How do you unclog your sink?

Question

It keeps getting cloged up and wont drain!!!

Answer 1

The first thing to consider is the "P" trap underneath your sink. Yes it looks just like the letter P.. By removing this your likely to find a good deal of blockage. If your sink is already backed up your going to need some large pans to catch the water that is in the sink prior to removing the "P" trap. Remove the debris from the P trap by knocking it gently against the side of your waste can, it should fall out readily. If this is the case the need for a strainer in the bottom of your sink is needed to catch the larger particles of food so as not to let it enter the P trap again. Hope this helps

Answer 2

The first thing that I would do if you don't know what you are doing is to look at repair books and they generally have illustrations tha explain exactly what to do!!!!!


Generally the best thing to do is to look under the sink to where the "P" trap is. ( I believe that is what it is called.) This is where the water flows down the pipe and then it looks like it comes back up. If you are not sure go to a hardware store and they can explain what you are looking at. Anyway - you will need to put a pan under the sink where you are doing to be loosening the nuts that are holding it. There will be two nuts. Let the water drain out into the pan. Sometimes there will be stuff in the drain ( like in the bathroom the most common problem is hair.)
After all the water has drained into the pan, then feel around and see if you can detect anything that might be clogging up the sink.
If you don't mind putting in some time, then this is not hard to do. If you don't like getting dirty - then call a plumber, boyfriend or some one who knows what they are doing.
Hope this of some help. By the way if you have someone like the plumber do this for you watch and most imortantly ask question - this is the only way that you will learn!!!!

Answer 3

Plumber, drain cleaner 9 years, hardware store - 15 years

SO far, several great suggestions.
If you have a kitchen sink drain clogged, you'll have to remove the p-trap, (the part shaped like a J) the wall bend, and possibly the T shaped piece if two sinks.

If the plug isn't in that, the next best results are by sending a "snake" through the line from the opening at the wall you just accessed.
Most hardware stores will not sell a snake that turns while you try pushing it down the drain. If you can find one that can connect to a drill, it will help you immensely.

Most kitchen sink blockages are from long term buildup of food debris, just like the stuff that sticks to the plates, pots and pans..... only inside the pipes, it decays and gets sticky like a black, smelly pudding.
If you use a disposal much, the amount of food debris going ;through the drain is increased alot. and your problem willl be back much faster than without the disposal usage.

Most "liquid plumber" type drain cleaners are based on a bleach/ lye solution which actually does a great job of dissolving the muck. Sometimes, it weakens the old steel or cast iron piping though. most times they're used, there isn't enough chemical to dissolve ALL the way to the blockage, and so it loosens some of the debris, only to get lodged further down the drain pipe and the clog is back. :=(

foaming drain cleaners have much of the reaction going to the foaming action... they reach and clean the entire pipe, but the limit of how far they're going to react and clean is limited by the quantity of chemical you can pour down.

Good luck

Answer 4

if a kitchen sink, best thing to do is call a plumber, he can run a snake thru line and will probably not stop up for 10 years, If a bathroom sink, remove U shaped part of drain by loosening the 2 nuts holding it on, then try to pull out stopper, youmay have to remove rod (horizontal) under sink, some you can do it w/ hand, some require wrench.Look into sink drain, do you see a build up of gunk and hair? remove w/ screwdriver or what you think will work,put back together.

Answer 5

I found this cool plastic long jagged stick (looks like skinny fish skeleton) from Walgreens drug store for $3.99. It serves like a mini-snake in terms of function.

You push the skinny long stick into the sink. Then you twist and pull it back up....you will catch a bunch of gross stuff (mostly hair). By doing this every 3-4 months, I no longer have drainage problems. Works best with bathrooms and not kitchen sink (as garbage disposal is suppose to do prevent clogging).

Answer 6

Tough one. Try pouring vinegar down it, let it sit for several hours. Your best bet is a 'snake', available at any hardware store. Its a lot work, but effective. Put the end down into the drain, push and keep turning. It may take several hours, but it works. Then, maintain it by using a bacterial agent once a month. Any home depot will have it. Regards-Bob.

Answer 7

I like the drain cleaner that foams up the best

Answer 8

You stick your face in the drain and start eating.