Has a clogged sink ruined your day? Trust Iron Mountain Plumbing to resolve the issue. Call our skilled experts for all your plumbing needs in Hurricane, Utah.
If you use your kitchen sink often, you’ve probably had to deal with a clogged sink at one point or another. Perhaps your bathroom sink has you stepping into standing water every time you turn on your shower. Whatever the case, you want to address sink clogs sooner rather than later.
Ever wonder, “Why does my sink keep clogging?”
As professional plumbers in Hurricane, Utah, the Iron Mountain Plumbing crew delves deeper into the causes of repeated sink blockages and how to address them. Keep reading to learn a few tips on preventing sink drainage issues.
Common Causes of Sink Clogs
Frequent sink clogs often result from several issues. Identifying sink clogging reasons can help you find quick solutions and implement preventive measures to keep clogs at bay. Stay alert to the following causes of sink drain problems and solutions:
Excessive Buildup of Debris in Your Drain Pipe
When too much debris builds up in your drain pipe, it can clog your main drain, whether in the kitchen or bathroom. Common culprits include small food scraps, soap scum, and hair that can clog and accumulate in sink drain pipes.
Removing any stuck debris from the drain trap can help address a main drain line clog. You may have to use a stick or fork to scoop out hair from the drain or snake the drain pipe to dislodge potential cogs and restore proper flow to the pipes.
Kitchen Sink Drain Clogs
Kitchen sinks and garbage disposals will often succumb to drain clogs, especially if the drain pipe accumulates excess food-related items, including:
- Kitchen grease
- Coffee grounds
- Bones
- Eggshells
- Onion skins
- Fruit pits
- Fibrous vegetables
- Pasta
- Fruit peels
- Potato peels
- Corn husks
- Nuts
- Eggs shells
Pay attention to what goes down your kitchen drain and avoid putting the aforementioned items into your sink disposal at all costs. If you find your kitchen sink stuck with these items, you may have to get your hands dirty and remove any clogs.
Turn off power to your disposal, remove the stuck item, and unclog the drain catch as best as you can before putting it back in place.
Drain Line Issues
Still wondering, “Why does my sink keep clogging?” A bust, broken, or dislodged drain pipe can also lead to clogged sinks. Drain line issues often stem from improper pipe installation, environmental factors like temperature fluctuations, and poor maintenance.
Invasive tree roots can also compromise your pipes and cause unwanted blockages.
Drain line issues need immediate attention, whether you notice lingering moisture or spot an obvious water leak. Contact a dependable plumber to inspect the integrity of your pipes and recommend the most suitable remedy.
If your pipes have incurred irreparable damage, you’ll have to invest in replacement services. With drain line issues, don’t hesitate to reach out to a reliable Hurricane plumbing contractor or company familiar with local issues and solutions.
Improper Venting
Unpleasant odors coming from your vents often point to various issues. Typically, foul odors from your pipes indicate the excess buildup of gunk, but it could also suggest an extensive issue that needs professional intervention.
Sometimes, you might have raw sewage or a burst pipe leaking around your main drain.
Since built-up debris can cause odors to travel from your pipes into your home, a few DIY remedies can help resolve the issue. The following products should suffice:
- Simple household cleaning products
- A mixture of baking soda, vinegar, and boiling water
- A basic plumber’s drain snake
However, if the odor persists for weeks, even after trying a couple of DIY remedies, seek professional intervention, as you may have a more significant underlying problem.
What Happens When You Ignore Drain Clogs?
Left unattended, drain clogs can quickly get out of hand. Rather than hope that a clog will go away on its own, you should take proactive steps to address the issue and prevent the following potential problems:
- Pipe displacement or corrosion
- High water usage
- Low water pressure
- Wastewater overflows, leaks, and backups
- Extensive and costly repairs
- Frequent drain clogs
All these issues related to clogged drains can interrupt your daily routine. Don’t wait for things to escalate. Contact your local Hurricane plumber to inspect your drains and recommend a viable solution.
