How To Unclog a Sink The RIGHT Way Without Spending a Dime!, by How To Home on YouTube. 8 min 3 s.
- Video length
- 8 min 3 s
- Time to do it
- 30 minutes
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Steps
- 8
What you need
Steps
Put a bucket under the sink trap and lay towels on the cabinet floor. The trap holds standing water, so expect a spill when it opens.
Clear space in the cabinet so you can reach the pipes. Shine a light on the trap to see the slip nuts at each end.
Loosen the slip nuts on both sides of the P-trap by hand or with pliers. Turn them counterclockwise and keep the bucket under the joint.
Pull the trap off and tip the water into the bucket. Scoop out the sludge, food scraps and grease with your fingers or a wire.
Check the pipe stub going into the wall. Push a wire coat hanger or drain brush in and twist it to break up clogs further along.
Rinse the trap in the sink or with hot water until it runs clear. Scrub the inside walls to remove the greasy film.
Refit the trap and hand tighten both slip nuts. Make sure the washers sit flat and the trap lines up without force.
Run hot water for a minute and watch the joints for drips. Tighten any nut that weeps, then flush with more hot water.
Tips and common mistakes
Never pour chemical drain cleaner into a sink you plan to open by hand, as it can burn your skin.
Run hot water for 30 seconds after each wash to keep grease from setting in the trap.
Do not overtighten plastic slip nuts or they will crack and leak.
If the water still backs up after cleaning the trap, the clog is deeper in the wall line and needs a drain snake or a plumber.
Questions
Do I need to turn off the water first?
No. The trap sits below the sink and holds only the water already in the pipe. Just keep the faucet off while the trap is open.
What if the trap is glued and will not come apart?
Some older sinks use glued PVC fittings. Do not force them. Call a plumber or cut and replace the section with a slip-joint trap.
Can I use a plunger instead?
Yes, a cup plunger works for a light clog. Block the second drain or overflow first so the pressure goes down the pipe.
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.
