Clogged Kitchen Sink, Edmonton AB

If you've been searching online for DIY methods of dealing with a clogged kitchen sink, you've probably come across the suggestion to pour a cup of white vinegar and a cup of baking soda into the drain. As we all know from science class, that creates an explosive reaction in a closed environment, but your drain pipe is not a closed environment. The vinegar and baking soda mixture will likely just fizzle away for a few minutes without really helping. Though this is a valid way to clean your sink fixture and drain opening, it's not likely to actually eat through a clog. We also don't recommend dumping a pot of boiling water into your clogged kitchen sink for the simple reason that it's all too easy to lose control of the pot and seriously scald yourself.

When you've got a clogged kitchen sink drain, your first instinct is probably not to call a plumber—especially if you've got a trusty plunger on hand. But did you know there's a right and a wrong way to plunge a clogged kitchen sink? Edmonton residents can try following these steps to get the job done correctly:

1. First, make sure you have the right type of sink plunger. You need a cup plunger with a cup-shaped rubber end that can fit over a flat drain like the one in your sink and form a tight seal with enough pressure to bring the clog out. A bell or ball-shaped toilet plunger won't be effective for a sink.
2. Remove the drain cover, put on your rubber gloves, and take the time to lay some rags or newspaper around the sink area—this could get messy.
3. If it's a double sink, plug up the drain hole on the other side with an old rag and put an inch of water in the sink you'll be plunging.
4. Place the plunger over the drain opening and push down, then pull up sharply to form a seal. Go slow at first to avoid splashing.
5. Keep plunging until the water drains, or you can hear the clog working loose. It may take some time, so be patient.
6. Once the clog is out, run some hot water in the sink for a few minutes to make sure it's totally clear.

If you plunge and plunge and plunge some more, and it just doesn't help, you've got something more than just the standard, run-of-the-mill clogged kitchen sink. Our Edmonton plumbers, however, are only one call away. We'll get it sorted out so your household can get back to its regular routines.

The very best way to ensure you'll never have to deal with another clogged kitchen sink ever again is to schedule regular drain cleaning appointments with our Edmonton plumbing team. But there are also a few things you can do to help keep your kitchen sink drain well-maintained, such as:

• Avoid pouring hot grease, fat or oil down your drain. It may be liquid when you pour it into your drain, but it coats the inside of the pipe and solidifies, creating a sticky substance that catches and holds other debris, quickly forming a nasty clog.
• Use a removable basket strainer while you're washing dishes, prepping food, and doing other activities that could cause particles to wash down the drain and form a clog.
• Limit your use of harsh chemical drain cleaners to once in a rare while or preferably never. Overuse of acid-based cleaners can actually eat away at the inside of your pipes, causing them to corrode inside and weaken to the point where they can form a pinhole leak.

If you live in Edmonton or a nearby area such as Sherwood Park or St. Albert, rely on the experienced team of plumbers at Mr. Rooter Plumbing of Edmonton to unclog kitchen sinks and much more.

Contact our friendly customer service staff to find out more about our reliable plumbing service or to schedule a convenient time for a service appointment to get rid of that kitchen drain clog. We also handle other types of clogged drains to help prevent the risk of any sewer backups.