As an Oakville homeowner, you've likely known the frustration of a clogged kitchen sink. One important piece of knowledge a homeowner can have is how to unclog their kitchen sink themself, even if it's just the basic knowledge. Here's how you can unclog the kitchen sink of your Oakville home.
Clearing Small Clogs
One of the best things you can do is prevent clogs before they happen by keeping the pipes and drains clear. If you notice that the kitchen sink is starting to drain slowly, or is slower than usual, you may want to break out the vinegar and baking soda.
First, pour a cup of baking soda down the sink and follow it up with a bit of vinegar. The combination should erupt and hopefully loosen your clog. Let it sit for five minutes, then follow it up with hot water.
You'll only want to use this method occasionally as baking soda is abrasive and vinegar is corrosive. In small doses, this method will cause minimal damage. However, if you have to clear your drain several times a year using this method, you'll start damaging your pipes.
Plunging A Sink
If there is a clog, you may need to break out the plunger to unclog it. Plungers are very effective at removing clogs in drains because they knock any blockages loose by alternating between pushing and pulling with the pressure of the plunger. If the clog is not located close to the drain location and is further down the pipe, you may not be able to knock it loose with the plunger.
Drain Snake for Kitchen Sinks
This method is a little more advanced than using a plunger, and it may require some more knowledge of the plumbing of your home, but you don't have to be a professional plumber to do it.
You will have to disconnect part of the pipe of your kitchen sink and make sure all the water is removed from the basin of the sink before you begin. This method is typically used for bigger clogs when a drain cleaning product isn't working, and the plunger isn't doing anything either.
Make sure if you do go this route that you properly re-attach the pipes you disconnected so that when you turn the water back on, there isn't a leak all over the floor of your Oakville home.
Call a Professional Plumber
Sometimes, no matter what we try, the clog will not go away. It could be very deep into the pipe, or there could have been an object that was washed down the drain that should not have been.
Items such as toothpicks, vegetable peelings, egg shells, bacon grease and coffee grinds that are washed down drains can also cause massive clogs.
If you have tried a few of these at-home remedies with no success, it may be time to call in a professional to fix the problem.
Make sure you do not sit on this problem for too long, as a clogged drain can cause unpleasant smells to back up into your kitchen if the clog is left for too long.
Contact A. McKenna Plumbing Today
If home remedies to clear a clogged drain are not working for you – or if you aren't comfortable trying to clear the drain yourself, contact A. McKenna Plumbing today. We service Oakville and surrounding areas.