We have all been through scenarios when guests were at our place but amidst the hubbub and crowd, the sink started malfunctioning. The extra dishes and junks had gathered all over and not until the next day could you solve the mess. The plumber had to be called and a plethora of events followed.
It can be very easy for you to manage such disasters on your own if you have the proper knowledge about clearing the blocked pipes. The additional cost of calling a plumber could also be avoided through step by step instructions that we can follow. Here is a beginner's guide to preventing water clogging in sinks and ways to clear them just in case.
Steps to avoid jamming of the pipelines.
- Firstly you have to avoid throwing the meal remains in the sink. Make sure you clear the plate of all the curries and veggies before you dump them on the sink. These food remains may not appear gigantic enough to clog an entire pipeline initially. But we cannot rule out the possibility of gradual accumulation of these substances in the pipelines leading to dirty water back flowing into the sink base. The substances are prone to deposition around the inner walls of the pipes over time. The deposition hardens and finally blocks the mouth completely.
- To prevent such an anomaly, you have to take measures of handling the dishes before throwing the waste into the mouth of the sink. Sometimes it may happen that despite taking proper measures, you observe clogging. This might make you wonder about the possible cause behind it. A valid reason could be due to the on of water minerals and rundown small pieces of food remains. It depends on the locality and the kind of water supplied to your house by the corporation. Some houses complain of tap water which is rich in iron. This kind of hard water carries unwanted minerals which gradually get deposited on the surface of the pipes and leads to jamming of the mouth.
- Under such circumstances, you can use mild acidic fluids and toilet cleaners to clear up the excess disposition. The acid will help to clear the layers of iron deposited around the mouth of the sink. You should let it remain that way for one to two hours before cleaning it off with running water. This practice should be initiated once every week to prevent the unwanted scenario
- In case you have metal pipelines installed in your kitchen, you will notice that they get rusted over passing time. You should consult a plumber and get them replaced from time to time. They are equipped in washing the pipes and restoring them to normal.
Steps to ensure unclogging of sink
- Pouring boiling water is an effective way of removal of clogging substances. Dry the sink completely and then pour from the boiling kettle. The clog is immediately cleared. If you see the problem persisting, repeat the process several times.
- A mixture of baking soda and vinegar in one to three ratios can also be prepared. Use this solution over the clogged zone to open up the mouth. Make sure you use a funnel to evenly distribute the liquid and allow it to rest for around half an hour. During this time completely avoid using the tap and do let the water run down the pipes. The process is very effective against clogging and can clear difficult depositions which hardened around the mouth of the sink.
- The easiest and fastest way applied to unblock the sink could be using a plunger and some water. Pour some water over the mouth and use the plunger to suck out the wastes accumulated. A plunger uses the principle of vacuum and suction pressure to unleash the materials out of the pipelines.
- This method is also effective for bathroom sinks which get blocked from time to time as a result of hair clogging and debris deposition. Warm water treatment is also used by many to clear the bathroom sinks.
Other smart techniques to get rid of debris
There are modern machines and tools which are used these days to clear the sinks in the most hassle-free manner possible. You are recommended to use a plumbing snake which is a smart way of using technological innovation to clean your sinks. The machine contains a P-trap which is placed under the sink. The bucket is placed under the P-trap to collect all the debris and waste particles. It is advised to always go through the manual before starting the job to avoid cluttering up the whole bathroom in the process.
Another useful technique to unblocking sinks could be using the wet dry vac method to unblock your sinks. It works in the similar pattern as plungers but in a more organised manner.