A clogged kitchen sink is no fun at all. In fact, it can make all of your kitchen activities extremely inconvenient.
And in many households, a major kitchen problem can really mess with life.
Cooking and washing up become really difficult. Plus, you might have already spent lots of time trying to unclog the sink. That’s time you won’t get back.
The good news is that even when it feels like you’ve tried everything for your clogged kitchen sink, there’s still hope.
Here’s what to do next when you’re at your wit’s end with a clogged kitchen sink.
Have you really tried everything?
Here’s why we ask this: Not everybody knows how to unclog a kitchen sink.
Some folks just pour hot water down the drain or poke around with a spoon handle and don’t know what else to do.
If that sounds like you, fear not! There’s a lot more to try. Keeping in mind that you should never use chemical drain cleaners, here’s how to proceed with a clogged kitchen sink:
- Cut power to the garbage disposal and feel around inside of it. We recommend using the handle of a wooden spoon. When you feel something large, use tongs to pull it out. Please do not put your hand down the disposal!
- Use a sink plunger. If you didn’t feel anything with the spoon handle, your next course of action is to plunge. If the kitchen sink is clogged on both sides, you need to plunge on the side that doesn’t have the garbage disposal. Make sure the plunger forms a tight seal and start plunging with force!
- Clean out the P-trap. Plunging didn’t work? The clog might be in the P-trap. Put a bucket under the P-trap and remove it with a wrench. If there’s something stuck in there, you’ll see it.
- Use a plumber’s snake. Ok, if none of the above work, you can use a snake. Use one that’s made for sinks! Send it down the drain and bust up whatever is blocking the pipe.
If none of those methods work, you might have a different (and bigger) sort of problem…
Could the problem be your sewer line?
Sometimes, you don’t have an inside (or local) clog. Instead you’ve got an outside clog.
And an outside clog could be pretty much anywhere in your sewer line.
Signs of a sewer line clog can include:
- Multiple clogged drains throughout the house
- More than one slow draining sink or shower
- Bubbling in the toilet when you use the shower or a sink
- Unusually lush areas in your yard
Notice how most of these symptoms involve more than one plumbing fixture? That’s because sewer line issues typically affect drainage throughout your home.
The problem might start on the lower story–it might even start with your kitchen sink!
Even if your kitchen sink is the only plumbing fixture that’s affected today, the rest of your home might be affected soon.
If you’re seeing any of the above, chances are the clog is deeper in your sewer line. The best course of action is to call a plumber who specializes in sewer and drain services.
Speaking of plumbers…
When to call a plumber
When you experience any of the classic symptoms of a sewer line clog, it’s the right time to call a plumber.
A plumber–preferably one who specializes in sewer and drain services–will be able to:
- Perform a sewer line camera inspection to locate and identify the clog
- Recommend the most effective method for breaking up or removing the clog
- Repair any pipe damage that might have resulted from the formation of the clog; for example, tree roots growing into a sewer line will both clog and damage the sewer line pipe.
Of course, sometimes even inside clogs are too difficult to bust on your own, and that’s ok! Not every homeowner is comfortable using tools like plumber’s snakes. And even if you are, sometimes a plumber’s experience is needed to use the tools to their maximum effectiveness.
Long story short, the right time to call a plumber is when you really have tried everything to unclog your kitchen sink.
And even if you haven’t tried everything, a lot of folks want a plumber to do it so that they don’t have to worry about doing it themselves. That’s totally fine, too!
Conclusion: There’s always a solution for a clogged kitchen sink
Even after you feel like you’ve tried everything, there’s a way to bust just about any clog you can imagine.
If you live in Metro Atlanta and are struggling with a clogged kitchen sink, PV Heating, Cooling & Plumbing can help!
Give us a call today at (404) 798-9672 today or schedule an appointment online!
