Some Tips For Clearing A Blocked Kitchen Sink Drain
You had a lovely dinner and have finished all the washing up, the plates and utensils are all drying on their rack. You pull the plug on the kitchen sink to allow the wash water to drain away and- nothing happens. The dirty old wash water just sits where it is with nary a ripple on its placid surface instead of the small whirlpool you see when water leaves the sink for the bowels of your home’s plumbing system. You have a blocked drain!
Blocked drains are one of the most common home plumbing problems, it’s usually not a question of if, but of when it will happen to you! Fortunately, there are some things you can do, which we will go over below, but there is also the possibility of a deeper, more serious problem in the system that no amount of DIY is going to do away with! In that event, you will need to ring up Burren Plumbing for some speedy and professional help! There is no plumbing problem they can’t solve, and your wash water will once again drain away without delay.
Now, if it isn’t a serious problem and you are determined to give DIY a try, then here are some tips for unclogging a blocked kitchen sink drain!
The Plunger – We probably don’t have to say this, but we will anyway- please use a clean kitchen plunger, don’t use the one that’s meant for the toilet- that would just be gross! A clogged sink drain will respond to pressure in the same way a backed-up toilet will. If you have a sink with two basins and one side still drains, cover the drain on the side that still works with a rubber stopper or stuff a wet rag in it to focus the flow of pressure down the affected drain. You may need to work on it for a while before you push the clog loose and the water starts to drain away again. If an hour passes by and your efforts are proving futile, then it’s time to dial your friendly neighbourhood plumber for an assist! At least you got some exercise!
Homemade Remedies – The first thing you need to do is ladle out any standing water in your kitchen sink so your remedy can do its work. Carefully pouring boiling water in is sometimes enough to melt the grease that’s contributing to the clog. If not, try adding some baking soda and vinegar. Baking soda and vinegar can be used to clean a variety of household items, even bedsheets! Begin that process by first pouring the baking soda down the drain, followed by the vinegar. This will cause a chemical reaction that will hopefully scour away the offending blockage. Give it a few minutes to do its work, then flush it away with boiling water. It may take a few tries, so don’t be discouraged. If you are still at it an hour later and running out of baking soda and vinegar, give up and call the plumber!We should mention that prevention is the best way to avoid blocked drains! Never pour grease down them, it’s bad for the local environment and sure to cause a clog!
