Is your bathroom or kitchen sink still filled with standing water?
A sink with standing water is a recipe for harmful mold and bacteria, which leads to respiratory problems, nausea, fatigue, and more health consequences. Icky standing water also attracts insects and other pests!
Clogged drains are the common culprits behind this problem. Food waste, pet fur, hair, pipe mineral buildup, and even soap clogs drains.
While standing water may eventually seep down the drain, ignoring the problem is a costly mistake. You may need to pay for new pipes, mold removal, and other services, along with medical bills.
Prevent a potential disaster with these tips and tricks for standing water.
Tackle Your Slow Drainage Problem
The signs of standing water may seem obvious; however, many homeowners notice the problem too late.
Slow drainage is the first sign to watch.
Unless you use a drain stopper, there shouldn’t be any water in the sink, not even a centimeter. When you’re brushing your teeth or washing the dishes, the water should travel down the drain as quickly as it came out.
Slow drainage is a telltale sign of clogs, but there may be another reason to consider first.
Check Your Drain Stopper
If clogged pipes aren’t the problem, a faulty drain stopper could be the culprit.
There may be food, plastic bits, or other debris stuck in the stopper. However, many stoppers are hard to remove, which makes them challenging to clean or fix. This nuisance is true for bathroom sinks, especially.
Luckily, you can remove and clean stubborn stoppers with the following tips:
Sink stoppers are held inside the drain by a special rod. You must remove this rod first before you can clean your stopper.
You can find this rod underneath your bathroom sink, which is held in place with a clip; remove this clip to remove the stopper rod.
Next, remove the nut from the back of the drain.
This piece is usually gray or black. You could remove it with your hands, but a wrench is recommended. Once you remove that piece, you can pull the stopper out of the drain.
Remove any debris clogging the stopper valve, and submerge the stopper in soap, water, and vinegar. Carefully put all the sink parts back, starting with the stopper.
Ensure the hole at the end of the stopper is front-facing; otherwise, the stopper won’t connect to the rod correctly.
Drop the stopper back into the drain and fasten the nut underneath the sink. Feed the stopper rod through the vertical strip before attaching the clip.
Sink drain stoppers are replaceable and affordable. If your stopper is damaged, it’s easier to replace it than attempt repairs.
Unclogging a Sink with Standing Water
Did your sink drain stopper check out? The next culprit is a stubborn clog. There are a few ways to approach this problem.
First, you can try the “all-natural” way. Many homeowners prefer natural solutions since drain cleaners are packed with chemicals.
Drain chemicals may cause nausea, dizziness, and headaches. If your drain is too old, store-bought cleaners can “eat” the drainage pipe after multiple uses.
You’ll need the following ingredients for your all-natural drain cleaner:
- Water (hot and boiling)
- Salt
- Baking soda
- Vinegar
Before you unclog anything, remove all standing water from the sink. A small wide bowl should do the trick, but you can also suck the water out with a vacuum hose.
All-Natural Ways to Unclog Your Sink
The first option is a simple baking soda and vinegar solution. Mix one-part baking soda with one-part vinegar to create a simple and easy declogging solution. A third-cup of each should be sufficient.
This solution fizzes instantly, so you need to pour it down the drain as soon as you make it. Let the solution rest for an hour before washing it away with hot water.
The other natural alternative is a simple baking soda and salt cleaner. Like the previous recipe, you need one-part of each ingredient. You may need a bit more than the other solution; a half-cup of each component should suffice.
Mix the baking soda and salt, and pour the new mixture down the drain. Let this solution sit for at least 15 to 20 minutes before washing it away with boiling water.
The chemical reaction created from salt, baking soda, and boiling water is powerful enough to remove stubborn clogs.
The last natural solution is simple boiling water. Boiling water alone is enough to remove soap scum clogs. However, this method works best in the clog’s early stages.
More Ways to Unclog a Drain
Keep that vacuum handy!
After removing the standing water, place the vacuum hose on top of the drain opening and suck out the clog.
You can do this with any wet/dry vacuum with a hose. The hose must stay in place, so you may need to use a rubber seal to make it airtight.
For best results, use the highest setting available. This method is great for super stubborn clogs.
The next method requires a simple wire hanger. Untwist the wire hanger until you have a DIY plumbing snake; you may need pliers for this part.
Hangers are great at removing clogs, but severe clogs require more. Check the drain pipe’s U-trap for any debris; this is a major trouble spot for clogs.
Removing clogs with hangers is messier than baking soda and vinegar solutions. Remember to shut off the water first, and use reliable rubber gloves.
Does your sink with standing water have a garbage disposal? This is another usual suspect behind clogs. Learn more about removing, cleaning, and replacing garbage disposals to prevent stubborn blockages from coming back.
Say Goodbye to Standing Water
Don’t let your sink with standing water waste away. Follow these tips to clear and prevent clogs from creeping back.
Standing water is just one issue for homeowners. Check out the blog to discover more solutions for common household problems.
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