Your Guide on How to Unclog a Clogged Sink in Dallas, TX

 
Many people have experienced the unpleasant event of a clogged sink in Dallas when doing the dishes or brushing their teeth. Instead of investigating it further, people often let it slip until they notice grime buildup or an unpleasant odor. When it leads to slow draining, you might finally apply a home remedy that involves baking soda, vinegar, and hot water. However, this will not eliminate any underlying issues, if it even helps clear anything at all.

Even if a home remedy does eliminate odors or minor issues, the overall problem will persist and get worse over time until you have a severely clogged sink. Dallas TX homeowners know that plumbing fixtures are connected to the drain lines, which ultimately send wastewater down to the sewer line. That plumbing system is more vulnerable than you might think, and a clogged sink could have many causes, such as trapped hair, a clogged garburator, tree root intrusion underground, a burst pipe, or a main line clog.

You can rely on your Dallas plumber to get down to the root cause of the problem. Our expert team at Mr. Rooter Plumbing of Dallas brings many years of experience in fixing minor to major plumbing issues while courteously bringing preventive solutions to you to keep you and your property safe. We have the tools to further investigate the warning signs you experience and provide you with a thorough diagnosis of your entire plumbing system. Taking immediate measures will keep you and your family safe from contamination and other potential dangers. Our uniformed experts are licensed and insured, and provide outstanding, reliable service that helps make us the most trusted plumbing company in Dallas.

What Causes a Clogged Sink in Dallas, TX?

Standing water in any form is always an unpleasant sight and makes you think of the worst, but there are many causes of a Dallas clogged sink—and not all of them are disasters. The most common causes are usually debris that’s jammed or built up inside your drain.

Some people in Dallas merely trust their screwed-in sink stopper to catch hair or clunky food waste, but it never hurts to use an additional sink strainer that you can easily lift and empty in the compost or garbage. As gravity pulls the water downward, you can’t always guarantee that no hair or food waste will slip through, and that trace debris could cause big blockages over time.

These are the most common culprits for stubborn clogs that build up over time:

• Excess hair

• Soap scum

• Oil, fat, and grease buildup

• Tooth floss

• Paper products like wet wipes, paper towels, and tissues

• Coffee grounds and other food waste

• Clogged garbage disposal

Other more serious causes that are responsible for drain line clogs are related to a sewer line clog or damage, such as:

• Tree roots puncturing lines underground

• Cracked, corroded, or burst pipes

• Sagging soil, home settling

• Other foreign objects

How To Unclog Your Sink Drain

There are several DIY steps that you can follow first before getting service for the worst-case scenario of a clogged sink. Dallas TX property owners are encouraged to try out environmentally friendly methods at home before turning to any chemical drain cleaners that are highly corrosive.

White Vinegar, Baking Soda, and Boiling Water

Pour half a cup of baking soda down the drain, followed by half a cup of vinegar. Let them work their magic for 10 to 15 minutes before you pour boiling water to wash it all down. When the vinegar’s acidity breaks down the baking soda, it releases a carbon dioxide gas that dissolves stains, loosens up sticky substances, and eliminates odors.

Note: Please note that not all drainage pipes are suitable for boiling water. We do not recommend this method if you have plastic pipes. Sometimes it’s ok to use warm to near-boiling water to flush it away, but if you have plastic pipes, it’s best to have a certified plumber in Dallas TX inspect them or use another safe method to tackle this problem.

Saltwater

Pour half a cup of salt into four liters of water and bring it to a near-boiling temperature. Pour it down the drain and wait 15 minutes for it to dissolve. Then flush away any remaining debris with hot clean water.

Check Your Garbage Disposal

If you have a garbage disposal that’s not grinding properly, it could be the cause of your clog. Turn it off and try to carefully remove any debris, ensuring that no foreign object is causing a jam. When clear, run the garbage disposal with cold water at the same time. It might need to be reset first if it doesn't turn on.

Clean Your P-Trap

If you check under your sink, you will see a p-shaped pipe that is designed to trap sewer gas odors in water, so they won’t rise up to the surface. It can collect debris over time and trigger a clogged sink. Dallas TX homeowners can remove the trap by loosening the coupling nuts that are holding the trap to the drainage pipe and overflow pipe. Clear any debris that you find in the trap and ensure to reattach it properly after the cleaning.

Use a Plunger

You might have been waiting for this one! It’s good to have a kitchen plunger stacked under the sink or nearby (preferably not the same as the one in the bathroom due to cross-contamination). Place a plunger over the clogged sink drain and start by pushing down gently to force air out. Next, plunge repeatedly with force until you notice that you’ve loosened some debris. That should get the water to flush. If your efforts are in vain, there is one more household item you should try out.

Use a Snake

A Dallas-clogged sink can be more persistent than we think. Drain snakes are the smaller versions designed for sinks, whereas drain augers are primarily used for unclogging toilets or other waste lines. If you own a standard snake, it will have a rod or a metal cable with a spiral coil on the tip, designed to loosen blockages. Use the handle to extend the metal cable into the drain until you feel resistance. It’s okay to use some medium force to break through that blockage by moving the handle back and forth but don’t let the cable scrape the pipe’s walls. Keep steering the handle until you have broken through the blockage.

Pro Tip: It’s often easier to snake through the p-trap under your sink. Remember to place a bucket underneath to catch any runoff water as you remove the p-trap. Plus, maybe you’re lucky, and the blockage is in the p-trap!

