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6 Simple DIY Blocked Sink Hacks

A clogged sink drain usually occurs when you want to shave. You got home late and you're in a rush to get shaved and dressed for your wife's work party and she's fuming. Nothing like a clogged sink drain to put a damper on your rush.

The main problem with a sink drain is that you don't know it's blocked until it suddenly starts taking longer to drain. Water pushes up in the shower, pooling around your feet while you shower. Then you start noticing the unpleasant odors. And finally, the day you're in a rush to get ready, it hits you - BOOM! Blocked sink drain. It's stopped up completely and you need to deal with it immediately to avoid burst pipes and sewer backups.

Usually, the first course of action would be removing the excess gunk and hair built up on the drain surface - but no luck. Then comes the liquid plumber - still no luck. Here are some great hacks for dealing with blocked sink drains.

1. Bent Wire Hanger

This hack may seem simple, but it works. Simply straighten out a wire coat hanger, before bending over the one end to create a hook. Push the bent portion into the drain and start prodding. Be careful though to pull the gunk out, rather than pushing it in.

2. Wet and Dry Vac

Set your wet and dry vac to wet, cover the sink vent, and create the tightest seal possible over the drain. A great way to do this, is to adapt an old plunger head and placing it over the vacuum hose. Turn the vacuum to the highest setting and give it a try. It doesn't always work, but it is definitely worth a shot.

3. Boiling Water

Simply boil as much water as you can and simply pour it down the drain slowly. Do it in a few stages, allowing the water to work for a minute before you pour more.

4. Drain Volcano

This tip should take you back to your school days, when you did volcanoes in science class.

Pour 1/2 cup baking soda into the drain and follow that immediately with 1/2 cup vinegar. It will start fizzing and start dissolving the grime, gunk and hair that has built up in the pipe. Flush the drain with hot water.

5. Clean the U-Trap

If none of these options work, you may want to clean the u-trap under the sink. Place a bucket under the trap to collect any spills. First loosen the nuts to free the trap before removing it and turning it upside down to empty the contents into the bucket. Use an old toothbrush to remove tough gunk from the trap and from the pipes that hold it before putting it back together. This should do the trick in most cases.

6. Dish Detergent

Once you have removed hair and most of the gunk, you can clean the insides of the pipes using dish detergent and this simple method.

Add 1/4 cup dish detergent into the sink, followed by boiling water. Dish detergent strips oils and greasy residue that is built up inside the pipes. Now use a plunger to apply force.

If none of these methods work, it is possible that you have a clog in your main sewer, and that requires professional assistance. Get in touch with Anta Plumbing for all your blocked sink problems.

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Written by Anta

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