Learn How to Unclog a Double Kitchen Sink with Standing Water Now!
A clogged sink is messy. A double kitchen sink that is clogged is twice as troubling. So, today, we’ll tell you how to unclog a double kitchen sink with standing water.
How to Unclog a Double Kitchen Sink with Standing Water
- Reset your garbage disposal
- Try a plunger to push and dissolve the clog
- Use natural drain cleaners only
- Remove the p-trap and use the plumber’s snake
- Call a plumber to fix it
Never Run Hot Water Down the Drain
Before we get into the details, we want to clarify the following:
“Boiling water doesn’t melt grease and fat residues from the clogged drain. It can melt your PVC pipes and cause greater trouble.”
So, never pour boiling water down the kitchen sink.
How to Unclog a Double Kitchen Sink with Standing Water?
Reset Garbage Disposal
A clogged kitchen sink can happen because of several reasons. And you might be surprised to know that one of them is your garbage disposal needing a reset.
If the garbage disposal is not running, you need to see if it has overheated. Turn the switch off. Then, turn the switch on again to see if this clears the clog.
We know that garbage disposal units make our lives easier. They grind food scraps; thus, avoiding clogging your sink. But if you expect your garburator to work correctly and last, you shouldn’t put things like coffee grounds or eggshells.
To care better for your appliance, take a look here at the nine forbidden food items for your garburator.
If restarting the garbage disposal didn’t help, you need to try a plunger next.
Try a Plunger to Push and Dissolve the Clog
When you take on the endeavor of unclogging your sink, most of the time, you need to get your hands dirty.
It would be best if you start by using the plunger.
Remember that a plunger is a tool that works through water pressure. And since we’re working with a double sink, the first thing you can do is block the unclogged drain with a rag. In this way, all the pressure you apply over the clogged sink will work effectively.
Remove the standing water from the clogged kitchen sink but leave enough water to cover the plunger cup.
Place the plunger cup over the clogged drain and make sure to establish a tight seal. Push the plunger up-and-down evenly six times, without loosening the pressure in the plunger cup.
Remove the plunger, and if water drains, you’ve successfully unclogged the sink. If there is still water in the sink, you need to try this process a second time.
Keep in mind that to unclog a kitchen sink is not rocket science. Instead, it’s more like a trial and error process. So, if the plunger tip didn’t work, move down to the next tip.
Use Natural Drain Cleaners Only
There are many natural alternatives to a clogged kitchen sink. We recommend these natural options because some commercial drain clog dissolvers can corrode your draining pipes.
To be more specific: Chemical drain cleaners can destroy your draining pipes when misused.
Most commercial clog removers use sodium hydroxide (caustic soda or lye) or sulfuric acid. The bad thing about these ingredients is that they are highly corrosive to organic materials and your draining pipes.
Click on the following link to learn more about the harmful effects of commercial drain cleaners.
We advise using the following natural mixtures to unclog your kitchen sink drain:
Baking Soda and Vinegar
First, remove the standing water if there is any.
Then, pour one cup of baking soda into the drain. After that, pour one cup of white vinegar or apple cider vinegar.
You must let the mixture sit for at least one hour. Then, you can rinse your sink drain using temperature water.
If the clog doesn’t seem to dissolve, you can repeat the tip.
Salt and Baking Soda
An alternate mixture to unclog a kitchen sink is salt and baking soda.
Make sure to remove the standing water from the clogged kitchen sink.
To unclog your sink successfully, you have to create the mixture before pouring it into the sink.
So, take a bowl and add half a cup of salt plus a cup of baking soda. Then, pour the mixture.
But here is the thing:
You need to wait between four and six hours for the salt and baking soda mixture to work.
After the time elapses, you need to flush the mixture with temperature water (just as we advised you before).
If none of the tips worked, you need to roll up your sleeves and get your hands dirty.
Remove the P-Trap and Use the Plumber’s Snake
Remove the P-Trap and Use the Plumber’s Snake
If by now the clog remains, you need to use a plumber’s snake to drill through it.
You can use the drain snake directly into the sink drain if you don’t have a garbage disposal.
If you have a garbage disposal, you need to remove the p-trap and use the plumber’s snake directly into the trap arm.
Click to learn how to remove the p-trap.
We know that you don’t have a plumber’s snake or drain snake lying in your storage room. The best option is to rent one.
According to HomeAdvisor, the cost to rent a handheld drain snake ranges from $35 to $45 a day.
We recommend renting the BrassCraft Drum Auger. This product is excellent because it’s portable and powerful enough to unclog your kitchen sink.
Watch this video to know how to use a drain snake:
Call a Plumber to Fix It
If you couldn’t unclog the drain after trying all of the tips we gave you, you need to call a professional plumber.
You can call Discover Plumbing and Rooter. Over the last 15 years, we’ve been a trusted plumbing company serving San Francisco, CA. So, we can fix your plumbing issues with the urgency they deserve.
Follow Our Tips to Keep Water Draining Smoothly!
If, for some reason, your double kitchen clogs, don’t worry. But get yourself into action. Here is the recap of how to unclog a double kitchen sink with standing water:
- Restart your garbage disposal
- Try a plunger to push and dissolve the clog
- Use natural drain cleaners only
- Remove the p-trap and use the plumber’s snake to drill through the clog
- Call a plumber to fix the issue fast
Do you need proficient and urgent plumbing services?
Call us to solve the plumbing issue from the first time!
