How to unclog a kitchen sink that's draining slowly 🐌 #handyman #howto #diy #plumbing, by Mechanicallyincleyend on YouTube. 1 min 1 s.
- Video length
- 1 min 1 s
- Time to do it
- 20 minutes
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Steps
- 8
What you need
Steps
Put on rubber gloves and lay old towels under the sink and around the drain to catch spills.
Fill the sink with about 5 cm of hot water and add a squirt of dish soap. This softens grease in the pipe.
Place the plunger cup over the drain so it seals fully, then push and pull firmly 10 to 15 times.
Pull the plunger away and check whether the water drains faster. Repeat once if it is still slow.
If the sink is still slow, place a bucket under the P-trap and loosen both slip nuts by hand or with pliers.
Slide the trap off and tip the trapped water and debris into the bucket. Scrub the inside of the trap with a brush.
Check the pipe stub in the wall for grease or food. Push a wire or drain snake in a short way and pull out the clog.
Refit the P-trap with its washers, hand tighten the slip nuts, then run hot water for a minute and check for leaks.
Tips and common mistakes
Never pour boiling water straight into a cold sink, as it can crack some basins. Use hot tap water instead.
Do not use chemical drain cleaner before plunging or opening the trap, as it can splash back and burn your skin.
Run hot water for 30 seconds after each wash-up to keep grease from settling in the pipe.
If the water backs up in both bowls or gurgles, the clog is further down the line and may need a longer snake.
Questions
Can I use baking soda and vinegar instead?
Yes. Pour half a cup of baking soda into the drain, add a cup of white vinegar, wait 15 minutes, then flush with hot water. It helps with light grease but will not clear a solid clog.
Why does my sink drain slowly again after a few days?
Grease is probably coating the pipe walls and catching food scraps. Flush with hot water after every meal and avoid pouring cooking oil down the drain.
Do I need a plumber?
Only if plunging and cleaning the trap do not help. A repeated blockage deeper in the pipe usually needs a drain snake or a plumber.
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.
