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Solution for water blockage in sink

When water starts rising instead of going down rapidly when you pour it into the kitchen sink, it may be a sign of a blockage in the drain pipe. The water drains slowly at first, but over time it begins to fill the sink. Usually, this problem occurs due to accumulation of small pieces of food, oil, grease and other dirt in the pipes.

In such a situation, there is no need to call a plumber every time. If the jam is not serious, it can be fixed at home with some simple methods.

Identify the location of the blockage

When a sink gets clogged, the first thing to do is to check if the problem lies beneath the sink. If your kitchen sink has a garbage disposal unit, check that as well. If the unit is working but water is not draining, the blockage may be in the drain pipe.

If the unit is only making noise but is not spinning, there may be an object stuck inside it. In such a situation, do not try to remove it by inserting your hand. First turn off the power supply.

Baking Soda and Vinegar for Light Clogs

If the water has not stopped completely and is draining slowly, baking soda and white vinegar can be used. This method may be effective for mild blockage.

First drain the water accumulated in the sink. Then pour about a cup of baking soda into the drain followed by a cup of white vinegar. Keep the drain covered for about 15 minutes. After this flush the drain with hot water.

However, if the blockage is deeply rooted or large, this method may not be effective. Also, it is not a good idea to add too much boiling water. This may soften the grease temporarily, but then solidify again inside the pipe.

If water is still coming up, check the P-Trap

If home remedies do not solve the problem, the P-Trap, or the bent pipe located under the sink, can be checked. Food crumbs, grease and other dirt often accumulate in this area.

Place a bucket or large container under the pipe before opening the P-Trap. The water accumulated in it may suddenly come out. After this, carefully open the pipe with the help of a wrench and clean the dirt accumulated inside. After cleaning fit the pipe back into the well and check by releasing water.

If the P-Trap is clean then there may be a blockage in the drain pipe.

If no significant debris is found in the P-Trap and water is still coming back from the sink, the problem may be in the drain pipe leading to the wall.

A drain snake or auger can be used in this situation. Through this, an attempt is made to remove the blockage present inside the pipe. But if you are not experienced in opening pipes or using an auger, it would be safer to seek help from a plumber rather than doing the work yourself.

How to keep your sink from getting clogged again

Installing a drain screen in a sink drain can stop food particles and other debris before they can enter the pipes. Apart from this, the problem of traffic jam can be reduced to a great extent by adopting some necessary habits.

Do not pour oil and grease into the sink.
Discard leftover food pieces before they go down the drain.
Keep the drain clean by running water through the sink regularly.
Use drain screens on drains.
Do not use strong chemical drain cleaner unnecessarily.

In particular, oil and grease should be avoided in the sink. In the hot state, after reaching the pipe, they can cool down and freeze and gradually narrow the drain path.

When should you call a plumber?

If the sink is completely clogged, gets clogged frequently, multiple drains slow down at once or water keeps coming back up even after cleaning, the problem may be deep inside the plumbing. In such cases it is better to take expert help instead of putting in much effort. This can prevent pipe damage and other problems like water leakage.