Plumbing is one of the essential systems of a building that requires constant maintenance and periodic replacement for parts. Only this way can it work perfectly. Some several brands and manufacturers make appliances and fixtures for plumbing and pipeline systems. Still, it is a norm that you confront clogs in your sink, tub, or shower periodically. There is no need to be too worried about the fixture’s integrity because this happens when water passes through a pipe daily.
If there is one fixture facing a slow drain or trickling into the drainpipe, it could be because of the localized stoppage in the drain trap or branch drain. But, if several lines face the same problem, the integrity of the sewer line is on the line.
This article will go through some of the basic techniques that you can employ on your own and unclog your bathroom sink drain. If there is tile installation in your bathroom near the sink, you need to make sure you don’t hit it with a strong instrument by mistake.
We will go from simple yet functioning most of the time, trick – passing hot water through the drain. Then, we will discuss plunging techniques if the first one does not work.
Before we delve into actual techniques, here are some of the supplies that will come in handy:
- Pot Or Kettle Tea
- Cup Drain Plunger
- Duct Tape Or Rag
- Sink Auger (For Sticky Clogs)
- Tongue-And-Groove Pliers
- Bucket
A Simple & Straightforward Approach: Boiling Water
Many constituents of a clog under a bathroom sink or a bathtub are hair, grease, soap residue, etc. This is a common happening that you cannot do anything about until it is clogged or you feel that it is draining slowly.
Pouring hot water in the drain opening can loosen the clog. Keep in mind that the hot tap water won’t be enough, and you need to have boiling water to clear the clog. As mentioned earlier, the clog is usually composed of soap scum or grease, and boiling water will wash it off as it goes through the pipe.
Here Is How You Do It
- Fill a large gallon or a big tea kettle with water and place it on the stove. Let it boil.
- When the water is boiling, carry it carefully to the clogged sink.
- Now slowly, pour the hot boiling water into the drain and observe if it dissolves the clog.
- If it does not do the trick, go to the next step in the article.
A Word Of Caution
Pouring hot boiling water into a porcelain sink is not ideal because it will damage the material. Also, if PVC pipes are used in the piping system down the sink, then you should not use this process. It is because some plastics can soften in temperatures 175 F and above.
Get Technical: A Plunger
If you do not have time for the “boiling water” trick or, for some reason, it didn’t work, using a plunger can help you in unclogging the sink or the bathtub. It is not as technical as it may sound, surely not something like a full-fledged bathroom remodel.
Before you buy a plunger to unclog your bathroom sink, keep in mind that there are two common types of plungers: cup plunger and flange plunger. The latter one is used to unclog to bathrooms, so you need to get a cup plunger for the issue at hand.
- For bathroom sinks, cover the overflow outlet with a rag. And if you are working with a bathtub, duct tape the overflow opening. If there is a drain stopper in place, remove it.
- In the second step, fill the sink with a couple of inches of water. Adding water in the sink bowl will allow the plunger to grab the sink’s base by making a seal firmly.
- Now, quick, sharp plunges, clear the obstruction by moving the plunger up and down several times. There is a chance that the rage covering the overflow outlet may get loose because of the building pressure, but you need to keep it on for this to work.
- Please turn on the tap and keep it running for a couple of minutes. The flowing water will clear the obstruction from the drain, if any, that came out loose in the process of plunging.
- When you are done with the plunging, remove the rag or seal from the overflow outlet, and then replace the drain stopper.
A Word Of Caution
When you are placing the plunger at the top of the outlet, make sure it has formed a gripping seal with the sink base. Otherwise, you can hurt yourself by pulling out forcefully.
