The bathroom sink is a vital part of a person’s daily routine. When it clogs, the problem can seem like it never wants to go away.
Since the bathroom sink uses a similar mechanism to dispose of unwanted material while preventing sewer gases from entering the space, you can take a similar approach to unclog this smaller drain.
Most people find that standard clogs from mineralization can disappear with industrial white vinegar. If you have hair stuck in the upper part of the drain, try using tweezers to remove the material.
If you have a more significant clog, it’ll be easier to use a drain snake or a plunger to help the sink drain freely.
Methods to Use When Your Bathroom Sink Gets Clogged
When a bathroom sink clogs, it is typically due to one of the following reasons. Figuring out the issue you face will help you know how to start clearing out the drain.
1. Soap Scum
If you have hard water at home, your bathroom sink will eventually clog because of soap scum unless you clean the pipes regularly.
The organic materials found in the soap, combined with the moist drain environment, encourage mold and mildew growth.
When this issue prevents the drain from working, try pouring a pot of almost boiling water into the sink. You can use vinegar or baking soda to dislodge the unwanted materials.
If the first effort doesn’t dislodge the clog, try a second time. You can also plunge the sink with warm water to get rid of the problem.
2. Hair Clumps
Hair binds together when it enters a sink drain. When enough strands get bunched up, it creates a clog that can be challenging to remove.
Part of the reason why these clogs are significantly challenging involves the lengthy strands that get stuck. They can wrap around things, tangle with other components, or stick to the pipe walls.
Although some commercial unclogging agents can dissolve hair in 15 to 30 minutes, the fastest way to remove hair is by using long tweezers. A zip-it tool is an alternative to consider.
If those options don’t give you the results you need, you’ll need to take apart the entire drain to remove the unwanted hair. Hire a professional plumber in Chatsworth for emergency plumbing.
3. P-Trap Problems
The P-trap is the name for the curving pipe that sits underneath the bathroom sink. It connects the installation to the wall, preventing sewer gasses from coming through the drain.
When you have a significant clog, there’s an excellent chance that it formed at this curved point in the pipe. You’ll need to take this section off to access and clean it.
Most bathrooms use PVC pipes with a turning connector that you’ll unscrew. It can be tough to break the seal loose if it hasn’t been serviced in some time. Take the one from the straight pipe off first, followed by the wall connection.
It helps to have a rag to stick into the wall pipe to prevent sewer gases from coming into the bathroom. If there is water in the sink, you’ll need a bucket underneath the drain to collect the water that flows out after disconnecting the trap.
You’ll need to manually clean the channel interior. If you don’t see anything in the trap, look into the straight pipe to see what could be blocking the flow there. When that is clear, you’ll have a clog in the plumbing that heads into the wall.
The easiest way to remove a potential clog is by adding suction. A powerful shop-style vacuum can often remove unwanted materials. You might need to use a sink snake to reach a deep clog in the system.
Once you think the clog is gone, reassemble the trap and try to run water through it. You won’t have anything backing up if you’ve cleared the problem.
4. Damaged Pipes
Older homes have brass, copper, or even steel pipes. Rust and corrosion can cause significant problems that lead to clogs and slow draining. Any bottleneck in the system can cause metal flakes to build like cholesterol does in the arteries, making it seem like nothing is wrong until the clog stops all movement.
You can snake or plunge sink drains with this problem as a temporary solution. Your best choice is to replace the old pipes with a more permanent installation.
How to Remove a Stubborn Sink Clog
Before you disassemble the entire system in the bathroom cabinet, it might help to use some unclogging tricks to get the water flowing again.
The most popular option is to mix one cup of white vinegar with a half-cup of baking soda.
Sprinkle the soda in the drain, followed by a slow pour of the vinegar into the affected area. You’ll see the mixture start fizzing, which is a process that can take several minutes to complete. Once the reaction stops (about ten minutes later), you can rinse with very hot water.
It might take up to three attempts to clear the clog when using this methodology.
If you don’t have tweezers or a zip-it tool to remove hair, another option is to use a wire hanger. Don’t use wire if you have flexible plumbing components.
Push the tool at different angles to try to catch all the hair around the drain. Repeat the process with hot water rinses when necessary until the drain starts flowing again.
When you need to use a plunger to correct a sink clog, it is crucial to remove the stopper first. You’ll need to seal the overflow outlet with a rag or tape to ensure air movement gets directed downward.
It also helps to have towels on the floor around the sink to manage spillage.
Use the plunger to create an airtight seal over the drain. Plunge up and down with sharp, quick movements to create a seal and pressure. After a few attempts, check the drain to see if the clog is gone. Repeat as needed.
It is never any fun to have a bathroom sink get clogged. If you tried these tips without success, it might be time to contact a professional plumber. Our team can diagnose the issue, find an affordable solution, and restore functionality quickly and efficiently. Let us know how we can help today, and we’ll get you onto our schedule!
