The kitchen sink is a crucial part of your home. This is where most people do all the dish washing and prepping food and when it is out of commission, it can be frustrating. Clogged sinks can cause flooding and damage to your home, so it is important to keep them clean and clear of clogs. It may be difficult to tell why your sink is clogged and flooding as the clog may be in the wall for example which needs to be cleared before it becomes worse. There are several things that can cause a sink to clog and the clog may occur in different areas depending on the cause.
Here are some reasons your kitchen sink may clog and flood:
- Clogged pipes:
Over time, grease may get washed down the drain and build up. Eventually the buildup will become big enough to clog the drain. Therefore, the pipes will become narrower, and water that is not able to go through will go back up instead.
The sink trap also clogs easily. Although it helps in stopping sewer gas, when there is buildup, it can cause a clog. It is always best to reach out to an experienced plumber for any clogs.
- Dishwasher with a strong pump:
When homeowners replace their dishwasher, they may experience water backups in the sink. This happens because their dishwasher may have a very powerful pump and their pipes are unable to handle the high volume of water, so it backs up in the sink.
- A clogged washing machine:
If water comes back up in your sink when your washer is running, your washing machine pipe may be clogged. You may need force to get rid of the clog so it is best to call a plumber to get this fixed so you don’t harm your plumbing system.
- A clogged main drain line:
Usually, the drainpipes are placed high in your home so if there is an issue with it, you will experience problems in other areas of your home before you see the water backed up in your sink. Sometimes, the issue is with the main drain line. Your sink drains into the master drain line which is connected to the municipal sewer line. All the dirt, hair, and grease from your sink pipes end up in your main line. Sometimes, it builds up and it can back up into your sink.
- Clogged vent pipe:
Every plumbing system has venting so that water can flow properly. If you experience a clogged vent pipe, it may be difficult for water to flow through the plumbing system. Sometimes, bugs, squirrels, and other animals build nests in the vents and clog the pipes. If this is the issue, you need to have a professional check the pipes and remove any blockage in the vent pipes so that water is not backing up in the kitchen sink.
Even with taking preventative measures to avoid clogged pipes and backups in your sink, you may still experience them. Here is what you can do if you have a sink backup:
If you are experiencing a small blockage, you may be able to get away with plunging the sink and getting rid of the blockage.
You can try pouring hot water down the drain to get rid of the blockage.
- Check your garbage disposal:
At times, clogged drains may be caused by garbage disposals. Make sure to check your garbage disposal for overheating, and you can also use the reset switch to see if you can clear the clog.
You can try using a cup of baking soda and a cup of vinegar and let it sit for 15 minutes and then run hot water down the drain.
You can try using the pressure from a wet-dry vacuum to clear out the clog.
You can use an auger (plumbing snake) by going into the drain until you feel change in resistance. Then flush the drain with hot water.
You can also try to use the auger on the trap and wall pipe to clean out the clog.
The best way to avoid a clogged sink is to take preventative measures. Here are some ways you can avoid clogs:
- Dispose coffee grounds and grease in a proper receptacle or compost instead of your sink or garbage disposal.
- Always be careful when grinding particles in your garbage disposal and especially make sure to avoid grinding the following: produce stickers, napkins and paper towels, medications, eggshells etc.
- You should only grind one cup of food at a time in your garbage disposal.
- You can freeze vinegar into ice cubes and put them down the garbage disposal occasionally to keep it fresh.
- Use a drain trap to keep it clean.
- Always run hot water in the garbage disposal after using to keep it clean.
- Have a yearly drain check and cleaning by a certified plumbing company to keep your drains clear and free of clogs.
Has your clogged sink caused water damage in your home? ServiceMaster by Timeless can help. We offer water damage restoration to homes and businesses in Parsippany-Troy Hills, NJ, and the surrounding areas. We remove excess water from your home or business, dry all the affected areas, and restore them back to their original state. Call us for your water mitigation needs at (973) 554-3002 to learn more about our offerings.
