Drains clog up every once in a while. No matter how careful you are, food bits, grease and other unintended objects end up going down your drain, creating a stoppage. In order to avoid expensive plumbing problems, knowing how to clean your drains is a valuable skill for any homeowner.
Cleaning Sink Drains
Sink drains are designed with a “trap” that’s intended to catch large debris in a location that’s easy to access. If you look under your sink, you’ll discover that the main drain pipe is connected to a U-shaped pipe. This U-shaped pipe is the trap, which is where you’ll be working. You’ll need to clear this area, and place a bucket under the pipe to catch any water.
Next, use an adjustable wrench to undo the plug at the bottom of the trap, so water can drain into your bucket. Using a set of channel-lock pliers or a pipe wrench, loosen the nuts at the top and bottom of the trap and remove it gently, so you don’t damage the pipes. Then, using a bottle brush or another similar tool, clean the drain pipe attached to your sink.
You can re-install the trap by first attaching it to the pipes, and then tightening the slip nuts. Tighten the plug and run some water to ensure there are no leaks. If the drain empties properly, it’s clean. If the drain is still not operational, you should call a licensed plumber, since you may have a more serious issue you probably can’t tackle yourself.
Mowery Heating, Cooling and Plumbing has been proudly serving Brownsburg and surrounding area for over 28 years. Contact us for expert help on drain cleaning and plumbing repair.
Our goal is to help educate our customers in Brownsburg, Indiana and surrounding areas about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).
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