Cleaning kitchen waste is often much easier than most people think. In my experience, it's always a good idea to avoid the expense of calling a plumber to fix this common problem. Even if it means that you will have to spend some time and effort to solve the problem yourself.
Most kitchen sink drain obstructions can be overcome with fairly simple and obvious skills and tools. After disconnecting the sink, you should minimize the likelihood of the problem recurring. How to avoid this problem can be found in the section at the end of the article.
1. Remove all standing water.
2. Check your garbage disposal (if you have one).
3. Use a plunger to loosen the clog.
4. Clean the P-trap.
5. Call a plumber.
In my experience, you will need a combination of one or more of these methods to clean your sink drain. Depending on the type of clog, the entire process can take anywhere from 10 minutes to an hour or more to clear a clogged drain. The work can be messy and you have to be careful as the splashing chemicals can burn or aggravate your skin.
Other than calling a plumber, most of what I offer is relatively cheap or free. They use tools and materials you should already have at home. Let's take a closer look at each method below.
1. Drain any standing water from the clogged kitchen sink.
Stagnation occurs when water continues to flow even after the sink is clogged. Wear rubber gloves and pour the water into a cup or other container so you have easy access to the drain. Then you need to clearly understand what impurities can form in and out of the sewer. If there is dust in it, keep your hands or fingers off the blade (see #2 below). Sometimes removing the debris manually may be enough to solve the problem, but more often it requires additional measures.
2. Check Waste Disposal
If your kitchen sink has a waste disposal, you will need to check that it is not clogged. Pieces of food can easily become clogged. To determine the source of the blockage, first turn off the shredder. If you're going to throw something in the trash, you'll also want to turn off the power. You can use a flashlight to look into the drain and try to determine the nature of the clog: where it is and what's causing it. This will determine your tools and approach.
The most likely cause of a clog is bits of food stuck between the blades – if it's something more substantial or valuable, like jewelry, you may want to call a plumber. If it is food, try to grind the remains by turning the blades of the shredder by hand. The manual operation is normally at the bottom of the crusher and is operated with an Allen wrench. See disposal instructions for full instructions.
Use tongs to remove loose food residue. If the crusher is still clogged, you will need to use a plunger. It is possible to remove the crusher completely for inspection. However, make sure to crimp all connections to the dishwasher first.
Do not use chemical cleaners with the shredder as they may damage it. If it turns out that the problem isn't in the crusher or you don't have it installed, you'll need to explore other methods.
Attention:
Never stick your hand into the garbage disposal as the blades are sharp and can cause serious injury.
3. Use pistons.
There are three types of plungers: a classic flat sink plunger, an accordion plunger and a toilet plunger with an additional bell on the floor. A flat-bottomed pumpkin is recommended for this job. How to empty a sink drain with a plunger. Add a few inches of water to the sink to soak it up and start soaking. If you have a slip, try starting later. Be careful not to overheat the ejector as this may damage it. Drain some of the water into the sink. If all goes well, you're good to go. If that doesn't work, you'll have to switch to another method.
4. Clean the P-trap
The P-syphon is a pipe in the shape of an elbow under the sink. If it gets clogged with food and/or grease, you may want to take it apart and clean out the dirt that's causing the blockage.
How to clean the P-trap on the kitchen sink
Before you begin, make sure you have a bucket under the P trap to catch the water that is backed up in your sink.
After that, you will need to unscrew the connection to the pipe and the wall.
Remove the P-catcher and check it for debris.
If the blockage is not in the P-trap, then you will need to try unblocking the drain with a plumber's snake.
If soaking or cleaning the P-siphon doesn't work, you may need to use a Plumber's Snake to clear the clog. It usually consists of a coiled spiral snake about 1/4 inch thick and has a handle at one end. Use the coil to reach the drain, then turn the knob to push and remove the plug. Some snakes are bent by hand, while others get extra strength from electricity.
If you don't have a snake, you can use a wire hanger.
If you don't have a water snake, you can use a hanger to clear the clog. This is a cheap and easy method that almost anyone can do. All you need is a hanger and pliers.
Remove the coil of wire from the throat of the hook and straighten the hook as much as possible. You may need pliers for this.
Using pliers, make a small 1-inch loop at one end of the wire. Make sure it is narrow enough to fit through the drain hole.
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