How to Unclog a Sink

Okay, so you're brushing your teeth one morning when you noticed the water backing up in the sink. You come to the realization that it's clogged, and you're going to have to break out the plumber pants and fix it.

Tools needed - Pipe wrench, or strong hands, depending on how tightly the pipe is sealed.

Step 1: Placing a bowl under the pipe, use your tool to unscrew the first coupling (it's the round thing the two pipes are screwed into). After you have loosened that, twist the pipe out of the way. If you are lucky, the clog will be in the upper part of the drain. Simply take a plunger, place it in the sink, and give a good hard shove down. Be prepared for the clog to fire out of the pipe and make a splattering mess.

If you were not fortunate enough to have the pipe clog about the first coupling, proceed to step two.

Step 2: Remove the second coupling. The curved pipe will now be completely free. Using a wire hanger, a long flexible hose, or a pipe cleaner, removed the clog from that pipe. After you've cleared the clog, screw the pipe back to the couplings.

If you are unfortunate enough to have a clog lower down, then proceed to step 3.

Step 3: If the clog is visible, or within reach of your tools, try to dig it out. However, if it is too far down, you will have to call a plumber. Do not repeatedly try to free the clog with a plunger. If it does not work the first couple of times, then the clog is solid, and you are simply pushing farther into the pipe, which will do nothing more than earn you a larger plumber bill.

Step 4: If you have removed the clog, run boiling water down the pipe (after it is reassembled). This will clear out the residue. If the clog was oily, run some Dawn dish soap down the drain first, and then pour in the boiling water.

If a plumber unclogged your pipes, you will not need to worry about any further steps.

TIPS:

Wear gloves when removing a clog, especially if you are unsure of the substance.

Call the plumber last, as it will be expensive. If you have tried all the steps in this article and have still failed to remove said clog, then attempt a chemical that is intended for this purpose. Be sure to get a good quality one, as cheap ones may damage your pipe.