These Five Hacks Can Help You Fix A Slow-Draining Sink, Saving You A Pricey Visit From Your Plumber
The kitchen sink has seen it all. Everything from food scraps to bacon grease gets tossed down the drain, disrupting the flow of the plumbing. Slow-draining sinks cause water to build up and possibly some bad odors, too. Plumbing issues are a real nuisance that makes using the sink take a lot longer.
In cases where a sink takes forever to drain, a visit from the plumber is often needed. However, the costs for a professional to come out and fix the problem can make a huge dent in your finances.
Luckily, most slow-draining sinks can actually be handled at home, and you don’t even have to be a plumbing expert to get it done. So, before you pick up the phone to call the plumber, give one of these hacks a shot!
Pour In Boiling Water And Baking Soda
Start by boiling a pot of water on the stove. Then, pour it slowly down the drain. Afterward, pour a cup of baking soda down and allow it to sit for at least 10 minutes.
While you’re waiting, boil another pot of water mixed with baking soda and repeat the process until your sink is no longer clogged. The mixture of boiling water and baking soda can break down minor clogs from small food scraps or hair.
Mix Baking Soda And Vinegar
This method requires you to mix one-third cup of both baking soda and vinegar in a bowl. Once it’s mixed, pour the solution down the drain immediately.
Let it sit for an hour before rinsing it with hot water. If your sink is suffering from soap scum buildup or grease clogs, these two ingredients work as a powerful and chemical-free drain cleaner. When combined, a reaction occurs that creates carbon dioxide, which helps dissolve whatever is blocking the drain.
Serhii – stock.adobe.com – illustrative purposes only, not the actual person
Use A Drain Zip Tool
Drain zip tools are thin contraptions with barbed notches that grab hair and bust through debris. They’re easy to use and are really affordable.
With the help of a drain zip tool, remove debris by inserting it all the way down the drain, leaving just the handle sticking out. Twist and move it around to collect as much gunk as possible. Then, pull the zip tool out slowly and throw away any hair or debris.
Break Out The Plunger
You know that you can plunge a toilet, but plunging a sink is lesser known. The good news is they both work almost the same way. Use a sink plunger to loosen hair and debris in your pipes. Remove the stopper from your sink and fill the basin with two to three inches of hot water.
Then, place the plunger over the drain and plunge away for 10 to 20 seconds. Afterward, check the flow of water before plunging again.
Clean The Stopper
Over time, hair and soap can get stuck at the bottom of your sink stopper, causing the water to drain at a snail’s pace. Removing your sink stopper to clean it should be simple. Gently twist and pull it out of the top of your sink to give it a good cleaning. Every once in a while, it needs to be cleaned to prevent clogs from occurring.
To start, clear out all the items from underneath your sink so you have enough room to reach the pipes. Most sink stoppers are held in place with a pivot nut attached to the drain. Unscrew the pivot nut. Once it’s removed, you can remove the sink stopper.
Pull it out and clean the hair and dirt away. Then, use hot water, vinegar, and soap to sanitize the stopper. Finally, reinstall everything and put your sink items back.
Sign up for Chip Chick’s newsletter and get stories like this delivered to your inbox.
More About:Home