The kitchen sink plays a crucial role in maintaining the functionality of a household. It’s used for various purposes, such as washing dishes, cleaning food, and filling water bottles. However, a clogged kitchen sink can disrupt these activities and turn simple chores into frustrating ordeals. 

Identifying the Cause of the Clog

The first step in unclogging a kitchen sink is identifying the cause of the clog. The most common factors contributing to kitchen sink obstruction include food particles, grease, and soap scum. They tend to accumulate over time and eventually block the drain.

If you suspect that your kitchen sink is clogged due to a foreign object, hire a cheap plumber Toronto. It’s very important to get help from a professional plumber to avoid complicated sink issues.

Effective methods of Unclogging Kitchen Sink

As a homeowner, you may encounter a clogged sink at some point, which can be frustrating and inconvenient. Fortunately, there are several methods you can use to clear a clog in your sink, but it’s always a brilliant idea to hire a licensed technician.

Most Do It Yourself (DIY) projects are cheaper, but they can cause massive unexpected damages. You can save approximately $10 by unclogging the kitchen sink yourself. However, if anything is done wrongly you will count losses of more than $1000. 

As you consider hiring a professional plumber, try the following ways to unclog the kitchen sink:

Soap and Plunger

This is a common and straightforward method to clear a kitchen sink clog. Start by running hot water for a while to soften the clog. Consider adding a drop of dish soap into the drain opening and turn the water back on. 

Once the sink is partially filled up, grab your plunger and use it to push up and down on the drain opening. This action creates suction that pulls or pushes the clog out of the way, leaving your drain free from debris.

Reset Garbage Disposal

Sometimes, a clog may not be the cause of your sink problems. Instead, it could be your garbage disposal. If the disposal machine has been making strange noises or is not working, it may need rebooting. Locate the reset switch on the side of your garbage disposal and turn it on. That restores its factory settings after a brief rest period.

Baking Soda and Vinegar

You can use a popular science fair trick to clear your kitchen sink if the other methods fail. First, pour one cup of baking soda down the drain, followed by one cup of distilled white vinegar. Quickly cover the drain with a plug, stopper, or plate.

Allow the reaction to work for 30 minutes. The chemical reaction between the two ingredients will create foam, which will dislodge the clog. Finally, run hot water down the drain to check if the clog has cleared.

Use The Drain Snake

You’ll need a drain snake tool that can fit into a kitchen sink drain to snake your drain. These can be found at hardware or home improvement stores, and they come in different sizes to match your drain.

Once you have your drain snake, please insert it into the drain and turn it clockwise. Push the snake down until you feel resistance, indicating you’ve reached the clog. Then, twist the snake a few times to burrow the hook into the blockage. The drain snake dislodges the clog or pulls it up. Finally, remove the snake from the drain along with the clog. You can repeat this process a few times to remove the entire blockage.

These DIY solutions are very good to clear your kitchen sink clog. However, if you’ve tried all the methods and still have a clog, it’s best to call a plumber in Toronto for assistance. They have the expertise and tools to identify and resolve complex drain problems safely and efficiently.

Common Causes of Kitchen Sink Clogs

Here are some of the most common causes of kitchen sink clogs that you should be aware of:

• Coffee beans and grounds: While it may be tempting to pour your coffee grounds down the sink drain, especially if you use a French press, it’s important to avoid doing so. The small grains of coffee can accumulate in your pipes and cause a clog over time.
• Starchy foods: Starchy foods like beans, pasta, potatoes, and rice can cause serious clogs in your kitchen sink. When exposed to water, these foods tend to break down and become sticky, causing a buildup in your pipes.
• Kitchen grease: Pouring grease and oil down the drain is a common mistake that can lead to clogging. Grease and fat are typically reconstituted into a solid mass that can block your drain; no hot water will help clear it.
• Eggshells: While garbage disposals can break down eggshells, they can still cause clogs in your pipes. Small bits of shell stick to the sides of your pipes and accumulate over time, causing a blockage.
• Soap scum: Soap scum is another potential cause of clogs in pipes, although it is less of a concern for kitchen sinks. When the soap scum accumulates within the drainage system, it causes blockages, particularly if you use a lot of bar soap, which often contains fats. Detergents like pump hand soap and dishwashing liquid don’t contribute to this problem.

How Can You Prevent Clogging of the Kitchen Sink?

To prevent kitchen sink clogs, you can employ two main strategies. First, know the list of items your garbage disposal can’t handle and ensure you never put those items down the drain. 

Additionally, it would be best to consider investing in a food catcher. These wire mesh covers allow water and small particles to flow freely down the drain while keeping larger food scraps out. Remove the catcher and empty it into the trash can when it is full.

While many kitchen sink clogs can be cleared using DIY methods, there are times when the professional assistance of a plumber is required to address a particularly stubborn clog.