We’ve all been there. You’re busy doing your dishes after spending all that time making dinner for your family. All you want to do is be done and relax while watching your favorite TV show, but all of a sudden the water isn’t going down your drain! Is it time to call a plumber? Maybe, but try these simple steps first.
Attack With Boiling Water
When grease, hair, and other debris build up in your pipes, boiling water might be all you need to loosen up the blockage. It is a simple fix, which is why it should be the first step you use. Boil a half gallon of water in a pot or kettle on your stove. Slowly pour the boiling water down your drain. Turn on your faucet to see if the water is draining in a timely manner. If it still doesn’t drain after a second try, it is time to move onto another method.
Bring Out the Plunger
If all you have on hand is a toilet plunger, that will do in a pinch, but we suggest you use a flat bottom plunger. Fill your sink with hot water about halfway full until it creates a seal around the drain. Position your plunger around the drain and pump up and down quickly several times. Remove the plunger and see if it drains freely. Repeat the process a few times, if needed. If it still isn’t draining after several attempts, try our next tip!
Use Your 7th Grade Science Experiment with Baking Soda and Vinegar
The great thing about this method is that most households have baking soda and vinegar on hand. Start by removing the standing water with a cup or a bowl. Pour one cup of baking soda down the drain, using a spatula or spoon if necessary. Follow this by one cup of vinegar then place your stopper over the drain to seal it. Wait for about 15 minutes then run hot tap water down the drain. You can repeat the process if you feel it is working. If you think you might need to be more aggressive, don’t worry, we have another tip for you.
Use a Plumber’s Snake
Some clogs will put up a fight and will require a little more strength to battle the blockage. Plumber’s snakes have a long coiled spiral that reaches far down into your pipe. Feed it down your pipe slowly and try not push too roughly or you might accidentally push the clog down further. Once you hit the blockage, you can crank the handle to dislodge the debris and pull it out. Once you feel confident you got everything out, run hot water down your drain to see if you’re right.
Bring Out the Pros
Still not able to get your sink to drain and you’re worried the water won’t ever go down? Don’t fret. NewWay has a great team of licensed plumbers and trained pipe cleaners to help you with all your plumbing and pipe cleaning needs that are available 24/7 for emergency service! Give us a call at (855) 697-3937 or schedule an appointment!