When finished, see if water will drain—a good sign that scraps might also do the same. If so, turn on the breaker and disposal to see if the food remnants can now be processed through the drainpipe. Should it work, add a notch on your DIY belt. If not, it may be time to prepare a cocktail—for the clogged drain, that is. Because many garbage disposals contain plastic parts, harsh drain cleaners can be detrimental.
The combination of baking soda and vinegar ultimately offers the same type of unclogging ability, but on a much gentler scale. After five to 10 minutes, turn the breaker and the disposal back on. Then run hot water into the disposal for another few minutes.
Again, the reset button may be necessary to get it started. About once a month, grind a few of the cubes down your disposal to scrape away food-waste buildup and keep the unit fresh.
Here are more garbage disposal do's and don'ts to keep your drains clean and clear. Another good habit for your pipes sake is running hot water down the drain after each sink use to keep everything clear. You might also want to use a drain cover to catch debris before they cause damage in the pipes. While clogged drains are an easy DIY fix, being prepared for serious plumbing troubles before they arise is always a good strategy.
See how plans from HomeServe can help with the costs of covered repairs. HomeServe uses cookies to recognize repeat visits and to enhance your experience on our site. By continuing to use this website you agree with our use of cookies. Privacy Policy. Please check back soon. HomeServe Logo Icon. The email field is required. Sign up! Check icon. Kitchen sink not draining? There's a good chance you can fix the problem yourself with one of these six methods to unclog a kitchen sink: 1.
Attack with boiling water When hair, grease, soap residue and other debris get stuck in your drain, boiling water may be all your pipes needs to loosen the blockage. Easy as , here are the steps to follow: Bring half a gallon of water to a boil on your stove or use a kettle to heat the water. Pour the boiling water directly into the drain opening. Turn on the faucet to see if the water drains in a steady fashion.
If it's still draining slowly or standing still in the sink, repeat the process. Check the garbage disposal If your sink has a garbage disposal, it could be the culprit of your drainage issues.
Plunge away the blockage Once you establish that the disposal isn't the problem, it's time to bring out the plunger.
With your plunger at the ready, follow these steps: Fill the sink with hot water until it's about halfway full and creates a seal around the drain. Position the plunger over the drain and begin pumping up and down quickly several times. Remove the plunger and wait to see if the water drains. Repeat the process until the water drains freely.
Break it down with baking soda and vinegar This approach is a natural alternative to using chemical drain cleaners on clogged drains. Follow these steps to let the mixture work its magic: Remove standing water from the sink with a cup or bowl.
Pour one cup of baking soda down the drain, using a spatula or spoon to push the powder down the drain if necessary. Pour one cup of white vinegar down the drain opening. Place a stopper or cover on the drain to seal the opening. Let the mixture sit for 15 minutes.
Remove the cover and run hot tap water down the drain. If it fails, try other options below. This helps prevent dirty and foul drain water from flowing back into the dishwasher itself. Then plunge the drain until the water flows. If it flows, it means you have unclogged the disposal — pour hot water down the drain to remove any residues.
In some cases, the disposal can be bound up. You can either reach your hand or a tool like a wooden spoon down into the drain, or check under the disposal to locate the operator for turning the impeller blades.
The garbage disposal unit is usually attached to a pipe known as the P-trap or S-trap — it looks like a P or an S shape. In some cases, plunging fails to resolve the issue because of a buildup of debris in the P-trap.
In this case, the best way to remove the debris is to remove the trap and clean the pipes as best as you can. Place a catch bucket under the drain trap, use pliers to loosen the slip-nut fittings on the trap, then remove it. Allow the standing water and food waste to flow into the bucket. Place the drain stopper in the opposite drain if you have a double sink and fill the garbage disposal side of the sink about half-full with water.
Position a sink plunger over the disposal drain opening. Do not use a toilet plunger. A sink plunger is different from a toilet plunger in that it has no neck at the base. Using your toilet plunger can transfer fecal bacteria to your sink. Push down on the plunger slowly at first, then pull it back up as you would when plunging a toilet.
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