You may have noticed your sink draining more slowly over time, but so long as it wasn’t too bad, you really didn’t want to take the time to do anything about it. But now, it’s gotten bad enough you’re wondering what you can do about it. Well, we’re going to discuss what might be causing your problem and how you can solve it.
Causes of a Slow Draining Sink
You should probably try to find out what’s causing your sink to drain slowly before you start trying to fix it. There are a number of issues that might cause your sink to drain slowly. Here are some of the more common causes.
Food, Oils, or Hair
One of the most common causes of a slow draining sink is what you put down the drain, whether intentionally or not. In the kitchen, this could be food particles, grease, or oil. Whereas in the bathroom, it is more likely to be hair. Any of these items can eventually build up and cause your pipes to drain more slowly. Eventually, your pipes could even become blocked.
Mineral Buildup
A sink drain can easily accumulate minerals or dirt over a period of time. Once the dirt or minerals build up enough, this can cause your sink to start draining slowly and then eventually block your pipe altogether, thus causing a clog.
Blocked Drain Line
Your home has a main drain line that exits the house. This drain line connects to a number of branch drain lines that make up the drainage system for your house. A clog can occur anywhere in this system and depending on where it occurs, it could clog one fixture in your house or your home’s entire drainage system. So, a slow draining sink could be part of a bigger problem.
Blocked Main Drain Line
If your main drain line does become blocked, this is a serious problem. This drain line affects the plumbing for your entire house. This is an issue you will not want to try to solve on your own. If you think your main drain line is blocked, you should immediately contact a plumber. A plumber should be able to locate the blockage and fix your problem.
Fixing a Slow Drain
If you believe your drain is slow because it is becoming clogged, there are some things you can do to clear the drain. Here are a couple of ways to try to fix your slow drain.
Use a Plunger
First, remove the stopper or drain covering from your sink. Next, partially fill your sink with water. Then, place the plunger over the drain making sure that the drain is covered and the plunger creates a tight seal. Last, plunge the sink for approximately 20 seconds. This should clear the drain, but you will want to run hot water for a couple of minutes to wash any debris down the drain.
Try a Cable Auger or Drain Snake
This method should not be used if your sink has a trap unless you are sure you have the type of trap that is designed to allow a drain snake or cable auger to be used.
Before you start using your drain snake or cable auger, remove the stopper or drain covering from your sink. Then, check to see if the snake or auger seem to be the right size for your sink. This is important because you don’t want the snake or auger to get stuck or to be too small to clear the clog.
Once you confirm the snake or auger is the right size, slowly insert it in the drain for approximately two or three feet. If you find the blockage, twist the auger or snake around until you catch the source of the clog. Then pull the auger out of the drain.
Avoiding Future Clogs
Now that your sink is no longer draining slowly, there are some things you can do to help avoid having this happen in the future. Never pour grease or oil into your sink, as this can build up in the pipes over time and cause a blockage. It’s also a good idea to make sure you don’t put food particles or scraps in the sink that can end up going down the drain.
One way to avoid having bathroom sinks become clogged is to make sure you clear the sink of any hair or soap scum after using it. This can help keep your bathroom sink draining smoothly.
Contact Us
For more information on fixing a slow drain or for scheduling an appointment to have us check your drain, call J Griffin Heating and Plumbing at 781-520-1212 and connect with us on Facebook.
