Clogged Sink

**sommersa** · 11-12-2009, 05:38 PM

I came home this morning after visiting my BF to a clogged kitchen sink, courtsey of my roomates ( pry my fault as much as theirs but...) I put pro strength Pipe cleaner down, and it has not made much progess. That was 3 hours ago. I plan to try a plunger on it when I get home from work. The pipes look complicated and I dont think I want to ask my roommate, who is a man, not that a woman cant do this, but I am not inclined to these things. I dont trust him to mess it up. I hope the pipe cleaner has worked or the plunger does the trick. I might try a hair dryer in the u bend in case its just grease in there causing a prob

**KeithBC** · 11-12-2009, 05:48 PM

Good luck with it. In my experience, neither chemicals nor plungers work that well. What is most reliable is to take the trap off and clean things out with a bent wire coathanger. Most traps are designed to be easily removed by unscrewing a locking ring on each arm.

1. Put on rubber gloves
2. Put a bucket under the trap
3. Unscrew the locking ring on both arms of the trap
4. Pull the trap straight down (you might have to wiggle it a bit)
5. Drain the trap into the bucket.
6. Use the coathanger to clean the crud out of the trap.
7. Use the coathanger to clean the crud out of the straight portion of pipe between the sink and the trap
8. Put the trap back in place
9. Tighten the two locking rings firmly but don't over-tighten
10. Check if the drain runs freely. If not, call a plumber, because it will need special tools.

**Nishu** · 11-12-2009, 06:01 PM

The hair dryer is a good idea. Thanks for the tutorial Keith, I think I might have to use it on my sink.

I put some chemical clog stuff down my sink once and I'll never do it again. The plummer was not happy about having to work around it.

**monkeywrangler71** · 11-12-2009, 06:05 PM

I've never had any luck with drain cleaners, but the plunger has never let me down. Just make sure if it is a double sink to plug the side you aren't plunging.

**fixer** · 11-12-2009, 06:17 PM

I have always had good luck with a plunger. If the clog is way down the line, you may have to look for a clean out cap to get access. I actually bought my wife a plunger today for our nineteenth anniversary. The only one we have has seen duty in the bathroom so she said she wanted one for the kitchen sink in case it ever clogged up. I have it on the kitchen counter with a bow on it waiting for her to get home from work. And to think, people say romance is dead.

**lisaflex** · 11-12-2009, 06:41 PM

good luck. we just had a clogged tub and even bkng soda and viegar didnt work. plumbers had to come out and snake it....it was bad and yucky!

**sommersa** · 11-12-2009, 07:25 PM

plunger did the trick!

**McD** · 11-12-2009, 08:42 PM

I've used the plunger on my kitchen sink every now and again. Has worked fabulously for a quick fix for me.

**Debbie-cat** · 11-12-2009, 08:57 PM

I too use the plunger to unclog sinks. We can't use too much else with a septic system.

**frugalfranny** · 11-13-2009, 02:36 AM

Originally Posted by fixer

I actually bought my wife a plunger today for our nineteenth anniversary. And to think, people say romance is dead.

WOW FIXER!!!..........you are just all heart!!
YOU ROMANTIC DEVIL YOU!!!!

sommersa --If you have a Harbor Freight tools........or similar store...you can get what is called 'a snake' for under $10 if the plunger doesn't work. Start where Keith took you to.......and put the snake down the pipe. Have towels handy and it is a rather messy job.......depending on how plugged it is!

Good luck........