You’re having a summer get-together with friends and family, the mood is festive and the burgers are on the grill. Suddenly, you realize your kitchen sink won’t drain and the ensuing mess will ruin the day unless you act quickly.
Your Brooklyn plumbing experts at Petri Plumbing & Heating want to provide you with some tips for breaking up that stubborn clog so you can go back to your summer party. And don’t forget; you can always just give us a call if you’re having issues with a clogged drain!
Most residential clogs are created when hair and food debris get mixed in with congealed grease. Simply bring a half gallon of water to a boil in your kitchen kettle and then pour slowly into your drain. If the clog is not loosened after a few minutes, repeat the procedure. The boiling water should warm the grease, which will then release the debris.
If a gentler approach won’t work, grab your home’s plunger and attack the problem with suction. While a bell plunger with a flange works best on a toilet, a flat plunger is more suited for sinks. Fill the sink with water, if it’s not already full, to create a seal around the drain and position the plunger over the hole. Keep plunging until you feel the clog release or see the water begin draining.
If your sink has a garbage disposal, this may be the source of your clog. Turning on the disposal may help break up the clog but make sure the disposal isn’t broken, which has caused the clog to begin with. Make sure you are using your disposal correctly before attempting any repairs. You should always turn off the power to the disposal before attempting to fix it.
Pour one cup of baking soda, one cup of vinegar and a half gallon of hot water down the drain and let the makeshift volcano gently break apart the clog. You may have to wait 15 minutes to an hour for this method to work, but it is much more gentle on your pipes than chemical cleaners.
Clogs that are deeper down the drain may not respond to hot water, plunging or even the volcano. If this is the case, you may need to grab a plumber’s snake. Once the snake hits the obstruction, you will feel a bit of resistance, but keep cranking the handle to break apart the clog.
If you’ve tried all of these methods and still have a sink that is stopped up or is draining too slowly, it may be time to call a Brooklyn plumber.
Petri has skilled plumbers ready to tackle your clogged drains. We can also provide a drain cleaning service to prevent clogged drains to begin with. Simply call us to schedule service. We are happy to help!
We are the market leaders and want to hire people that grow with our company. We are looking for qualified, motivated technicians and pay competitively!