How to Clear a Slow-Draining Kitchen Sink Line
Your kitchen sink drain may slow down over time because of debris caught in the pipes. With a slow drain instead of a completely clogged drain, you may be able to flush away the debris without resorting to harsh chemicals or other measures. Reduce your risk of future clogs once your drain is clear by using sink strainers to keep larger bits of food and debris out of the drain. Avoid flushing fats down the sink, even if they are in liquid form, as they can solidify inside the pipes and cause clogs. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
-
-
1
Place a kettle full of water on the stove over high heat until it boils.
-
2
Shut off the stove and carefully pour the entire kettle full of water down your slow drain.
-
-
3
Continue to flush the drain with hot tap water for approximately five minutes. This process will clear out any clogs caused by solidified fats or debris that can be knocked loose by the flow of water.
-
4
Open the cabinet under the kitchen sink if the water flushing did not work. Set a flashlight inside the cabinet so you can see what you are doing, and place a bucket beneath the sink trap, also called a P-trap, which is the pipe shaped like a J.
-
5
Turn the rings at each end of the J on the trap pipe to loosen them. You should be able to do this by hand, but if the pipes are old and rusted you may need a pipe wrench to pry them loose.
-
6
Remove the trap pipe completely and let any water drain into the bucket. Shake the trap pipe into the bucket to clear out any bits of food or other foreign particles inside the trap.
-
7
Replace the trap pipe and tighten the rings that hold it in place once the trap is clean.
-
8
Run cool water for a few minutes and check for leaks along the joints of the trap pipe. If water seeps or trickles out at the joints, remove the trap pipe again.
-
9
Wrap the threads of the pipes where the trap pipe attaches with a layer or two of plumber's tape, then replace the trap pipe. The tape will secure the joint, keeping water from seeping through even if the threads are not as tight as they were originally.
-
1
Tips & Warnings
Some trap pipes have a small plug you can remove to clean out the pipe without removing it. If your sink pipe has one of these, remove the plug and the washer attached to it, then pry out any debris with a stick or screwdriver.
References
- Photo Credit Jupiterimages/Pixland/Getty Images
