A clogged kitchen sink can be the source of great frustration and anxiety. However, before you spend a lot of money on plumbing services, you may want to try unclogging the sink yourself. In many cases, it will only take you a few minutes to get your sink back up and running. You’ll save money, time and your sanity. 

One of the easiest ways to unclog a sink is by plunging. You don’t have to bail out all the water from the sink to do this. Place the plunger’s cup over the sink’s drain opening and work it up and down vigorously. This should dislodge the clog and get the sink draining properly once again. If this doesn’t work, proceed to cleaning the sink’s p-trap. 

1. Disassemble the trap assembly 

Place a basin or bucket under the trap assembly. This is the U-shaped drainpipe that runs under the sink. You may also want to have a few towels handy to catch any spills. Examine the assembly and connections. Loosen the connections using a plumber’s wrench or your hand if possible. Remove the trap and the trap arm. You can leave the tailpiece (the vertical pipe) in. 

2. Clean the trap 

Remove the drain trap and tip it into the bucket to drain its contents. Examine the trap for debris. You can flush it with water to ensure that there is nothing clogged inside it. Use a utility brush to clean it. Run hot water through the trap to get rid of any grease build up within the trap. Do the same for the trap arm. 

3. Check the drain for clogs 

Unwind a coat hanger to straighten it and use it to probe the drain the leads into the wall. Check for clogs. If you encounter resistance, use the coat hanger to break up the clogs. You can use a plumbing snake if you have access to one. However, a coat hanger will work just as well. 

4. Reassemble the drain 

After ensuring that all parts of the drain are clean and the drain leading through the wall is free of debris, reassemble the drain in the reverse order. Use your hand to tighten the nuts. You can then use pliers to tighten them even further for a watertight seal. 

Turn on the faucet to see if the sink is draining properly. If the sink is draining well, flush the drain with hot water to clear grease and other debris from the drain. 

Check the drain pipes for leaks. If you notice any leaks, try tightening the joints once more with pliers. Drain pipes don’t carry water under high pressure. The nuts therefore do not have to be tightened too much. Fill the sink with water once more and remove the stopper to verify that the drain pipes are no longer leaking. 

Cleaning your kitchen sink drain pipes will help to ensure your sink will drain properly for longer. It is an important part of maintaining your sink.