A blocked kitchen sink is a common household problem that can be bothersome and annoying. This can be caused by build-up of debris in the drain pipe from daily use. Fortunately, clearing a kitchen sink blockage is not a difficult task to perform, which means that you can avoid hiring that costly professional plumbing service. With the right tools and DIY knowledge, you can follow these steps:
Using a Plunger
1. When plunging your kitchen sink, make sure there is standing water as this will provide the tool with the power it needs to work. You can fill the basin with 2 or 3 inches of water.
2. Create a vacuum by sealing adjoining drains and air vents. Remember that this is necessary in order for the water in the drain to force the clog to move down the pipe.
3. Cover the drain with the plunger suction cup by placing the cup directly over the drain, while making sure you completely cover it.
4. Using both hands, apply as much force as possible to the suctioning in a push-and-pull motion. The pulling and pushing action is the key is to get the clog moving.
5. After you pushing and pulling several times, remove the plunger completely off the basin. Now, you can check if the water is freely going down the drain.
6. It might be needed to repeat these steps to completely get rid of the clog.
If you see that the drain is still clogged, you can proceed to clearing the trap.
Removing and Cleaning the Trap
1. Before removing anything, place a container under the trap to catch water that might come out of it. Also, take note the pipes that you will be removing.
2. There will be nuts that keep the trap in place, so remove them. Usually, these are hand-tightened, but there are times that you might need a pair of pliers to loosen them.
3. After the nuts are removed, pull the trap straight down and pour its contents into the container.
4. As the trap is the most likely where the cause of the clog is located, make sure that it is clear all the way through. You clean and rinse it out in another sink.
5. Remove the trap arm by unscrewing the nut holding it in place and pulling it straight out. And again, empty its contents if there is any and make sure that there is no build-up or debris in it.
6. After ensuring that all parts are clear of any clog, put everything back in reverse order. Hand-tighten all nuts before giving them a tighter seal using pliers, but make sure you do not over-tighten them.
7. Turn the water supply on to check for leaks and see if the drain is draining freely.
More Useful Tips
When using a plunger and clearing the trap do not work, then you can use a drain snake. However, this tool can be expensive to buy, and knowing that it is not often used, it cannot be considered as a worthwhile purchase. Fortunately, it can be rented at a usually affordable rate.