Tips for Preventing a Dallas Clogged Sink

Cleaning around the sink or any surface areas may be as second nature as scrubbing the toilet, but are you actually making an effort to unscrew the stopper and investigate the drain opening area every month? There are many things you can do to stop blockage before it builds up.

Clean Your Sink Stopper

Although you might naturally clean the sink strainer, cleaning the initial stopper will require a little more effort. Depending on the type of stopper you have (e.g., lift and turn, push and pull, or toe-touch), you might need a screwdriver, Allen wrench, pairs of needle-nose pliers, and channel-lock pliers to remove it.

This won’t be a pleasant job if you have a line of gunky hair to remove, but you should see it as a win because you just removed bad buildup that would have otherwise led to a clogged sink. Dallas TX homeowners should periodically remove their stopper to check its condition, especially if it has been a while since it was last cleaned. It’s important to ensure your stopper is not rusty. Clean it with peroxide or vinegar and baking soda if it's merely covered in calcium deposits and other sediments. Using an SOS soap pad might also help bring its original shine back.

Drain Scrubbing

Once you have completed the mission above, your local plumber recommends scrubbing inside and around the drain opening, which probably has some sludge buildup. You can create an effective cleaning mixture by combining hydrogen peroxide with baking soda, which will make it easy to use an old toothbrush to scrub off the debris.

Did Someone Not Finish Their Food?

Rather than chucking it down the garburator, toss it in the compost or garbage right away to save yourself the effort of grinding it and risking a Dallas-clogged sink.

Never Pour Grease Down The Drain

It may seem to be the easiest way to get rid of it, but fats, oils, and grease can damage and block your drainage pipe faster than you think. It’s best to pour it into a dish and let it solidify overnight. This way, it will be easier to throw it out afterward.

Keep Up With Routine Maintenance

Whether hot water, salt water, or baking soda and white vinegar, you can use these methods as a means of cleaning your sink drain now and then to remove soap residue and other substances before they become nasty sludge. If you do use drain cleaners, choose an enzyme-based brand rather than a chemical-based one.

Dallas Drain Cleaning Services

Your sewer line and secondary drain lines are responsible for removing liquid waste from your home. Dirt and other debris in those lines will create blockages that affect your pipes' overall functionality, starting with either a clogged kitchen sink or a slow drain in your bathroom. Dallas TX homes that have recurring toilet backups and sewer smells might be facing signs of clogged drains that could lead to serious problems in the future when neglected. The best way to keep your drains spotless is to schedule a routine Dallas drain cleaning service with your local licensed plumbers at Mr. Rooter Plumbing of Dallas. Our team specializes in thorough cleaning using a HydroScrub® Jetting device that blasts away any stubborn blockages in your pipes. Routine drain cleaning is the best way to prevent worst-case scenarios like sewer backups, and it makes Dallas clogged sinks a minor concern.

If you haven’t previously had a drain cleaning service, your plumber may provide a plumbing diagnosis and inspection of your pipes to ensure they are in good shape and can handle the psi of a jetting device. While already in-house to clear your Dallas clogged sink, our professional plumbers are also happy to provide services for any other Dallas plumber repairs you may need.

We recommend having your household drains cleaned every year or two by your residential plumber. Homeowners who complete routine maintenance on their own may be able to go as long as two years before they need professional drain cleaning in Dallas.

Dallas Clogged Sinks – Frequently Asked Questions

Our skilled plumbers love to help you with any plumbing issues that you want to fix on your own in your home in Dallas. Clogged sinks are a nuisance and often come with underlying issues that need an expert’s diagnosis. We have answered some questions here to help you reach the best solutions for your blockage:

Why Shouldn’t I Use Drain Cleaner to Treat My Clogged Sink?

Chemical liquids have a corrosive effect on your pipes, no matter what material they are made of. Decloggers like Drano emit heat and gas that could help clear a clogged sink, but your pipes will suffer from long-term use of those caustic chemicals. Frequent use of chemical cleaners could also allow them to leak into your soil and pose a health risk to plants, animals, and yourself.

Will Standing Water Eventually Go Away On Its Own?

That dirty water might flow away on its own, but that is less likely if you are experiencing a severely clogged sink, and it doesn’t mean your clog is gone either. Any homeowners with a Dallas clogged sink should take the necessary precautions to tackle it right away before it becomes hazardous and attracts pests. Your plumber can investigate it for you if you are uncomfortable with that stagnant water.

Is a Dallas Clogged Sink an Emergency?

If it’s not overflowing, you will have time to inspect it thoroughly. Therefore, it’s not an emergency (yet). If you haven’t noticed any clogged plumbing fixtures anywhere else in the house, such as your bathroom sink or shower drain, it might just be that one sink. If you have the time and tools, you can tackle that clogged sink with our how-to guide above, and if it persists, you should call your plumber in Dallas TX for a thorough drain line inspection. If you ever see stagnant water backing up in multiple locations, that could mean you have more serious drainage issues deeper in your pipes, in which case you should definitely call a plumber.

Need a Plumber to Inspect Your Dallas Clogged Sink?

Whether you have a Dallas clogged sink or need drain cleaning for another part of your home or business, Mr. Rooter Plumbing of Dallas is ready to provide quality service with excellent results. We use high-end technology for our plumbing solutions and are available 24/7 for any emergency needs. You can rest assured that you won't ever have to wait for reliable emergency service. We proudly serve Dallas and many surrounding areas, including Plano, Garland, and Irving.

Give us a call to speak with our friendly customer service representatives about clearing your clogged sink or any other preventative plumbing solutions. We are the most trusted plumbers in Dallas TX, for a good reason.