Stuck with a slow draining sink? You may think that the pipes are clogged, but to your surprise, it is clear. So now you must be wondering what the problem could be and how to fix it.
Today we will be talking about easy fixes to your sink drainage problems. You may find your sink not draining but pipes clear.
So let us learn a bit about this situation including reasons and solutions.
Why The Sink Is Not Draining?
You may be very familiar with the fact that the sinks start to drain slowly when they get clogged due to any dirt or food particles getting stuck in the pipe.
But there are a few more causes you should learn about.
- Grease, fats, or oil can harden inside the pipe and cause clogging as well. This ultimately results in a slower drainage system.
- P trap problems such as overfilling can cause slow drainage. Since the clogging usually happens in the bend of the P trap, it is harder to detect.
- Sinks that have garbage disposals may have clogging issues that lead to a slow drainage system.
- Clogging of air vents or unbalanced air pressure through such vents can cause also cause issues with the drainage process.
- Tree roots growing in your sewer system will cause problems for the entire drainage system.
- Sludge buildup in the septic tank will also affect how fast your sink is draining.
- Corroded pipes can cause slow drainage as well.
- Location or positioning of the pipes can also cause slow drainage of the sinks.
Now that you know more about what causes slow drainage of sinks, we can get to the solutions.
How to Solve Slow Drainage Issues?
Before we get to the fixes, you should know it is better to avoid any chemicals so that we do not damage the pipes in the long run.
Also, these are home fixes that you can try to solve the issues once you identify them.
For problems like sludge buildup or tree roots, call your plumber for a thorough cleanup.
But if you can identify the issue mentioned above, these are a few things you can try:
- The Boiled Water Fix
- Plunge The Drain
- Clean Up The P trap
- Clean The Garbage Disposal
- Clean The Air Vent
- Use Enzymes To Clean Pipe.
If you are going to try any of these fixes, please make sure that you are well equipped and prepped with gloves and proper tools.
Now let’s talk about the fixes.
- The Boiled Water Fix
As fat and greasy stuff tend to collect on the pipes when they get cold, the best way to remove them is to pour boiling water down the sink.
At first, you will have to pour half a cup of baking soda in the drain along with half a cup of white vinegar.
Wait for it to fizzle for a few minutes. Then pour the boiling water down the drain.This will help to melt the grease and fat coating in the pipes.
- Plunge the Drain
This may be the most common fix you have heard of. After pouring the boiling water, plunge the drain up and down.
Then, after a while, check to see if the water drains properly.
- Clean up the P Trap
In case you have not figured it out yet, the bent elbow-shaped pipe is the P trap. To clean up the P trap, you must disassemble it first.
Make sure you keep a bucket underneath to catch anything that falls out. Once you clean the P trap and reconnect it, make sure to check whether the water is draining properly.
- Clean the Garbage Disposal
If you suspect the issue is within the garbage disposal, you can try plunging to remove the clog. In case that does not work, you can manually rotate the blades to clear up the clog.
Avoid inserting your hands inside the garbage disposal. Use an Allen wrench if you must or any other tool.
- Clean the Air Vent
The air vent can get clogged by debris over time and observing some signs of a clogged drain vent pipe you can determine clearly. So, the best way to clean it is by using a drain snake.
But of course, you must disassemble it first. Also, make sure there is a proper pathway for the air to pass.
- Use Enzymes to Clean Pipes
Chemical cleaners can be very harsh on the pipes, leading to corrosion over time. So, you can use natural enzymes to keep your pipes clean and avoid clogs.
The Don’ts of Drainage Fixes
Here are the things you should avoid while fixing your drainage system.
- While we have mentioned the boiling water hack as the go-to for removing greasy and fatty coating on the pipes, please do not pour boiling water into a completely clogged sink. This will cause overflowing in the sink – an ugly situation you do not want.
- While plunging has been suggested as a fix, avoid plunging with excessive force. Excessive force can disrupt the drainage line, which may result in leakage.
- If you don’t manage to clear a clog with a drain snake, please do not force it.
- Do not force yourself to fix the sink without identifying the issue.
Things You Should Avoid While Draining Down the Sink
Prevention is better than cure. This is why proper disposal of a few things will ensure no clog-ups in the future.
Here are a few things you should not try to drain down the sink:
- Bones and Egg Shells.
- Gum, Paper, And Paint.
- Tea leaves
- Fruit Peels
- Any Sort of paper products.
- Rice or any starchy products.
- Grease, fat, and oil.
- Hair
Please avoid disposing of them in the sink and ensure proper disposal of these in the garbage to avoid clogging your sink.
Final Words
Now that you are more familiar with these solutions, you know what you should do if the sink not draining but pipes clear.
Having a slow draining kitchen or clogged drain can be very troublesome.
So, it is very important that you ensure plumbing maintenance. Although home fixes can solve issues like these, we recommend you call in a plumber if the problem is hard to detect.
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