What Are the Most Common Causes of Clogged Sinks?

 

There are many different reasons why your kitchen or bathroom sink gets clogged. Some causes are easier to fix than others, while others require professional help from a plumber. However, there are several things you can do to avoid a clogged sink and prevent a major problem from occurring.

Hair clogs

One of the most common problems that can occur in your sink is hair clogging. When hair catches in the pipe, it will eventually form a solid mass and stop the drain from running smoothly. It is also possible for this type of blockage to build up so much that it can cause serious damage to your plumbing system.

The best way to keep this from happening is to use sink guards. These are small catches that fit over your drain pipes to keep hair from entering and causing a clog.

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Putting things down your sink that should be put away or thrown out are also a major cause of clogs. This includes items like tampons, diapers and laundry soap.

Other items that can get caught in your sink drain are hair clippings, dental floss and other stringy material. These are especially dangerous because they can knot up, combine with other substances already in your drain and attach to parts of the pipe.

Food waste

Even if your kitchen sink has a garbage disposal, food scraps are still a huge culprit when it comes to clogged sinks. Leftover pasta, rice and other large carbohydrate foods can expand when in water, making them larger than they should be and creating a clog.

Coffee grounds, tea leaves and fruit peels are also large contributors to clogs. They don’t break down in the sink drain and can be difficult to clear.

Eggshells

There is an old myth that eggshells help in cleaning your garbage disposal, but they actually clog the drain and make it hard to run the disposer properly. They will also get caught on the blades and other parts of the disposer.

Cat litter

If you have a cat at home, be sure to keep your drains free of cat litter. It is a very heavy substance that can cause your sink to clog.

Other items that can clog your sink are toys, jewelry and other small objects. If you have kids, there is a good chance that some of these items will end up in the sink.

These objects can be a real pain to deal with, but you need to do something about it. First, try plunging the sink to see if that can loosen up any debris that may be stuck in the drain.

Then, consider using a combination of baking soda and vinegar to break up any stubborn clogs. Vinegar helps unclog drains because it produces a chemical reaction that causes bubbles to form. The mixture can sometimes cut through a clog completely, but this method isn’t always effective. It is a good idea to repeat this procedure every few weeks as part of preventative maintenance.