How to Unclog Sink Drains

There are many methods for unclogging a drain. Fortunately, the simplest and easiest methods will often do the job for you, so it's best to try those first. The most drastic methods include using chemicals and should be used as a last resort. Chemical drain cleaners are caustic and dangerous. Use them cautiously after trying all other methods first. Plunging can cause splashes so do not use a plunger if you are using chemicals to unclog your drain because the cleaner can splash and damage your skin, eyes, clothing, etc.

Clogs in kitchen sinks are most often caused by grease. Simply pouring a few quarts of boiling water down the drain should loosen the clog. Follow the boiling water treatments by running very hot tap water into the drain. As a preventative measure, you can pour boiling water or a cup of white vinegar down the drain each week to keep the grease dissolved.

Hair is a common bathroom drain clogger. It often twists around the pop-up stopper in a sink. Some stoppers come out by twisting them, and some must be disconnected from under the sink. Once the stopper is disconnected, remove it from the sink and clean it off. Clean stoppers regularly to prevent clogging.

If flushing with boiling water or cleaning the stopper does not solve the problem, there are several methods to try which require the use of a few simple tools. A plunger is the easiest and most common tool to use for this type of job. If plunging fails, you can try augering with a wire coat hanger or a more sophisticated purchased auger, which you can find at stores like Home Depot and Lowes.

An expansion nozzle, an inexpensive attachment for your garden hose, uses water pressure to break up a clog. The nozzle screws into the hose and is inserted into the drain. When the water is turned on, a section of the nozzle expands, blocking off the drain so that water cannot escape back up into the sink. Then a powerful stream of water is released, which should break up the clog.

If these methods fail, working from the top of the sink, the clog is probably in the drain trap, or beyond, so you must remove the trap under the sink. Some traps have a cleanout plug which unscrews. If yours does not, you need to remove the entire trap to gain access. Once you have access to the drain trap, use an auger (try a coat hanger first) to clean out the trap bend, and, if necessary, the open end of the drain pipe.

Tools to have on hand:

Plunger

Channel-Lock Pliers

Expansion nozzle

Flash light

Bucket

Drain auger (also called a snake)

Wire coat hanger

Garden hose

Screwdriver

Stiff-bristled bottle brush

Rags

sponge