If you’re like most people, you probably don’t think much about your bathroom sink. You clean it regularly, but you take it for granted and assume that it will always be working correctly. When your bathroom sink becomes clogged, however, it causes a problem. Water may drain slowly or not drain at all. You may begin to notice fowl odors coming out of the sink or hear gurgling sounds when you try to use it. If your sink becomes totally clogged, you have to find another place to wash your hands. Has this happened to you? If so, you will be glad to know about these five ways to unclog your bathroom sink:
1. Try Unclogging Your Clogged Bathroom Sink with a Plunger
A plunger isn’t just for toilets. It can also be used for clearing bathroom drains. To begin, fill your sink about half full of water if it doesn’t already have water standing in it. Then place a wet cloth in the overflow hole. If your vanity has a double sink, close off the second sink and add another wet cloth to its overflow hole. Next, place the plunger over the drain in the clogged sink. Then push down on the plunger and immediately pull back up. You may have to repeat this process until the substance that has been clogging your bathroom sink drain is pushed out by the force of the plunger.
2. Try Clearing the Clog with a Mixture of Vinegar and Baking Soda
Vinegar and baking soda are at opposite ends of the pH scale. When they are mixed together, they form a simple but effective cleaning agent that can also be used to clear minor clogs. Start by pouring about one-half cup of baking soda into the sink drain. Then slowly add vinegar until you can see and hear the mixture bubble up. Leave the mixture in the drain for several minutes or even overnight if possible. Then simply wash it down the drain with clean water. For maintenance purposes, you might want to perform this step on a regular basis for all your drains.
3. Try Unclogging Your Clogged Bathroom Sink with a Drain Snake and Auger
If you call a plumber to clear your bathroom drain, they may use a professional drain snake that requires electricity to rotate it as it travels through the drainpipe. However, you can buy a relatively cheap drain snake with a hand auger from a big box store. To use it, remove the sink strainer. Insert the snake into the drain and use the hand auger to rotate the snake as you push it through the drain. You may be able to feel the clog once you reach it. If so, you can attempt to push it through the pipe, but be careful not to apply so much pressure that you damage the pipe.
4. Remove and Clean Out the Trap under the Sink
If you look under your bathroom sink, you should see a U- or P-shaped pipe known as a trap. Its purpose is to hold enough water to block harmful sewer gases from entering your home. However, traps are notorious for clogging. If you have a clogged trap, you can take it apart and clean it out with a brush and a strong flow of water like that of a garden hose. Just be sure to put a container under the trap to catch the water before you disassemble it. If your plumbing pipe is fairly new, you may be able to loosen the trap by hand. For older pipes, though, you may need a pipe wrench.
5. Call a Plumber
If the above steps do not unclog your sink, contact TDT Plumbing today. We offer 24/7 service and would be glad to take care of the problem for you. We may be able to unclog your sink by simply running a commercial plumbing snake through it. However, we can also repair any defective drainpipes that might be causing the issue. Don’t wait until plunging winter temperatures make the problem even worse. We are fully licensed and insured, and our plumbers have extensive experience in all types of plumbing repair and maintenance, including clogged bathroom drains.