What to Do When the Sink Won’t Drain
It’s a situation that will be familiar to most of us: you fill the sink with water to do the dishes, but when you pull the plug, the water takes ages to drain. You step out of the shower clean and refreshed, but when you go back into the washroom later in the morning, the tub is still filled with dirty water and soap scum.
Nothing is quite as frustrating as a sink or tub that won’t drain, and yet these are some of the most common problems homeowners face in day-to-day maintenance of the household.
Slow draining can be caused by a number of different things, but generally, the main problem is one of two things: either a clog or blockage has occurred somewhere in the pipes that is keeping the water from draining away, or the pipes or fittings have suffered some kind of damage reducing the water flow.
In some cases, a DIY solution will be enough. In others, you may need to call a professional. Either way, here are the three steps you should try if you’re tired of all that standing water.
1. Use a Drain Cleaning Agent
Drain cleaners are the simplest solution to sink and tub blockages, and most of the drain cleaners you can find in your local shops use basic chemical reactions to break down the organic waste so that it can move more easily through the pipes.
If the problem is simply that you’ve got too much gunk or grease built up in your pipes, these cleaners should be strong enough to break it down and get the water moving again.
2. Buy a Drain Cover
If your drain cleaner is enough to do the trick, make sure to purchase drain covers for your sinks and tubs. Most simple blockages are caused by a build-up of organic material in the drain pipes, and the best way to keep the clog from coming back is simply to ensure that garbage isn’t being washed down the sink.
While drain covers might seem like a bit of a hassle (they’ll need to be cleaned out after every use) they will save you time and money in the long run, while guaranteeing that you don’t have to worry about unpleasant odors rising from organic matter rotting in your drains.
3. Hire a Local Plumber
If none of these steps work, it’s a good idea to bring in professionals like Northbrook plumbers who can help you get to the root of your drainage woes. Drain blockages can be caused by more than just an accrual of hair or carrot peels, and if a regular drain cleaner isn’t solving the problem, it might be something more serious.
Depending on the cause of the clog, a stronger drain cleaning agent, like sulfuric or hydrochloric acid, may be required, or the pipes might need to be snaked. In the most serious cases, the drainage problems might even be caused by damage to pipes or fittings.
One of the reasons you should bring in professional help for more serious blockages is that plumbing experts have a detailed understanding of plumbing systems and can help identify potential issues more quickly and efficiently.
Frustrating as they might be, blockages in your drains aren’t just smelly and inconvenient — they can also cause serious damage to your plumbing system. If you’ve noticed drainage problems anywhere in your house, start taking these steps today to ensure that a minor annoyance doesn’t become a more serious problem.
