TIPS & HINTS
SURREY OFFICE
3000 Cathedral Hill
Guildford GU27YB
LONDON OFFICE
29 Burtons Road,
Hampton TW12 1DB
Telephone: 0800 955 0353
E-mail: office@watertightsolutions.uk.com
Tel. : 0800 955 0353
E-mail: office@watertightsolutions.uk.com
The bowl of a sink has a drain at the bottom and an overflow drain near the high-water mark. In the drain is the strainer. The strainer blocks large objects from going down the drain. However, small objects and especially hair can end up in the drain. The strainer tends to snag hair and is often the cause of a slow or gurgling drain. Taking out the strainer and removing the accumulation of hair will resolve many slow or clogged drains. In some sinks the strainer simply lifts out or lifts out with a twist. On other sinks the strainer is held in place by the pivot rod, under the sink. Reach under the sink, find the long rod that connects to the strainer and remove it. Lift out the strainer and clean off the hair and soap build-up.
You can use a plunger to push out a stubborn clog. When plunging, there must be some water in the fixture, so add water if necessary. Tilt the plunger cup to burp the air as it is submerged in the water. Place the plunger over the drain and completely cover the drain opening. Sinks have an overflow drain. They must be securely covered or the plunger will force the water out through the overflow. Seal the overflow drain opening with a towel. With the plunger completely under water, press and pull it rapidly for 15-20 seconds. If the water drains out of the fixture, add some more water and plunge again. Once the clog has been loosened, run hot water through the drain to flush it out. If the water seems to be properly draining, go ahead and run some water to test the drain.
Now if you still have a clogged sink, you might be thinking of using chemicals - Don't. Some chemicals can damage pipes, the environment or you if you get splashed. If you have to work on a drain after a chemical has been added, it makes the work harder and more hazardous. Additionally, most chemical drain cleaners don't work that well. Running hot water through clear drains is the best way to keep them clear. Skip the chemicals.
But you can unclog a drain naturally also, using things easily available at home like baking soda, salt and white vinegar.
Plunge the non-garbage disposal side until the standing water is down to the level of the drain. (If water goes onto the other side of the sink, that's OK.)
Now add 1 cup baking soda, 1 cup salt and 1-2 cups of white vinegar into the plunged area, there will be now bubbles.
Put a kettle of water on to boil. When it boils, pour about 6-7 cups of hot water into the baking soda-vinegar mixture in the sink. If the sink gurgles and drains, then it's good! Otherwise, let this mixture sit overnight. In the morning flush with more water.
SAFETY TIP # 1:
Do not pour caustic liquid drain cleaner into a drain that is completely clogged. The caustic ingredients can get trapped in your pipes and cause severe damage.
SAFETY TIP #2:
Do not use a plunger on a drain if you have poured caustic drain cleaner into it. Caustic chemicals in the pipes could splash up during plunging.
If you still aren't successful, you can always rely on us - we are just a call away to help you! Call us at (0800 955 0353
) and one of our expert plumbers will go and solve it.
