Why is my sink draining slow, and what can I do about it?
How annoying, your sink just keeps on filling even with the plug out. There is a blockage again.
There are many reasons why your sink or basin could be draining slowly, or not at all. Here are some of the standard problems and some solutions.
Kitchen sink
Your kitchen sink is the workhorse of the house. Often it gets to see, and dispose of, all manner of liquids (and semi-solids) that it may, or may not, be designed to convey to the sewer system.
First thing to check is the strainer, to ensure that it is not blocked by food scraps.
If you have an under-bench waste disposal unit such as an Insinkerator, the blockage often will be due to insufficient water being used during maceration, or too fibrous material, such as onions, being disposed of. If you keep having issues with a blocked Insinkerator read here, or check your manual for guidance
Insinkerator outlet elbow
The best way to unblock is to clear the p or s trap, or the insinkerator outlet elbow. This involves loosening the trap (ensure you have something under the trap to catch the water, and the blockage) and taking everything apart to clean. Ensure when you put it back together you have the rubber seals in the correct positions.
Trap under kitchen sink
Another option is to plunge the sink. This can have mixed results. It can clear the blockage. It can blow the seals and make a leak. It can move the problem further down the pipe. Plunge at your own peril.
If you don’t have an Insinkerator, a common issue is too much oil or grease being disposed of down the sink. If you have some excessively oily dishes, use a paper towel to wipe most away before rinsing. Then rinse with hot water, and keep the tap running for a while to allow the fat to get away.
In this case, if plunging will not fix the issue, you may have to clear the plug-in-waste (the component the trap is connected to) or the p or s trap. Ensure when you loosen the trap, you have something to catch the water and the debris. Make sure you clean the trap, etc, in another sink, with hot water.
If you have a continuing issue of fat solidification in your sink, you can do some preventative maintenance to stop this. Every week or so you can flush your drain with baking soda.
Pour half a cup down your plug hole.
Allow it to sit for a few hours.
Fill the sink with hot water.
Pull the plug and drain the entire sink.
Other option is to add vinegar to the mix, this can dissolve more fat, but it can start stripping your drains as it is moderately caustic
Laundry sink
Often it is fluff from washing that will block the sink in this case, and this is usually an easy clean as it is a superficial blockage.
Basin/vanity
Blockages here are often due to solidified toothpaste or makeup. You can use the baking soda trick here, or clean out the trap as described above.
If you have a bottle trap, they often have an easy access plug on the bottom that unscrews.
Always ensure you have a bucket to catch the water and debris when you are removing a trap.
We wrote about a slow draining sink previously here for more information.
If you don’t want to get your hands dirty, or these options to clear your sink has not worked, contact us here for fast and friendly service, Auckland-wide.