How to Clear a Clogged Sink Drain | This Old House, by This Old House on YouTube. 3 min 34 s.
- Video length
- 3 min 34 s
- Time to do it
- 30 minutes
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Steps
- 8
What you need
Steps
Empty the cabinet under the sink so you have room to work. Put a bucket or pan directly under the P-trap to catch the water that will drain out.
Clear space and lay paper towels on the cabinet floor. They will show any drips later so you can spot a leak.
Loosen the slip nuts on both sides of the P-trap with pliers or by hand. Turn them counterclockwise and keep them with the trap.
Pull the trap down and tip the trapped water into the pan. Check inside the trap for hair, grease and food scraps.
Clean the trap with a bottle brush or your gloved fingers and rinse it under the tap. Also check the tailpiece and drain opening for debris.
Reassemble the trap and hand-tighten the slip nuts. Give each nut a small extra turn with pliers, but do not overtighten plastic parts.
Run hot water for a minute and watch every joint for drips. Tighten any nut that leaks and check the paper towels again.
If the drain is still slow, feed a drain snake or a bent wire down the wall stub and pull out the clog. Flush with hot water afterwards.
Tips and common mistakes
Never pour chemical drain cleaner into a sink you plan to open, since it can splash back on you.
Skip the trap if it is glued or badly corroded and call a plumber instead of forcing it.
Run hot water down the drain for 30 seconds after each use to keep grease from building up.
Replace an old plastic T-fitting with a full-size brass one if it is cracked or clogged.
Questions
What if the sink still drains slowly after cleaning the trap?
The clog is probably further down the pipe. Use a drain snake through the wall stub or call a plumber if the blockage keeps coming back.
Can I use a plunger instead of opening the trap?
Yes, a cup plunger over the drain can shift a soft clog. Block the second sink bowl or the overflow with a wet rag so the pressure goes down the drain.
How do I stop the slip nuts from leaking?
Check that the rubber washers sit flat and are not torn. Hand-tighten the nuts, then give a quarter turn with pliers and test with hot water.
This guide was drafted from the video's details and general task knowledge. It has not been checked against the full video. Check the video and relevant product instructions before following a procedure. Report a correction.
