Recommendations from experts on how to clear a clogged kitchen sink at home

A clogged kitchen sink is a situation that almost everyone faces. In this case, the water either does not drain at all or leaves very slowly.

In most cases, you can correct the situation on your own, using mechanical cleaning methods, special chemicals and even folk recipes.

In this article you will learn how to quickly and effectively clear a clogged kitchen sink at home.

Reasons for appearance

Before cleaning the drain, it is recommended to determine the cause of the blockage. The main ones include the following:

1. Incorrect installation of plumbing. This could be, for example, installing waste pipes at the wrong angle.
2. Foreign objects entering the drain that block and clog the pipe.
3. Gradual accumulation of fat and other deposits in the pipes.

In cases where improper installation occurs, simply cleaning the pipes is not enough.

How to clean mechanically?

To clear blockages Mechanical cleaning methods are often used. These include the use of a glass, a plunger or a special cable.

Plumbing cable

The cleaning cable is often metal.It has a handle on one side and a split, hard end for cleaning on the other.

Application:

1. The working part is lowered into the drain.
2. By turning the handle, the cable is moved along the drain pipe.
3. After removing the cable from the drain, there may be debris at the end of the cable that is obstructing the passage of water.
4. Repeat the procedure several times.
5. Check the quality of cleaning by pouring water into the sink.
6. If necessary, I repeat the processing.

You can watch how to work with the cable in the following video:

Cup

For small blockages, when water passes through, but not as quickly as usual, even an ordinary glass can help.

Principle of operation:

• take some water into the sink;
• lower the glass so that it covers the drain hole;
• press and then sharply move your hand with the glass up;
• repeat several times.

Cleaning using this method is similar to the principle of using a plunger, but it will not help deal with serious blockages.

plunger

It is advisable to have a plunger in the household - a simple tool that will help deal with fresh blockages.

Procedure:

• fill the sink with some water;
• install the plunger so that the drain is completely covered with the working nozzle;
• press the plunger with force and pull it sharply towards you;
• repeat the treatment several times in a row, even if the plug has already been removed.

In addition to the usual plunger, you can use pneumatic models.

How to remove using folk remedies?

Even simple homemade recipes can help solve the clog problem. But it is better to use them in cases where the blockage is not severe. If the water does not drain from the sink at all, it must be scooped out before cleaning.

Boiling water

This is the simplest and most accessible.

Procedure:

1. It is necessary to bring at least 1.5 liters of water to a boil.
2. Pour boiling water into the sink, being careful to direct the stream into the drain.
3. If the water begins to go away, then after 1.5 hours the procedure must be repeated. Otherwise, you will have to try another drain cleaning option.

Vinegar and soda against fat deposits

To clear clogs caused by food debris, especially greasy food, the baking soda and vinegar method can be used.

Procedure:

• remove all water from the sink;
• pour into the drain hole? packs of soda;
• pour in? glasses of vinegar;
• plug the drain hole to ensure that the chemical reaction takes place in the pipes and not on the surface of the sink;
• wait until the chemical reaction with the formation of foam is completed;
• pour 1.5 liters of boiling water (hot water) into the sink drain hole;
• Run cold water for 3 minutes to flush out the drain.

You can use cleaning with soda and vinegar as a preventive measure.

Hangover pills

If the blockage is not severe and you don’t have soda on hand, you can use effervescent hangover tablets. Alka-Seltzer will do.

Application is simple:

1. In a saucepan, mix 2-3 tablets of the drug with a glass of vinegar.
2. Quickly pour the foaming solution into the drain.
3. Immediately plug the hole with a rag.
4. After 10 minutes, turn on the water under pressure.

Alternative use of tablets:

1. Grind and pour 2 tablets into the drain.
2. Pour in a glass of vinegar.
3. Plug the drain hole in the sink.
4. Wait a few minutes for the reaction to pass.
5. Run hot water.

Salt and soda

Kitchen drain pipes are susceptible to deposits from grease that gets into the pipes when washing dishes.

Application procedure:

1. combine 4 tablespoons of salt with 2 tablespoons of soda in a container;
2. pour two glasses of water;
3. pour into the drain;
4. plug the kitchen sink drain;
5. stand for 10 minutes;
6. run hot water.

This method cannot deal with old blockages.

How to quickly remove with special chemicals?

Various preparations can be used to clean kitchen drains. They are available in liquid form, in the form of granules in sachet.

Bagi Schumanit

The drug produced in Israel is available in granular form.. It allows you to completely eliminate the blockage in just 3 minutes, dissolving food residues and fat accumulations. Suitable for all types of pipes. Contains sodium hydroxide.

