What to do when the kitchen sink is clogged

What to do when the kitchen sink is clogged

In most cases when the kitchen sink is clogged, it can be cleared easily. The kitchen sink tends to be the most used sink in the house, and because of this, it is more likely to clog than the others. You use the kitchen sink to clean the dishes, to clean food during food preparation and, of course, to clean the kitchen.

If your sink gets clogged, follow these simple steps to clear it. If these steps do not work, the problem may be something more serious, meaning you're going to have to call in the professionals to open the drain back up. Companies like RooterPLUS! can have your drains cleared and working again shortly.

  1. Check the drain opening and strainer first. Leftover food plugging the drain often will be the cause of the problem. You will need to reach into the sink and remove any food or debris from the opening to clear it.
  2. Another problem can occur when grease from the dishes gets into the drain. When this happens, the grease hardens in the trap, clogging the sink. In most cases, you can run hot water to melt the grease and open the drain. If there is already water in the sink, you will need to remove it first before running hot water over the drain.
  3. If the previous method does not work, something else may be clogging the kitchen sink drain. Try using a plunger to clear the clog. Place the plunger into the sink so that it covers the drain completely. Push down on the handle firmly several times. Remove the plunger and wait briefly to see if the water drains. If it does not, insert the plunger a second time and repeat the process. Keep in mind that on really tough clogs, it might take several attempts to clear the drain.
  4. If your kitchen sink is clogged and you have a garbage disposal installed, simply turning the disposal on may help to clear the clog. If this does not work, or if your disposal will not come on, it's time to call RooterPLUS! for assistance. Removing a garbage disposal unit is not something that most homeowners will want to do. It involves not only plumbing but also electrical work.

If you run into a situation where you lose a piece of jewelry in your drain, this is a situation best left to the professionals. There are many scenarios where your beloved piece of jewelry could be lost forever or damaged beyond repair when you try to retrieve it yourself. When you drop a piece of jewelry down the drain, call RooterPLUS! immediately before using the sink. Doing so could push the item further into the plumbing system.