Having still water in your sinks can be troubling as well as unhealthy. The water could bring a foul odor and even host disease-causing bacteria within the house. Therefore, it is crucial to ensure that water flows steadily for a clean and healthy environment. Most of these clear with basic tools, and the rest need professional drain cleaning. However, how do you unclog a sink?
How do you unclog a sink with standing water?
Below are a few approaches you could exploy to unclog a sink with standing water.
Use hot water.
- Hot water can help unclog your drain if hair, soap remains, and grease gets stuck.
- Pour half a gallon of hot water directly into the opening of your drain.
- Turn the faucet on to check if the water flows steadily.
- Repeat the process twice if the sink is unclogging.
If the sink does not unclog after the second time, it’s time to try out another method.
*** Please note that using boiling water to unclog pipes can damage or melt PVC pipes, and cause even MORE issues. Do not use boiling water if you have PVC pipes.***
Can I plunge a clogged sink?
While having a clogged sink with standing water, you may wonder, can you Plunge a sink? The answer is yes, you can!
You can unclog your sink with a sink plunger or a flat-bottomed plunger.
- First, remove all stagnant water from the sink.
- Replace it with hot water until it is halfway full, and it generates a seal around your drain.
- Place the sink plunger over the drain and start pumping up and down swiftly.
- Remove the plunger, observe if the water flows, and repeat the procedure until water flows freely.
If plunging does not help, it infers a bigger problem that needs a different approach.
A kitchen sink is a special case. If the basin has a disposal, work through unclogging a garbage disposal with standing water first, because plunging against a jammed impeller gets you nowhere.
Unclogging a sink using vinegar and baking soda.
- Clear the still water from the sink using a container, and pour a cup of baking soda on the drain.
- Follow it with a cup of white vinegar, and cover the drain’s opening.
- Allow the mixture to settle for fifteen minutes, and remove the cover.
- Pour hot water down your drain to break up the loosened clog. Stick to hot tap water if your drain line is PVC, since boiling water can soften plastic joints.
You can repeat the process if it seems to be working. What it will not shift is a mat of hair, so it helps to know what actually eats through hair in a drain. Reaching for a bottle of drain cleaner instead is a bad trade, and store bought drain cleaners explains what they do to your pipes.
Can I use a Plumber’s Snake to clear a sink?
Again, a plumbers snake can help you unclog your drain if the above methods do not work.
- Insert the plumber’s snake into your drain, and crank its handle if you sense an obstruction.
- Cranking the handle allows you to clear the debris, pulling it out of the drain.
- The snake is supposed to get down the drain at ease to denote that all debris has been cleared.
If your sink does not unclog after applying the above strategies, bring in a professional to clear the line. True Plumbers & AC are top rated plumbers in Lakeland. Professional plumbers have experience with clogs and know the most appropriate tools for your drain, depending on the issue that they may find. A line that has narrowed with years of grease usually needs hydro jetting rather than a cable.
If more than one fixture backs up at once, the trouble sits past the sink. That points at the main line and at sewer backup repair, the same fault behind water backing up into the bathtub.
How to prevent future clogs.
It is essential to take preventative measures to ensure that your drain is not clogged again. The most fundamental approach is to ensure that you do not dispose of the following materials down your drain:
- Meat
- Gum
- Eggshells
- Coffee grounds
- Paint
- Paper products
- Grease, fats, and oils.
Coffee grounds and eggshells cause the most arguments, so it is worth reading what you need to know about garbage disposals before you grind them. Our tips to keep your drains from getting clogged cover the rest of the habits.
There are several ways to unclog your drain and enhance a steady water flow. However, you can always rely on the plumbers in Lakeland at True Plumbers & AC for your drain and AC issues.
When you cannot get your sink unclogged by yourself, our professional plumbing company is only a call away. If the water is rising instead of draining, that is a job for 24 hour emergency plumbing. Get in touch with our professional plumbers by calling (863) 667-6364 today. We serve central Florida homes in and around Lakeland, Plant City, and Winter Haven, FL.
