February is terrific because it provides time to recover from the holiday season. All the gifts have been unwrapped, the food has been devoured, and we all get a chance to catch our breath. Whether you celebrated the new year with a small group or hosted the whole family at your home, one room, in particular, is probably grateful for a break: your kitchen.

Meals are an essential part of any celebration. The kitchen is the heart of the holidays, where family recipes are passed down and new cooking gadgets are utilized. Unfortunately, along with those lessons come mistakes. Maybe your niece added salt in place of the sugar in the cookies. Perhaps your brother-in-law wasn’t as safe as he thought while deboning the turkey with the shears. In another case, your sink drain has stopped draining, and you’re not even sure how it happened. 

While we can’t offer much help with the first two scenarios, we are professionals regarding sink drainage problems. Here are several things you can try to get your sink functioning again, as well as what to do when all else fails.

Before You Get Started

Before beginning this project, you’ll want to ensure that the sink is clear of all dishes. If standing water is in the sink, remove as much as possible with a cup. Once those tasks are accomplished, you can move through these steps until you resolve the clog. 

Plunge

The first step in solving any blockage in a pipe is to attempt plunging; your kitchen sink is no different! You can use a regular cup plunger to dislodge clogs in your sink. To succeed with this method, you’ll need to ensure that the plunger cup creates a seal around the drain and that there is enough water left in the sink to cover the rim. Once you have taken these steps, use the plunger as you would typically, plunging up and down rapidly while maintaining the seal. If plunging doesn’t help your kitchen drain clog, move on to another solution. 

Boiling Water

Before purchasing expensive and harsh chemicals to break up your clog, try something you already have at home: water! Bring a half gallon of water to a rolling boil over high heat. While the water is heating, remove any remaining water in the sink. When your water is ready, pour it into the drain in a steady stream. This method is excellent for breaking up clogs caused by grease or oils. If this solution doesn’t fix the problem, you can repeat this process before moving on to another solution. 

Unclog Garbage Disposal

If your sink has a garbage disposal, you should inspect it for issues. While it may seem like an obvious step to take, make sure to run your garbage disposal for about 30 seconds. This should break up any clogs that are lodged in the system. It may not even turn on if your garbage disposal is overheated or dysfunctional. In this case, you’ll need to locate the reset switch, shut it off, and then turn it back on. 

If your garbage disposal is still having issues, consider enlisting the help of a professional plumbing company. As experts in the field, they can solve problems quickly and safely. 

Dissolve the Clog

If the stubborn sink clog persists, utilize some tools you likely already have in your kitchen. Baking soda and vinegar, when mixed, create a chemical reaction that can break up pesky blockages. For this method, pour one cup of baking soda into the drain, followed by one cup of white vinegar. Place a stopper over the drain hole. Wait about fifteen minutes for the mixture to do its job, then rinse the drain with hot water. If you see some success with this method, you can repeat it several times. One advantage of baking soda and vinegar is that it’s less harsh on your pipes, making them less likely to be damaged in the process. 

Plumbing Snake

A plumbing snake can be a helpful tool if you have yet to succeed with any other methods. You can purchase a plumbing snake at your local hardware store–you may even find them at the grocery store. You can even create a makeshift plumbing snake out of an old wire coathanger. Whichever method you decide to use, the idea is the same: feed the snake down the pipe a few feet at a time, wait to feel the tool hit an obstruction, then hook the blockage and pull the snake up the drain. This method may take some finesse and patience, but it is incredibly successful in removing tough blockages. 

Kitchen Sink Still Clogged?

Have you tried all these methods and still can’t get your sink to drain efficiently? It may be time to call in the professionals. If you are looking for plumbing services in Birmingham, Alabama, you can call Plumb One. We offer emergency, commercial, and residential plumbing services for all your needs. Get in touch with us to learn more about our services.