Clearing a Clogged Sink Drain

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Most clogged sink drains can be cleared without calling a plumber.  However, if you are not comfortable trying to clear a clogged drain you should let an experienced plumber handle clearing the clog.

Also, if the clog does not clear after a couple good faith efforts to clear it, you need to call a plumber.  Stubborn clogs or frequent drain backups can be a sign of more serious plumbing issues.

First, never use caustic chemicals to attempt to clear a clogged drain.  These rarely work as advertised and they can damage your sinks and pipes.  Also, if you pour caustic chemicals into the standing water and the clog does not clear, you have made the job of clearing the clog ten times harder.  Now you not only have a clog, but you also have a sink and drain full of caustic chemicals.

For a clogged sink, the first place to check is the trap under the sink.  Remove the trap and see if the clog is in the trap or if can be seen in the drain line.  If so, remove the offending material, reassemble the trap and see if the water flows freely.

If the clog was not in the trap, use a plunger to force water down the drain and dislodge the clog.  Several vigorous thrusts with the plunger should do the job.

If the drain is still clogged, you can try using a plumber’s snake that you can purchase at your local home improvement store.  Remove the trap again and feed the plumbers snake down the drain line until it meets resistance.  Turn the crank to work the snake into the clog, then pull the snake out of the drain.

If the plumber’s snake does not clear the clog, it’s probably time to leave it to a professional plumber.

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