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Symptoms of a Clogged Sink
If you’ve noticed water draining slowly from your kitchen sink, basin or laundry tub you probably have a clogged drain. If caught early enough when the blockage is small you may be able to clear if yourself.
Causes of a Clogged Sink
Clogged sinks, basins and laundry tubs occur when people put food waste, especially tea leaves, hot fat and other rubbish down them. If hot fat is poured down an outlet pipe, it will set in the pipe when it cools and cause a blockage.
How to Clear a Blocked Sink
Flush a clogged sink with boiling water
One of the first things you can do to unclog your sink is to flush your sink drain with boiling water. It’s not guaranteed to unclog physical or grease blockages, but if you have a slow drain that you think is due to a small blockage, a good boiling water flush can clear it out with minimal effort. Wait until the sink or tub has finally drained, and then flush with water.
Use a sink ‘cup’ plunger
Plunge the sink drain using a cup plunger which you can place on top of a sink or bathtub drain and start plunging away. A sink plunger does not have a flange on the bottom unlike a toilet plunger which does.
Chemical drain cleaners
Call in the professionals
If all else fails, it might be time to call a professional drain clearing company to do clear the sink drain with high pressure water jetting equipment. A good clean should keep your sink outlet pipe clear for a long time providing no further food waste is put down the sink.
Call 1300 358 434 or click here for more information. You can read about our other plumbing services here. Read more about blocked sewers – early warning signs and causes.