At Bradbury Brothers Services, we get a lot of FAQs (frequently asked questions), and one of them is, “Why does it take so long for the water to drain from my kitchen sink?” Drain clogs are the usual culprits in any slow-draining sink or tub.
Drain Clogs Revisited
We always tell our friends and neighbors that the best way to avoid drain clogs is to be careful about what you put in and down your sinks. But drain clogs happen in the best of families, so if your kitchen sink is draining slowly or you hear bubbling noises from its interiors, don’t be embarrassed about the catfish grease and coleslaw you dumped in the disposal three days ago. Take action.
DIY for Drain Clogs
Do-it-yourself (DIY) fixes are the best, money-wise, and they just plain feel good. So when you call us about a slow-draining sink, we’ll ask you which DIY fixes you’ve tried. If you want to troubleshoot your slow drain first, here’s what we recommend:
- DIY Drain Cleaner – Your recipe for drain clogs is ½ cup baking soda, 1 cup white vinegar, and 1 gallon as-hot-as-you-can-handle water. Put it down the drain and wait for the magic to happen. It’s much safer than caustic chemicals, which can be harmful to you and the environment.
- Plunging – The force-cup plunger is what you use on one side of the kitchen sink, and for maximum declogging pressure, have your plumbing assistant cover the other sink’s opening with another plunger or a flat, plastic sink stopper.
- Untangle the hair – It’s a tried-and-true trick using a straightened wire coathanger to gently untangle a clog and allow it to float freely down the drain. But Home Depot has a zip-it hair-snare tool for $2.48 that you can store under your sink for hairy situations.
Plumbing Preventive Maintenance
Be sure to read our Tips You Can Really Use to learn more about your whole-house plumbing. Just as your family physician encourages you to strive for overall wellness, Bradbury Brothers Services supports “plumbing wellness” through preventive maintenance.
