drain clog? There’s no reason to get flustered just yet. You can use many other methods to achieve the results you’re looking for — such as plunging the blockage.
When learning how to unclog a kitchen sink, some homeowners might think it odd to plunge their kitchen sinks. It can be easy to think of plungers as tools that should only be used in our toilets. However, this is certainly not the case. There are various types of plungers that can be used for different purposes. For instance, cup plungers are best for kitchen sink drains since they’re able to create a tight seal.
Before you start plunging the drain, you’ll want to ensure there isn’t excessive standing water in the sink. There should be just enough water to cover the bell of the plunger. Once you’ve created a tight seal on the drain with the plunger, rapidly pump up and down until the blockage becomes loose.
Create a Drain Cleaner
If you’re looking for a clogged kitchen sink home remedy, you may want to start with the classic combination of baking soda and vinegar. These common household ingredients are a safe and effective alternative to harsh chemical drain cleaners.
All you need is a cup of baking soda and a cup of white vinegar. Pour these ingredients into the affected drain, then wait about 15 minutes to let them work on the blockage. When combined, baking soda and vinegar create a reaction within the drain that breaks down the clog. After waiting 15 minutes or longer, pour boiling water down the drain or run hot water to flush it out. You might have to repeat the process a few times to achieve your desired outcome.
Some homeowners consider this DIY cleaning solution to be the best way to clear a clogged kitchen sink, as it is gentle yet effective. However, if you’re dealing with a particularly stubborn blockage, you may need a helping hand from a professional.
Use a Drain Snake
Do you think your drain clog requires a tougher approach? If so, you might want to consider investing in a drain snake to fix the problem. Drain snakes, which you may sometimes hear referred to as “plumber’s snakes,” are popular drain opening tools that are used to physically remove the blockage.
Drain snakes have a flexible cable that is attached to an uncoiled spring. As the cable is lowered into the drain, the spring wraps around the blockage so that it can be extracted. Some people, including plumbers, may consider this to be the best way to clear a clogged kitchen sink. However, it’s important to know that using this tool requires extra care and safety precautions. After all, you don’t want to accidentally splash water on yourself or damage your plumbing while removing the blockage with one of these tools.
Clean the P-Trap
If you’re having trouble removing the clog, it’s possible that the blockage is actually located in the P-trap. Every home has a P-trap, which is a U-shaped pipe that is designed to keep sewer gases from rising up and entering your home. Unfortunately, due to its design, particles can get stuck in this pipe.
This is a great method if you want to learn how to unclog a kitchen sink without a plunger. You’ll need a bucket, wrench, gloves, and towels when disassembling the P-trap. This way, you can collect any water or debris that’s in the pipe so that it doesn’t create a huge mess.
Choose AP Plumbing for Your Drain Cleaning Needs
As you can see, learning how to unclog a kitchen sink drain isn’t too complicated. You can try different methods depending on the type of blockage to achieve the best results. Of course, you may still find that your sink is clogged after trying the tips above. If this is the case for you, don’t hesitate to contact AP Plumbing for help cleaning your Syracuse drains.
Our team of plumbing experts is here to assist you with professional drain cleaning. We’re proud to serve the residents of Syracuse and Rochester, NY, to ensure their plumbing systems run as smoothly as possible. Whether you need an emergency plumbing repair or hydro jetting service, you can count on us to meet your standards. Contact us today to schedule an appointment!
