Clog in Your Sink? Your Own Snake Will Do the Job of a Plumber – Cheap!

The first step is to try and figure out what is causing the clog.� In a kitchen sink, try and remember if you really challenged your garbage disposal recently, or if you forced some excess food down the drain.� If this isn’t the case, it is likely a build up of sludge or grease.� A bathroom sink, or even a shower, is likely a hair clog or some mysterious object that got sent down the drain.�

Before breaking out the wrench, I generally like to try a commercial grade unclogger, designed for the problem at hand, that you can get from your local hardware store.� Try one of these liquids and follow the instructions on the bottle.� I haven’t had tremendous success with these products, but if it works, it is well worth the time and effort you saved.�

The next step depends on your sink.� Underneath, there is what is commonly called the “J Trap.”� It is that curly bended pipe that connects directly to the sink drain.� At the lowest part of this pipe, there is sometimes a clean-out drain.� If there is, it looks like a small plug that can be unsrewed.� Put some sort of bucket under this plug (make sure it is big enough to hold whatever is in the sink, plus what is in the pipes, and unsrew the plug.� Water should pour out into the bucket, as well as, hopefully, whatever was causing the clog.� If the sink is still clogged (after putting the plug back in and running warm water), or if your sink does not have this plug, it is time to try “the snake.”

For under $20 you can purchase a snake at any hardware store.� Basically a snake (it also goes by other terms) is a coil of flexible spring that can be shoved through pipes.� Once it encounters a blockage, you can spin a drum (it is easiest to buy the snake that attaches to a power drill), breaking up the blockage and forcing it down the drain.� The average user doesn’t need one longer than 25 feet.� If you do, chances are you will end up needing a plumber.� The snake will fit down some drains from the top of the sink, others you will have to dismantle the plumbing under the sink.

If you need to undo the plumbing under the sink, don’t fret.� Simply take some slip-joint pliers, or a pipe wrench (both of which can be bought at the hardware store rather inexpensively), and disconnect the pipe going into the wall right beyond the J Trap.� Once you get a good twist, it should spin off rather easily.� Metal pipes are pretty easy to disconnect and reconnect, but PVC pipes (the hard, white plastic ones) require a bit more finesse.� If you have PVC pipes, remember how they come apart.� Some connections are set up with various ways to screw the pipe into the next piece, but other pieces are glued together, with PVC glue. Disconnecting these will require some glue to put it back together.� The glue is cheap, but highly noxious, if you are using it under the sink, make sure it is very well ventilated, or use a respiratore.�

When the pipes are disconnected, you should be able to “snake” the clog out either between the trap and the sink, or into the wall.� If the clog is more than a few feet into the wall, chances are it is due to build-up overtime.� If this is the case, it is time to call the plumber, but at least you can tell him where the problem lies!��