Easy Ways to Resolve Kitchen Sink Clogs
Unclogging your kitchen sink often requires a trial-and-error approach. The primary reason for the clog will often determine what method will work best. The following simple procedures should help to tackle stubborn kitchen clogs:
Use a Sink Plunger
Once you clear the trap, use a plunger to dislodge the blockage.
- First, pour a few inches of water in the sink.
- With the plunger on the sink drain, push down quickly and pull several times.
- If the water doesn’t drain after about three minutes, try a different technique.
- For sinks with two drains, hold a second plunger firmly over one drain while you plunge the other.
Use Vinegar and Baking Soda
A mixture of vinegar and baking soda works wonders as a natural remedy for resolving persistent sink blockages. It does an impeccable job of clearing your pipes of sludge and other unwanted buildup. However, this technique only works for partially open drains.
Here’s how to use this technique:
- Pour a cup of baking soda and one cup of vinegar into the clogged sink.
- Let it sit for about 15 minutes.
- Run hot water for five minutes. That’s it. If this method proves unsuccessful, try the steps below.
Use an Auger to Clear the Drain
This technique rarely fails, but you need a fair amount of time to execute it effectively and clear your clogged sink. However, this technique will leave you with much cleaner drains compared to other methods.
- First, remove the trap as mentioned above.
- Run the snake drain or auger back and forth throughout the drain, ensuring you run the auger’s entire length for effective results.
- While a seasoned professional will need only about 15 minutes to clean your drain with an auger, expect the process to last much longer if you opt for a DIY approach.
- Finally, restore the trap and run some water to ensure you have a clear line.
Use Dish Soap and Boiling Water
For this technique, it helps to note that PVC starts to soften at 140 degrees Fahrenheit. That said, your pipes probably won’t get damaged but you should exercise caution to prevent avoidable damage.
Like the vinegar and baking soda technique, this method only works if you have a slow-draining and partially open sink.
- First, boil plenty (at least five gallons) of water.
- When the water nears boiling temperature, turn on the hot water faucet of the blocked sink and let it run for five to ten minutes.
- Once the water starts boiling, turn off the hot water and empty an entire bottle of dish soap into the sink. A big bottle of Dawn dish soap should work perfectly.
- Run the water for about a minute.
- Now, pour all the boiling water into the clogged sink.
- Give it about a minute or two before turning the hot water back on for a couple of minutes.
Importance of Regular Plumbing Maintenance
Why does my sink keep clogging, you might ask? While clogs occur because of various reasons, a few preventive tips can keep them at bay. The following drain maintenance tips should keep your pipes properly flowing and help maintain a healthy plumbing system:
- Schedule annual plumbing inspections
- Flush your regularly with hot water
- Keep an eye on your monthly water usage
- Test water pressure and drainage speeds every so often
- Check for loose pipes and water leaks
Maintaining healthy pipes and keeping your drains clear keeps your plumbing system healthy and your pipes happy. Happy pipes will serve you for longer. Sometimes, underground issues like tree root intrusion may cause clogging and slow draining.
Fortunately, hiring professionals to help you maintain your plumbing system will give you much-needed peace of mind. If you suspect an issue with your drains or need expert intervention to address drain issues, don’t shy away from seeking an expert’s help.
Local plumbers in Hurricane understand common plumbing issues residents face, so they come well-prepared to address them promptly and effectively.
Contact Iron Mountain Plumbing for Top-Tier Plumbing Services in Hurricane, Utah
Now that you can answer the question, “Why does my sink keep clogging?” you can’t entrust your plumbing needs to just anyone. At Iron Mountain Plumbing, we strive to provide our customers with prompt, effective, and lasting plumbing solutions.
We aim to build solid relationships and have what it takes to face challenges head-on and provide innovative solutions. Reach out to learn essential plumbing safety tips every homeowner in and around Hurricane should know.
Call Iron Mountain Plumbing at 435-241-7031 to schedule service in Hurricane, Utah. We offer upfront pricing and unparalleled customer service.
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