How to Unclog a Bathroom Sink
When a bathroom sink starts to drain slowly, there is a good chance that a clog has formed in the waste line of the sink drain. There are a variety of things that can cause a sink drain to become clogged. Things like excessive hair, dried toothpaste, and debris are just a few common causes of clogged drains. Before we get into the best ways to resolve a problem like this lets review a few ways to prevent this from happening in the first place. Most bathroom sinks come with a screen to prevent any large items from passing through into the drain. When home-owners remove these screens it allows for hair and other debris to pass through whole and these often becomes lodged in the waste lines. Now to solve the problem there are a few easy fixes that should have your drain cleared in just a few minutes.
1. Use an industrial strength drain cleaner. This is the easiest but least effective way to unclog a drain. With this method you pour a thick liquid into the sink and allow the liquid to slowly drain. The process can take anywhere from 30 minutes to several hours depending on the severity of the clog and the strength of the drain cleaner. This is a good method to try for minor clogs and can be performed in just a few minutes.
2. Remove and clean the u-trap. Underneath the sink, there is a u-trap that is connected to the waste water line. The u-trap is connected to the drain from the sink and the second drain pipe that usually runs into the wall or the floor. The u-trap usually has a threaded connection to both pipes. It can be unscrewed on both ends and taken off. Prior to doing this you should place a bucket underneath the u-trap to catch the water that is sitting in the u-trap. Once you have removed the u-trap you can simply clean out the trap with a wire coat hanger. Be prepared for a foul odor, clogs in the u-trap generally smell awful. Once you have cleaned the u-trap you can reconnect it to both pipes by screwing on each threaded end piece.
Congratulations, you have now fixed the clog in your bathroom sink.