If your kitchen sink is slow to drain, it might mean you have a clogged pipe or a blockage in the P-trap. You can use hot water, dish soap, and plunging to clear up the problem; however, if it doesn’t get better after you try these methods, you might need to hire a plumber.
Before you begin, make sure your kitchen sink is free of any standing water. This is especially important if the pipe is PVC, because this can cause the pipes to break. You can also check for any food residue or other debris that might be causing the clog, such as eggshells, stringy vegetables (like celery or carrots), and foods that expand when they get wet.
Once you know the culprit of the clog, it’s time to remove the pipe and clean out any accumulated residue or debris. Once you’ve done this, turn on your faucet to run hot water down the drain to flush out any residue.
To start, remove the horizontal pipe that connects your system to the wall. This will expose the “stub pipe,” which is located inside a cabinet and runs down to your kitchen drain. Once you’ve gotten the “stub pipe” open, insert a plumber’s snake, auger or coat hanger into this pipe to break up any clogs that might be stuck farther down the drain.
Then, feed the tool down the pipe a few feet at a time. If you feel any resistance, you’ll need to re-feed the tool to pull out the blockage again. Repeat this process until the clog is gone.
The simplest way to unclog a kitchen drain is to pour a mixture of baking soda and vinegar down the drain. The baking soda acts as a base for the acid in vinegar, which is used to breakdown a buildup of soap scum or fat. The resulting fizzing reaction loosens the clog, and the boiling water helps to dissolve any remaining fat.
Another effective method for removing fat and soap scum from a clogged drain is to use table salt and hot water. Salt is a natural scouring agent that gets rid of any grime, while the boiling water melts the grease and oil that’s clogging your drain.
You can use any type of salt, including sea salt, kosher salt, or table salt. Once you’ve poured half a cup of salt down the drain, pour 2 litres of boiling water down the pipe to melt any fat or soap scum that might be obstructing the pipe.
When the clog is gone, you can wash the drain with hot water to help flush out any residual salt or soap scum. This will help to prevent clogs from forming in the future.
A clogged kitchen in Long Beach isn’t always a big deal, but it can be annoying and unpleasant to have a drain stop running. You can unclog a clogged kitchen drain with a plunger, but you might want to consider investing in a plumber’s snake if the sink is very slow to drain. These tools are inexpensive and very effective at clearing a clogged kitchen drain.
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