For the product to work, you need to remove the water from the sink. The contents of the sachet are poured into the drain and poured? glasses of hot water. After 3 minutes, the sink is washed with a large stream of water.

Advantages:

• destruction of bacteria;
• elimination of odors;
• very high efficiency;
• fast action;
• dissolution of organic and inorganic substances.

Minuses:

• high price;
• caustic composition.

The average cost of a package is 150 rubles. The product is also available in gel form.

Gel Mr.Muscle

The drug in gel form is an effective remedy that acts in a few minutes. If the plug situation is stubborn, the product may need more time to clear the drain.

Advantages:

• efficiency;
• ease of use;
• elimination of bacteria.

Minuses:

• caustic composition;
• price;
• high consumption of funds;
• for advanced cases it will take several hours.

Price – 300 rubles.

Tire Turbo

The gel is intended for cleaning pipes at home. The product is suitable for all types of pipes. Contains chlorine. A single treatment of one drain hole requires 250 ml of product.

Advantages:

• efficiency;
• works even when there is water in the sink;
• eliminates bacteria.

Minuses:

• price;
• high consumption.

Cost – up to 400 rubles.

Disassembling the siphon

Directly under the kitchen sink there is a siphon - a simple structure that can be disassembled. This method is very effective when the cause of the blockage is in the siphon. After all, the water draining from the sink first enters it.

Procedure:

1. Free up space under the sink.
2. Place a bucket under the siphon.
3. You need to unscrew the plastic nuts holding the siphon. Or you can unscrew only the siphon sump nut. In this case, the entire contents of the sump will flow into the bucket.
4. Clean and rinse the removed part.
5. You can also disconnect the corrugated pipe leading to the drain and wash it as well.
6. Install all elements in their original place.

The procedure for cleaning the siphon can be seen in the video:

Features of cleaning plastic pipes

Cleaning plastic pipes requires special care. Despite the strength, the material from which the drainage system is made is susceptible to mechanical damage and exposure to very high temperatures.

The inner surface of the pipes is quite smooth; with proper installation, blockages in such a system occur less frequently than in cast iron drainage systems. This is explained by plastic is not prone to corrosion and sticking of various substances to the surface.

But during operation, food particles that fall into the kitchen drain can be deposited, causing a blockage. The best options for cleaning approaches are the use of a plunger, the use of home and special products.

Call a plumber

In situations where you cannot cope with the blockage on your own, you will have to turn to the help of a plumber.

Also, specialist intervention will be needed when when the clog problem is related to the drainage system in the apartment or with a riser in the house.

The cost of the service is determined by the complexity of the problem and the necessary cleaning work. If replacement of units or individual parts is required, the customer pays for them separately. On average, in the capital, clearing a clogged sink will cost from 500 rubles.

Prohibitions when cleaning

When starting to clear a clogged kitchen sink, It is necessary to remember a number of prohibitions:

1. Do not begin to break the plug while there are dishes in the sink. It and food must be removed in advance.
2. You should not get to work without rubber gloves. This is especially important when using purchased chemicals, since such products have an aggressive composition.
3. Do not use chemicals that are not intended for this purpose to clean pipes. They can emit toxic fumes and even damage pipes.
4. You should not pour all the products that come to hand down the drain at the same time, as this can harm communications.

Prevention measures

To prevent blockages from occurring constantly, Prevention measures should be taken into account:

• Periodically you need to rinse the sink by running boiling water or hot water if the pipes are made of plastic;
• It is necessary to insert a special strainer into the kitchen sink drain, which will prevent large fragments of food waste from getting into the drain;
• You should not shake bread crumbs into the sink, wash off tea leaves, or pour out greasy liquid, as all this will stick to the pipes and accumulate in the siphon.

Tips from the professionals

Advice from plumbers will help you cope with cleaning better. kitchen sink:

1. If clogged pipes are a frequent and regular occurrence in your home, then it makes sense to purchase a plumbing cable. It is inexpensive and will last for many years. Having a comfortable handle at one end is a must.
2. If the problem with blockages is related to installation errors, it is recommended to correct them, otherwise blockages will occur constantly.
3. If the blockage was broken through with a cable, it must then be cleaned of dirt and dried. Store in a dry place, rolled up.
4. It is better to clean drains in the kitchen with the window open so that there is an influx of fresh air, since in most cases the smell will be unpleasant.
5. The combination of mechanical and chemical methods makes pipe cleaning more effective. For example, use a plunger, and then use special household chemicals.

If you're interested in how to clear a clogged drain, sink, or toilet, check out this chapter.

Conclusion

There are various ways to clear a clogged kitchen sink. You can use both household chemicals marked “for blockages,” as well as mechanical methods or folk recipes. In situations when the problem is global and you can’t cope with it yourself, you will need the help of a plumber.