Difficulty
Easy
Steps
9
Time Required
30 minutes
Sections
1
- How to Unclog a Sink
- 9 steps
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Introduction
What you need
Step 1
How to Unclog a Sink
- Begin by filling the sink halfway full with water.
- Pump the plunger rapidly for 30 seconds.
- Do NOT break seal between plunger and drain.
- Repeat this process 4 to 6 times.
- Wait 20 min before proceeding to the next step. This will allow some debris to flow down the pipes.
Begin by filling the sink halfway full with water.
Pump the plunger rapidly for 30 seconds.
Do NOT break seal between plunger and drain.
Repeat this process 4 to 6 times.
Wait 20 min before proceeding to the next step. This will allow some debris to flow down the pipes.
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Step 2
- Place a bucket below the P-trap .
- The curved white pipe is called the P-trap.
- These next few steps may get a bit messy. Proceed with caution.
Place a bucket below the P-trap .
The curved white pipe is called the P-trap.
These next few steps may get a bit messy. Proceed with caution.
Step 3
- Carefully untwist slip nuts by hand.
- If you are unable to remove by hand, use a slip joint plier to remove the slip nuts.
- The nuts at the ends of the P-trap are called slip nuts.
Carefully untwist slip nuts by hand.
If you are unable to remove by hand, use a slip joint plier to remove the slip nuts.
The nuts at the ends of the P-trap are called slip nuts.
Step 4
- Use a small wire brush to clean the P-trap.
- You may want to clean the connecting pipes with the wire brush as well.
Use a small wire brush to clean the P-trap.
You may want to clean the connecting pipes with the wire brush as well.
Step 5
- Carefully rinse the P-trap with hot water.
- Do NOT rinse the P-trap in the sink you are working on because there is no connecting pipe to catch the water.
Carefully rinse the P-trap with hot water.
Do NOT rinse the P-trap in the sink you are working on because there is no connecting pipe to catch the water.
Step 6
- Reattach the P-trap.
Reattach the P-trap.
Step 7
- Pour 1/2 cup of baking soda down the drain.
- Pour 1/2 cup of distilled white vinegar down the drain.
- Quickly cover the drain with a drain stopper.
- This keeps the reaction in the pipes.
Pour 1/2 cup of baking soda down the drain.
Pour 1/2 cup of distilled white vinegar down the drain.
Quickly cover the drain with a drain stopper.
This keeps the reaction in the pipes.
Step 8
- As soon as the fizzing stops, pour another 1/2 cup of white distilled vinegar down the drain.
- Cover again with a drain stopper.
- Let the sink sit for 20 min.
As soon as the fizzing stops, pour another 1/2 cup of white distilled vinegar down the drain.
Cover again with a drain stopper.
Let the sink sit for 20 min.
Step 9
- Boil 1 gallon of water with a boiler.
- The boiler will get hot. Handle with care.
- Pour the boiling water down the sink to flush out any remaining debris.
Boil 1 gallon of water with a boiler.
The boiler will get hot. Handle with care.
Pour the boiling water down the sink to flush out any remaining debris.
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Daniel Sanchez
Member since: 09/29/2015
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Cal Poly, Team 14-2, Green Fall 2015
Member of Cal Poly, Team 14-2, Green Fall 2015
CPSU-GREEN-F15S14G2
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