A blocked sink isn’t just a nuisance, it’s also very unhygienic! As a very common plumbing problem, chances are you’ll experience a blocked sink or two in your lifetime. Read on to discover the most common signs, what causes a drain blockage and what you can try out at home to solve the issue.
Signs Of A Blocked Sink Drain
There are a few tell-tale signs that you may be dealing with a blocked drain in the home. The most obvious sign is that the water isn’t going down at all or is slow to drain. Other signs include:
- A foul smell
- Sinkholes and flooding
- Gurgling noises
- Making a mess when using the sink
What Causes A Clogged Sink?
A blocked sink drain can occur anywhere in the home or business, from the kitchen to the bathroom to the laundry. The most common cause is typically a build-up of gunk that has gone down the drain, such as food, hair, soap and other debris. A more serious cause may be a broken pipe or an insufficient water flow. A professional plumber can diagnose the problem immediately and have the problem sorted out in no time.
DIY Solutions To Try At Home
If you want to try and fix the blocked drain yourself, we’ve put together some helpful DIY methods that can unstick the blockage and get things flowing again.
Use A Coat Hanger
Straighten a coat hanger and bend a hook at the end. Lower it into the sink and fish out as much debris as you can. Make sure you don’t compact the blockage and make it worse! You can also use a drain snake to do the job.
Use Baking Soda
Mix a concoction of 1 cup baking soda with some vinegar and pour it down the sink. Let it sit for about an hour and see if it dissolves the blockage inside.
Open Up The U Pipe
If the coat hanger won’t reach the blockage, try going deeper. Turn off the water and unscrew the nuts of the U pipe with a plumber’s wrench. Open it up and remove all of the gunk inside to clear the blockage.
Try Boiling Water
Put on some gloves and pour boiling hot water down the sink to dislodge any build-up of soap, coffee grounds, food scraps and more.
Use A Drain Cleaner
Buy a chemical drain cleaner from the supermarket and follow the instructions to remove any blockage in the sink.
Still Need Help With a Blocked Sink?
When all else fails, get an expert in! Barker Plumbing Services have over 30 years’ experience in unclogging sinks and blocked drains on the Gold Coast. We can quickly diagnose the problem, provide a quote and clear the blockage using specialised plumbing equipment that can unclog a blocked sink in a flash. We can also provide professional advice to help you avoid the issue again in the future. Give us a call today to discuss your needs and to book an appointment.
