Inconvenient plumbing clogs are a hassle to deal with. Try these tips from a plumber in Pittsburgh to unclog a sink drain.
Homemade Remedies
- For moderately clogged drains: Pour 1/2 cup baking soda followed by 1/2 cup vinegar down the drain. Be aware that these ingredients foam on contact. Let the mixture sit for at least three hours, and then chase it down with hot water.
- For clogs caused by grease: Pour 1/2 cup salt and 1/2 cup baking soda down the drain followed by a pot of boiling water. Allow it to sit overnight before flushing the sink with hot water.
Plumbing Tools
- Plunger: This is the best tool to unclog a sink. First, cover the overflow vent. For kitchen sinks, plug the drain in the other basin with a wet cloth. Fill the sink with enough water to cover the plunger head and slide the plunger over the drain opening. Rapidly pump it up and down a dozen times to loosen the blockage. Jerk the plunger up quickly; water should rush down the drain. If the drain isn’t clear, try again two or three more times before moving on to another method.
- Drain-and-trap auger: Remove the sink stopper or strainer and insert the auger into the drain opening. Slowly feed it down the drain, cranking the handle to loosen and tighten the thumbscrew as you advance. When you encounter the blockage, move the auger back and forth and continue to turn the handle. Slowly withdraw it and hopefully remove the blockage.
If these methods aren’t enough to unclog the drain, please contact Stahl Plumbing, Heating & Air Conditioning, your trusted plumber in Pittsburgh offering 24/7 emergency plumbing services.