When a sink drains slowly, the clog is still partial. This is the easiest moment to deal with it.
Bathroom sinks
Hair and soap collect on the pop-up stopper. Pull the stopper, clean it and use a plastic barbed strip to pull out what sits below. This fixes most slow bathroom sinks in five minutes.
Kitchen sinks
Kitchen lines clog with grease that coats the pipe wall. Boiling water and dish soap can help a mild case. Check the trap under the sink too: put a bucket under it, unscrew the slip nuts and clean it out. If you have a disposal that hums or drains poorly, see garbage disposal repair.
Skip the chemicals
Liquid drain cleaners rarely remove the whole clog. They sit in the pipe, attack older metal and leave caustic water for whoever opens the trap next.
Signs the problem is further down
- The clog comes back within weeks
- Two fixtures are slow at once
- The sink gurgles when the dishwasher or washer drains
- You notice a sewage smell
These point to buildup in the branch line or a venting problem. Professional drain cleaning with a cable clears the line, and hydro jetting removes heavy grease. If several drains back up together, treat it as a possible sewer backup and stop using water.
Keeping it clear
Use a strainer in every drain, wipe grease into the trash, and run hot water for a few seconds after washing up.
Common questions
Why does my sink gurgle?
Air is being pulled through the trap because the drain or vent is partly blocked.
Is a slow drain an emergency?
Not usually, but a fully clogged drain with water backing up into other fixtures should be dealt with the same day.