Clogged Toilets or Sinks?
Here are a few plumbing repair options for clogged sinks or toilets. It’s truly one of the most annoying
and unpleasant home plumbing problems. However, it's also one of the
most common plumbing problems.
If your toilet is not flushing correctly, consider the following as you decide how to get it working again:
If your toilet is not flushing correctly, consider the following as you decide how to get it working again:
- If your bathroom sink drains well, your probably have a clog in your toilet trap.
- If your bathroom sink also doesn't drain well, it may be a more serious problem such as an obstruction in your main sewer line (often tree roots), or sludgy build-up. In this case, a plumber should be called.
- A clog can often be caused by facial tissue or some other product that wasn’t designed to disintegrate like toilet paper.
- If you have kids, the clog could also be a toy, sock or some other item in the line.
- You may get temporary relief from a plunger, but if the clogs keep happening call a plumbing specialist.
For A Clogged Kitchen Sink...
Kitchen sink clogs. Food particles, detergent residue and other matter can all contribute to clogged sinks. Fortunately, this plumbing problem usually builds slowly so if you notice a clog, chances are that the source of the problem will be nearby and within reach.
- Try a plunger first. Fill the kitchen sink with a couple of inches of water and give it a shot. You’ll know pretty quickly if it works.
- Next, check the trap—the lowest bend in the pipe under the sink. If it has a clean out plug at the bottom, just open it up and pull out the clog with needle nose pliers or whatever works best.
- If the trap is the more ordinary kind with couplings on either end, loosen both couplings, slide the trap off and clean it out with a wire brush.
- After removing the trap, you may find that the clog has moved a bit further down the line. In that case, you can try to insert an auger into the still-open pipe and push the obstruction out.
- IMPORTANT: Before disconnecting your pipes, make sure you put a bucket underneath to catch the water that will run out. And be careful not to apply so much pressure that you crush or otherwise damage your pipes. The last thing you want is to make matters worse.
- Beware of supermarket drain-cleaning products—many of those products can be damaging to your pipes.
