A clogged sink may not be the worst of your plumbing nightmares but it is definitely annoying just the same. Unless you unclog the affected drain pipe successfully, your daily activities will be disrupted and you’ll find the day a wee bit stressful. To help you get through this plumbing predicament, here’s a DIY guide that we’ve written just for you!
UNCLOGGING A KITCHEN SINK
1. Fill the sink with hot water just enough to cover the plunger’s rubber part.
2. Position the plunger right on top of the drain hole and start plunging up and down. Make sure that you’ll maintain a consistent pace. Do about 15 repetitions and then turn the faucet on to test if the clog has been removed.
3. If the clog is still there, remove the drain’s screen cover. Get your plumbing snake. Insert the end of the snake into the drain and turn the crank clockwise to maneuver it further inside.
4. When the snake touches the clog, keep on pushing the tool while turning its crank clockwise. Do this to break the blockage into smaller pieces.
5. When you no longer feel any kind of resistance, carefully pull the snake out and dispose the waste substances properly.
6. Again, test if the blockage has been eradicated. If the problem persists, proceed with the removal of the trap.
7. Look under the sink and remove the trap with an adjustable wrench. Make sure that you have a bucket underneath the pipe to catch the remaining water inside.
8. When you have removed the trap, insert the plumbing snake and break through the clog again.
9. When you’re done, re-install the trap. Make sure that you’ll apply enough putty to create a seal. Let the pipe connection dry and then test the sink again. Hopefully, you’ve successfully removed the blockage by this time.
UNCLOGGING A BATHROOM SINK
1. Try to tug the bathroom sink stopper. Check if you can remove it easily.
2. If the stopper won’t come right out, you may have to release it by detaching the pivot rod nut. Pull the pivot rod as well. If they won’t budge, get a pair of pliers and loosen them.
3. Once you have pulled the pivot rod out, you should be able to remove the stopper. Proceed by getting a wire coat hanger. Bend it to create an improvised hook. Insert it into the drain hole and try to hook the clog out.
4. When you’re done, run the faucet and check if water will flow smoothly down the drain. If the problem persists, get a plumbing snake.
5. Use the plumbing snake as if you’re using it in a kitchen sink drain pipe. However, be careful so you won’t scratch or damage your bathroom sink.
6. If the plumbing snake won’t get the clog out of the drain hole, you should remove the bathroom sink’s trap as well. Do the same thing that you did with the kitchen sink drain pipe.
7. When you have successfully removed the obstruction inside the pipe, make sure that you’ll re-install the pivot rod.
8. Turn the faucet on and check the connection for leaks.
Learn awesome leaking pipe repair tips from your Miami plumber! Watch our video below!