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About This Project
A clogged kitchen sink can wreck a perfectly good evening in front of the tube. Instead of settling in to watch the Series, you’ll find yourself staring at a sink full of dirty, backed-up water and wondering whether to call in a plumber ($80 to $120!). However, with two inexpensive tools and a little practice, you can fix this mess in less than an hour.
In this article, we’ll show you how to use a plunger and snake to clear up all but the most stubborn drain clogs. Plungers cost $4 to $10 at any hardware store or home center. Those with larger rubber bells deliver more thrust, but most will work for kitchen drains. Be sure it has a stout handle so you can apply plenty of force. A snake (sometimes called a hand auger) costs $5 to $20, depending on the size, length and turning mechanism. For all-around use, we recommend a 3/8-in. model that’s about 20 ft. long ($15 at hardware stores and home centers). It’s easy to turn down into the drain. But shorter, 1/4-in. types will work for most clogs too. In addition, keep several other items handy—a bucket or a plastic bin that fits under your drain, rubber gloves and a good flashlight.
First Things First
If you have a garbage disposer, turn it on. If
it hums but doesn’t spin, switch it off and unplug the unit. Then rotate the
disposer blades manually by inserting an Allen wrench into the hole on the
bottom of many disposers. If you have a dishwasher, tighten a clamp over the
flexible part of the drain line before plunging the drain. This prevents dirty
water from flowing back into the dishwasher
cabinet.
You can avoid most clogs by not abusing your kitchen drain line. Don’t overload your disposer with meat; foods high in starch, like pasta, potatoes and rice; or foods high in fiber, like celery and corn husks. Also, run plenty of cold water down the drain and let the disposer catch up after every cup of food you push into it. Never dump bacon grease or coffee grounds into the drain. If allowed to settle and cool, they solidify in the drain.
If you follow the steps of this article and still can’t clear the blockage, don’t hesitate to call in a plumber. You may have a clog far down the drain line beyond your reach, or stuck objects in the pipes.
Clear Blockage With a Plunger
One of the most common causes of a
clogged drain is a clogged garbage disposer. If the side of the sink that has
the disposer doesn’t drain, plunge it first to remove the clog or force it down
the drain.
And if you flip the switch to turn on your garbage disposer and all you hear is a low humming sound, your disposer is probably jammed. You can usually free it by turning the blades manually. (If the disposer doesn’t make any sound when you turn it on, an internal breaker on the motor probably has tripped. Give the disposer a minute to cool off. Then press the reset button located on the bottom of the unit, and turn it on again.)
If the problem isn’t in the disposer, plunge the drain. If you have a dishwasher, first clamp the drain hose. Then fill the sink with 3 to 4 in. of water to ensure that the plunger seals around the drain. Hold a wet rag tightly over the other drain opening in double sinks or use the basket strainer to seal it. Then plunge away. Roll the head of the plunger into the water so you force water, not air, into the drain. Pump vigorously. On your last upstroke, pop the plunger off the mouth of the drain for extra pressure. If the water doesn’t swirl straight down the drain, continue plunging for several minutes. Plunging can be quick and easy or it could be a wet mess. Keep towels handy to soak up spills.
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