Plumbing Myths: Can I Use a Plunger to Unclog a Sink?
A clogged sink is never a nice thing. Even if you have a week or two of vacation, you don’t want to return home to a plumbing issue. Clogged sinks are frequently signs of more serious issues. Sometimes, though, they are just the outcome of a minor problem that may be resolved. If your sink frequently clogs, especially quickly, you might have a more serious issue with your plumbing system. You might be safe handling the situation yourself if this is the first time your sink has become clogged or if it happens infrequently. Unclogging a sink can be done in several ways aside from using a drain cleaner. Using a cup plunger is one of the easiest and most easy methods to go about it. Here is how to use a plunger to clear a clogged sink:
Remove Standing Water
Use a cup or another container to scoop out some water from the sink if it has standing water. When using the plunger, you want to have enough water in the sink so that the plunger head is completely immersed. To achieve this, you can either remove all the standing water from the sink and add fresh water or leave part of it in the sink.
Protect Your Dishwasher
It’s possible for water to backflow into your dishwasher if you use the plunger on a kitchen sink. You may stop this by pinching the drain line on your dishwasher with a clamp or vice grip (if your dishwasher has a flexible hose). You can alternatively unplug the drain hose from your dishwasher and cover the inlet with a pipe cap.
Use a Cup Plunger
When ready to use the plunger, immerse the plunger head in the sink’s water and cover the drain hole. Quickly plunge when the plunger head has sealed around the sink’s drain hole. Only raise the plunger head by about an inch on your upstrokes.
There are more do-it-yourself options you can attempt if using the plunger doesn’t clear the clog. Your best option right now, though, could be to call a drain cleaner for assistance in clearing the blockage because you might be dealing with a more serious plumbing issue than you think.
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