Emma Miller
Unfortunately, a clog in the sink is a frequent phenomenon faced by many people. In this situation sometimes even a plunger does not help, and chemical means are not always effective.
Why the sink becomes clogged – the main reasons
Clogs are most often formed in the pipes departing from the sink in the bathroom or kitchen. Sometimes the cause can be even a seemingly harmless thing. Among the most common causes, experts highlight:
- food
Particles of food waste fall into the “knee” – the curved part of the pipe, which is located directly under the sink. There they settle to the bottom and, accumulating, form a clog. To fix it is simple: either remove part of the pipe and clean it by hand or use chemicals that soften the debris. It is best, of course, to install a chopper, then the remains of food can be flushed into the sink rather than thrown into the trash can.
- grease
And, not only fat from animal food but also vegetable oil. The fat itself creates a sticky residue on which food residues are “attracted”, resulting in a “garbage plug”. Making matters worse is cold water, which causes the fat to solidify and become thicker. The idea is not to drain the grease into the sink at all, but to use a separate container for this purpose.
- soap
Such a product, in addition to its main function – the removal of bacteria – also has another, reverse side. Combined with the remains of food and other liquids, soap forms a wet dense mass, because of which there is a clog. That is why it is better to wash your hands in the sink, and the kitchen sink is used only for washing dishes.
The cause of clogs in the bathroom, more often than not, is his hair. The plumbers’ unambiguous and confident recommendation is to use a strainer and to clean it regularly.
Clogged sink – what to do and where to go?
If it so happened that the sink in the kitchen stopped passing water and “pleases” you with an unattractive pool of food waste, it is time to remember the ways to eliminate clogs. There are three in total:
- chemical;
- mechanical;
- folk.
You can use both separately and together.
The chemical method is a variant of dealing with clogs, during which various agents come into the fight: acids, alkalis, powders, gels, and liquids. They are not difficult to find at any household chemicals store. All you need to do is read the information on the label and strictly follow the instructions. As a rule, these products are poured into the drain for 30 minutes and then rinsed with hot water.
IMPORTANT: Never lean over the sink while the cleaning process is going on, even if the drain makes atypical noises. You won’t get any new information from there, but a chemical burn – easily.
The mechanical method is manual clog removal. The first thing that comes into play is a plunger, a tool that every home has. You need to fill the sink with 1 / 3 hot water, and then the plunger “runs” the water on the principle of the pump. It is better to do it as vigorously as possible.
But sometimes it happens that vantuz is powerless, then comes to the aid of heavy artillery – a three-meter plumbing rope. One end of it has a handle, and the second – the tip in the shape of a spade. You dip the rope into the sink and push until you get rid of the trash.
If your house is old, and the pipes were laid under Tsar Gorokh, then you need to use the rope carefully, so as not to spoil anything. It is strictly forbidden to resort to the help of rope owners of plastic, chrome-plated, or brass traps.
A folk method is the use of various non-food and food products. In fact, some products can be a worthy competitor to chemical means.
- baking soda (3 tbsp of baking soda per 1 cup of vinegar) – pour the solution into the sink, wait 10-15 minutes, and rinse with hot water;
- powder (3 tbsp of powder, 3 tbsp of soda, 1 cup of vinegar) – pour into the sink, wait 20-30 minutes, and pour plenty of hot water;
- the citric acid (100 g) – pour into the drain, pour 250 ml of boiling water, and rinse with hot water after 20 minutes.
