No household is immune from a blocked sink, from time to time. With the amount of use it gets through the year, it is inevitable that it requires a degree of maintenance to uphold its integrity. With this in mind, we thought we would enlighten you with some useful tips that you can put into place to unblock your sink when you spot an issue. That way you can save yourself a little bit of money when you can avoid having to call out an experienced plumber, when you know the most effective ways to unblock small blockages yourself. Read our top tips below to see how you can prepare yourself to effectively unblock a sink!

Use A Plunger

Everyone has heard of a plunger. But not everyone may know how to effectively use it to unclog a sink. Here is a simple step-by-step guide that ensures you get the most effective use out of the plunger.

1. Clear the drain – Firstly you must ensure that all the water in the sink has been removed, along with the possible food or hair debris. Get your rubber gloves on and get a cup and bail out the standing water so that the basin is as water free as possible. Make sure that you also plug up the overflow with anything that will fit (i.e. an old cloth or towel).
2. Clear and clean the plug – Ensure that the plughole has also been cleaned and cleared. Remove the debris that you can get a hold of and then do a test to see if this has helped the water to drain away. Just run the tap quickly to see if the water now drains away. Do not worry if it doesn't drain away, just carry out point number three below.
3. Now it's time to grab the plunger – Once you have followed the above steps, it is time to grab the plunger. Place the plunger around the sinkhole and then fill up a small amount of water in the basin. Now firmly press the plunger up and down (not be too aggressive with the motion). This will create a suction that should dislodge the blockage that is stopping your sink from draining. If this does not work, you may have to consider another method (please see below) or calling out an experienced plumber to help you!

Try Using Drain Blockers

Now this is a controversial one, but the use of certain chemicals can be effective in dislodging common blockages found in sinks without having to make the call to a plumber. These work by dissolving blockages and passing through it down the drain pipe. You will pour an entire bottle of the chemical down your pipes and follow the application instructions that the product has on the bottle.  Once done, you will need to flush hot water down the drain and this can be a great way to keep your drain clear from everyday blockages that can occur from daily use. It is recommended though that this is not done on a regular basis. Most chemicals are
harmful to the environment and if they are regularly used can corrode away the pipes, therefore causing bigger plumbing issues that will definitely need the help from an experienced plumber.

Use DIY Tools To Unclog Your Sink

There are also a number of helpful tools you can buy that will help you to clear the stubborn blockages you find in the sink. We've gathered a list below.

• Wire – Simply straighten a wire coat hanger and gently push it down the sink hole. With a small application of pressure this can be helpful and effective at unblocking the sink.
• DIY Drain Jet – Now this will not always work, but it is harmless to give a try. All you need is two empty bottles and some hot water. Fill up the bottles with the hot water, place them at the opening of the sink and squeeze the water down (with force). This may work as a weaker version of a drain jet, that can dislodge blockages and flush them down the pipe.
• Drain Snake – A drain snake is a helpful tool to have in every household. It is a long flexible tool that can bend through the pipework and be used to dislodge stubborn blockages in the plumbing system. They are cheap and easy to use. All you need to do is rotate the handle back and forth, letting the head of the tool do all the work for you. These can be found at your local hardware shop or you can order it from places like Amazon.

Call A Qualified Plumber

If all the above tips don't work, then it's time to call in the experts. As we mentioned before, there are some blockages that require professional solutions. You need to know when to hang your DIY hat up and call a plumber to resolve the sink blockage effectively. A plumber has access to higher spec equipment than what you can pick up from your hardware store. They also have investigative equipment that can diagnose the problem at hand, in more detail which allows them to pick the best solution. It's important that you know when the limitations of your abilities and signal for professional help.

Need a professional who will get the job done to your satisfaction? Contact us today and let's sort the problem out for you.