As a homeowner, one of the last things you want to worry about is a clogged kitchen sink. As one of the most versatile and useful utilities in your home, the kitchen sink should always be working as it’s supposed to. If not, you could have draining and flooding problems, foul smells that linger for days, or busted pipes that lead to even bigger issues. If you’ve noticed that your kitchen sink isn’t draining, continue reading below to learn a few of the best and easiest methods for fixing the issue. Here’s how to clear a food clog in your kitchen sink.
Methods to Unclog
- Use a plunger: The first thing you can try is to plunge your sink to clear any debris. Make sure there’s just enough water in the sink to fully engulf the lip and cup of your plunger, so there is proper suction. Then place the plunger directly over the drain and rapidly plunge up and down to clear out anything that may be stuck.
- Use Boiling Water: If plunging doesn’t seem to be working, you can then try to use boiling water. Start with a half gallon and pour a slow and steady stream into the drain once it is boiling. Don’t try this method if the drain is attached to PVC pipes, as it could soften or damage the material.
- Inspect the Garbage Disposal: Your next step should be to take a look at the garbage disposal. There could be foods or grimey material still lodged and stuck in there, inhibiting your sinks ability to drain. Try running the garbage disposal to ensure everything is cleared up and out of the way. Make sure water is running and going down the drain when you run the garbage disposal, as doing so without water can ruin it.
- Baking Soda Mixture: If nothing else has worked up to this point, try a baking soda mixture to dissolve and unclog and mess in your drain. Pour one cup of baking soda, then one cup of white vinegar down the drain. Place a rubber stopper of sink hole covering over the drain, and wait 15 minutes for the chemicals to do their thing. After that amount of time, give it a rinse with hot or boiling water to clear out any more debris.
- Use a Wet-Dry Vac: You can also try using a wet-dry vacuum, set to the wet setting. Place the hose over the drain and create a tight seal around the drain to ensure suction happens. Use the highest setting, and hopefully the pressure can dislodge the drain.
- Use an Auger: Lastly, you could try using an auger, or a plumbing snake, to dislodge any clogs. Approaching either from the top of the drain, or from down below in the pipes, you can use a plumbing snake to push and pull out anything that may be lodged and stuck in your drain or pipes.
Prevention
The best way to deal with kitchen sink clogs is to do your best to avoid them. Use these methods to best prevent a clog:
- Don’t overload the disposal.
- Do not dump oil, grease or coffee grounds down the drain, as it commonly clogs it.
- Freeze a mixture of half vinegar half water into ice cubes, and periodically drop those into the garbage disposal. The ground ice and acidity will help keep the drain fresh.
- Run hot water from the tap after each use, to help ensure the drain is cleared.
Trust SBPHA/C with Persisting Problems
If after you’ve tried all of these methods and your drainage problems continue, it may be time to contact a professional. That’s where we at SBPHA/C come in. If nothing seems to be working, don’t risk permanently damaging your sink or drain. Allow us, with the proper training, experience and tools to do the job correctly. We pride ourselves with offering the best solutions and highest quality services, meaning we’re confident you’ll be happy with our work. If you’re having trouble fixing a clogged kitchen sink, contact us today and know that we’ll get the job done right.