A clog occurs in your home when water drains slower than usual or if it does not drain at all. Most of the homeowners resort to chemical cleaners to unclog the drains. However, research has shown that these chemicals do not dislodge the serious clogs and they eventually eat away the sewer pipes, causing major issues and more damage. In some cases, the tree roots find their way into the pipes, and this can completely block sewer access. Some homeowners schedule regular plumbing inspections in order to check and maintain their plumbing lines. However, it is simply a fact that clogs will always occur more often in your home. With a few simple steps, you can unclog your kitchen or bathroom sink and only call a DC clog service when your attempts turn futile. The following are the steps to follow in order to unclog a sink in your home or office.
Seal And Plunge Your Sink
If you have a dual-bowl kitchen sink, place a wet rag into one drain as you plunge the other. In case it is a bathroom sink, the rag will help you plug into the sink’s overflow hole. In the two cases, your rag will provide you with a tight seal which will help you put enough suction to remove the blockage. Fill your sink half way with water before you start plunging. Ensure that you pump severely before you pull off the plunger from the drain.
Remove The Sink Trap And Clean It
In case the sink is still clogged after plunging severely, you should look for a cable auger. Remove the sink trap by unscrewing the large threaded coupling or by the use of a pipe wrench. Remove all the water from the sink trap and ensure that it is not clogged, and then remove the horizontal arm of the sink from the stubout.
Use Your Cable Auger
After removing the horizontal arm, feed your cable into the sink stubout and only stop once you feel some resistance. In case it stops entering smoothly, hold your cable properly as you pull out the body of the auger and then tighten the lock screw. Turn the handle in a clockwise manner as you push it forward in order to drive the head of the auger deeper into the pipe. You should continue with this motion until you have broken the blockage.
Flush And Drain The Sink
Once you have broken up the blockage, re-install your trap and the horizontal pipe. Then turn the water on to check whether your sink is draining properly. If the sink doesn’t drain immediately, don’t worry because the debris from a broken-up clog may turn into a loose blockage. Even if the sink drains, fill it halfway with some hot water severely and plunge it until it drains smoothly. Now that you have unclogged your sink, you can enjoy and feel a sense of accomplishment.
In conclusion, if you did not succeed in unclogging your sink, just call a plumbing service in DC and let them sort it out for you. It is better to take preventive measures with a plumbing service to clear out any developing clogs before they become huge issues. The cost of drain cleaning to prevent major clogs is far better than the massive damage that can be caused by a serious sewer backup.