How to unclog a kitchen sink drain
It’s always unpleasant to discover a clogged drain. Fortunately, there are several methods available that you can try before you have to pick up the phone and contact your local plumber.
The first thing to try is to run very hot water down the drain for about 5-10 minutes. Sometimes this is all you need to undo whatever is clogging your sink. Watch the sink, if it is filling up quickly and not going down at all, then turn off the water and try a different method.
If your running hot water didn’t work and you now have a sink full of water, you can take a plunger to your sink. If you don’t have one, quickly go to your local hardware store and buy one. They are only about $3-$5. Make sure you choose one that has a wooden handle and is made of rubber, anything else will be ineffective. While you’re in the shop, you might want to buy a bottle of Draino as well.
If the plunger did not clear the sink, then the clogged drain may be due to material in the sink trap. The sink trap is the curvy tube that sits under the sink. If you hesitate to open the sink trap, you can try using the Draino. Be sure to follow the instructions carefully. There’s a good chance this will work. If not… then you will need to open the sink trap to clear the clog.
Ok, to clean the sink trap:
1. Place a bucket under the sink trap to collect water from the clogged sink. If the sink is very full, you may want to remove some with the bucket first.
2. Take a Phillips screwdriver and unscrew all the screws holding the kitchen trap in place.
3. Now grab the tube and slowly and carefully pull down so you can remove the trap.
4. Using a bottle brush, clean the inside of the tubing to remove all debris. This will help reduce buildup in the future.
5. Next, wrap the pipe threads with silicone tape, also known as plumber’s tape.
6. When you put the trap back in place, be sure to tighten the screws securely to prevent it from coming off the next time you turn on the water.
7. Run hot water through the pipes to flush out excess grime and grime, then test your sink.
If you followed the instructions above, you will no longer have a clogged drain.