How to Unblock Your Sink - Pro Tip, by Skill Builder on YouTube. 5 min.
- Video length
- 5 min
- Time to do it
- 15 minutes
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Steps
- 7
What you need
Steps
Put on rubber gloves and place a bucket or towel under the trap if you can reach it. Bail out standing water from the sink with a cup so the plunger can seal.
Block the overflow hole at the back of the sink with a wet cloth or your hand. Air escaping there stops the plunger from building pressure.
Place the cup plunger over the drain so the rubber lip covers the hole fully. Add a little water if needed so the cup stays sealed.
Push down firmly and pull up sharply in short strokes for about 15 to 20 seconds. Keep the seal and work the water up and down.
Check the sink by running hot water for a minute. If it drains slowly, repeat the plunging in another burst.
Run hot water for two to three minutes once the sink drains freely. This flushes loose debris through the pipe.
If plunging fails, place the bucket under the trap and unscrew the trap by hand. Clear the blockage and refit it with the washers in place.
Tips and common mistakes
Never plunge a sink while chemicals are in it, as the splash can burn your skin and eyes.
Use a cup plunger, not a toilet flange plunger, so it seals on a flat sink base.
Avoid pouring grease or food scraps down the drain to stop the clog coming back.
If water backs up in a second sink or appliance, the blockage is deeper and may need a drain snake.
Questions
Can I use a plunger on a sink full of water?
Yes, but bail out most of it first. A shallow layer of water helps the cup seal and gives the plunger something to push.
What if the sink still drains slowly after plunging?
The clog is probably in the trap or further along the pipe. Remove and clean the trap, or use a drain snake for a deeper blockage.
Is hot water enough to clear a blocked sink?
Hot water alone only shifts light grease. For a real clog, plunge first, then flush with hot water to clear the loosened debris.
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.
