How to Unclog a Kitchen Sink Yourself

Kitchen sink drains should flow freely at all times. However, too often grease and food end up going down the drain when washing dishes. Eventually this debris builds up, creating a clog. When your kitchen sinks clogs, the water drains slowly or doesn't drain at all. Unclogging a kitchen sink yourself depends on how much of a clog is in the line. Some clogs only require some assistance to push them free, while others might require some disassembly of the sink drain pipe.

Things You'll Need

• Rag
• Cup plunger
• Bucket
• Slip joint pliers
• Drain snake

Instructions

Plunger Method

1. Fill the sink with 2 inches of water. If you have a double kitchen sink, stuff a rag into the opposite sink drain. This prevents the water from shooting up the opposite sink drain when plunging.

2. Position a cup plunger over the clogged sink drain. The water in the sink helps to provide a seal for the plunger.

3. Press down on the plunger handle and pull up just enough to expand the plunger without breaking the seal between the lip of the plunger and the sink.

4. Continue pushing down and pulling up five times. Pull the plunger away from the sink drain on the fifth pull. This is usually enough to dislodge the clog.

Snake Method

1. Position a bucket under the sink trap, if plunging did not remove the clog. Loosen the nut securing the sink trap to the pipe under the sink drain. It might be necessary to use a pair of slip joint pliers to loosen the nut. Do not disconnect the nut completely.

2. Loosen and disconnect the nut securing the sink trap to the wall pipe. Turn the end of the sink trap at the wall pipe away from the pipe. Some water will come out of the wall pipe and sink trap. This is why you must have a bucket under the pipe.

3. Pull out 18 inches of the snake cable and lock it with the thumb-lock screw on the body of the snake. Insert the end of the snake into the wall pipe and rotate the handle clockwise to feed the snake through the pipe. You will feel the clog when the end of the snake reaches it. Continue advancing the snake to break through the clog.

4. Turn the snake handle counterclockwise after you break through the clog. Remove the snake from the wall drain pipe. Reposition the sink trap over the end of the wall pipe. Thread the securing nut over the sink trap and tighten it until it is hand-tight. Hand-tighten the nut securing the sink trap to the pipe under the sink drain.

5. Run hot water from the faucet into the sink for five minutes. The hot water helps melt and remove any residual grease or hair clinging to the sides of the drain pipe where there was a clog. Inspect the sink trap nuts for leaks and tighten if necessary.

Tips & Warnings

• Drain snakes are available for rent at home improvement centers.

References

• This Old House; Clear Any Clogged Drain; Merle Henkenius