How to Handle a Sink That Isn’t Draining

You use the sinks in your house dozens of times a day, and if one gets clogged, it can be a huge inconvenience. Even if you’re careful about what you rinse down your sinks, they still accumulate hair, food particles, grease, and many other items that will cause them to slow down over time. Learn which of these problems you can fix yourself, and when to call a plumber in Salt Lake City to come to your rescue.

Find the Clog Yourself

This is easiest to accomplish if the clog in your pipes is very close to your sink. There are two ways to go about removing the clog on your own. The easiest method is to use a drain snake or a similar item that you can thread down your drain to snag and remove the blockage, or simply punch through it. Another method is to turn the water off to your clogged sink and disassemble the pipe directly below it. This is usually very easy to accomplish on your own, but it can be a messy task with a drain full of water. Once the pipe is removed, it’s easy to clean out and reinstall.

Deeper Problems

If your problems are deeper in your pipes, they can be harder to take care of on your own. Commercial drain cleaners or homemade solutions like baking soda and vinegar will take care of some clogs. However, they usually aren’t enough to break up a clog altogether, and it will come back in a matter of days or weeks. These clogs are often caused by greases and fats that get washed down your sink and adhere to your pipes. They then form tough layers that are extremely difficult to remove without professional help.

Hydro-Jetting

One of the most effective tools in a plumber’s arsenal, hydro-jetting is the process of shooting high-pressured water through your plumbing system. This breaks up even the toughest clogs, and it can reach deep into your system to clean out those areas that you can’t handle on your own. Best of all, it doesn’t rely on harmful chemicals, so it’s much easier on the environment than commercial drain cleaners. Ask your plumberin Salt Lake City if your drains could benefit from hydro-jetting.