The sink is one of the most indispensible parts of your kitchen, so much so that you are bound to use it several times a day. Thus, you may have to face occasional kitchen sink drain problems. The most common problem is usually the clogging of the drain pipe. Heavy liquids getting stuck in the pipe or food scraps escaping the strainer and falling into the pipe are some factors that lead to this clogging.
If the water you pour or run into the sink goes down very slowly, or doesn’t entirely go down, it means that your drain pipe is probably clogged. Following are some tips that will help you fix your common kitchen sink drain problems:
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Use a plunger:
This is the first thing you need to do on noticing that you have kitchen sink drain problems. With the help of a plunger, you apply downward and upward pressure. The former exerts pressure on the clog, causing it to break up whereas the latter forces the waste materials (that cause the clog) to come at the surface. After the waste materials resurface, you can collect and remove them. You can consider removing the trap under the sink and neatly cleaning the area around it.
You can also use drain cleaning auger- a long, snakelike object- to unclog the sink.
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Use a drain-clearing solution:
You can make your own drain clean solution by mixing 1/3 cup vinegar and equal amount of baking soda in a large measuring bowl, pitcher or cup. Immediately after mixing the solution, pour it down the drain. Wait for around 5 minutes before clearing the drain. Thereafter, use warm water to rinse the solution down the sink.
It is recommended that you first clear the sink by getting all the water out of the sink before using the drain-cleaning solution. You can use a bowl or a cup to scoop out the water from the sink.
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Use chemical cleaners:
A variety of chemical cleaners are available in the market. Most of these cleaners can help you clear up a clog almost instantly. However, you need to be very careful when using these cleaners, as they have a high content of sulphuric acid, which can burn your skin and cause a great deal of discomfort. Besides, if the cleaner you use is not of a reputed brand, it can even ruin your sink.
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Look for the sagging areas:
If the above solution doesn’t work and the clog persists, it’s time for you to check the drain pipes to find the sagging areas. Such pipes are generally found in the basement. You can use the straps to straighten out the sagging areas, thereby facilitating the normal flow of water and other materials.
If you don’t notice sagging anywhere in the basement pipes, it indicates that the actual problem might be in your sewer system. In such a case, it’s better to contact a reputed and experienced plumbing company to fix the problem.
To ensure that the drain problems don’t reoccur, always place a strainer in your sink to trap large, solid items.
