How to Unclog a Sink With Standing Water (4 Best Methods)

People tend to take their drainage for granted until something goes wrong, such as when the sink got clogged with standing water or when a nice shower finishes with deep water which won’t drain.

you may ask how to unclog a sink with standing water?

you can easily unclog a kitchen sink that get clogged with a standing water using any one of these methods like plunger, baking soda, boiling water, and borax.

I will explain, how you should use these methods to remove the clogs. so read till the end to know about these drain cleaning methods.

If you fail to do routine maintenance and repairs on a clogged drain that has standing water, you increase the chance of a big leak somewhere in the pipe system, which may be costly.

A leak might cause serious internal damage, putting you in the situation of having to pay even more for repairs.

However, despite the fact that many businesses offer chemical drain cleaner that may be effective at unclogging any drain in your house, these solutions may be quite damaging to your drainage system.

Excessive use of such chemicals may result in the pipes being worn down and maybe even springing leaks at all sides. You might even come into a deeper blockage.

Whenever feasible, you should hire a professional plumber to do your plumbing work.

In contrast, if you want to do some repair on your own, there are various home treatments that might fix your issue without spending a lot of money.

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How to Unclog a Sink With Standing water ?

How to unclog a sink with standing water

Although some home cures for a blocked drain with standing water could be effective in certain cases, if the problem continues, it is recommended to bring in a professional plumber to resolve the issue for you.

Some clogs are minor and could be easily loosened, while others are larger and more difficult to remove.

Deeper and  more troublesome blockages may cause significant harm if not treated with the utmost care and focus. Do not put your entire home’s plumbing system at danger because of a single drain.

4 Best Methods to Unclog a Sink With Standing Water

Now let’s us explain, how you can unclog a sink that got stuck with standing water ?

There are 4 methods you can try to remove the clogs.

Method 1: Boiling Water

4 methods unclog a sink with standing water

Whenever hair, oils, soap scum, and other material get caught in your drain, boiling water should be all that is required to release the blockage and allow your pipes to function properly again.

It’s the most straightforward solution, thus it must be your first port of action when attempting to unclog a sink.

  • First of all, carry a 1/2 galloon of water in a pot and boil them in your stovetop. you can also use a kettle.
  • Now you have to pour the hot water into the drain hole.
  • Check to see whether the water flows smoothly by turning on the faucet.
  • Repeat the method if the water is still flowing poorly or remaining motionless in the sink.

Caution: If your drain is connected to PVC pipe lines, never use this procedure since the boiling water might melt or harm the material. Also don’t use with porcelain sink bowl.

If the second attempt with hot water fails to clear the clog, it’s time to start another option. Sadly, you’ve got a hard sink clog that won’t go away with just boiling water.

Method 2: Plunger

Plunger

Clogged drains could be unclogged using the plunger technique, which is an excellent home treatment.

The majority of families have a plunger stashed away in the bathroom.

If you are unable to locate one in your house, they may be purchased at a reasonable price at any nearby home improvement shop. When there is a major clog, the plunger method is the most effective.

To begin, make certain that you are using a cup-shaped plunger rather than a grooved plunger. Even if you have a handheld or a full length plunger, it is also suitable for this method.

Make sure that any metal strainers in the kitchen sink or bathroom sink have been removed prior to starting your cleaning project. This step guarantees that the plunger can be used to create a secure seal on the sink drain.

Make sharp, quick motions to clear the blockage, and then check in on it occasionally to see whether it has been successful.

  •  You should cover the entire sink drain with the help of your sink plunger.
  •  For roughly 1 minute, it is recommended to press and pull the plunger in a rapid motion.
  •  Alternatively, if the water is draining poorly, add some additional water to the drain before plunging it again.
  •  If somehow the water drains quickly, you’ve taken the proper step.

Method 3: Vinegar and Baking Soda

Vinegar and Baking Soda

If the blockage continues after you’ve tried the boiling water approach, try a vinegar and baking soda solution.

  • To begin, sprinkle one cup of baking soda into the sink‘s drain. There is no need to pour any water.
  • After that, one cup of white vinegar should be poured down the drain hole.
  • Drains should have a stopper or cover installed to keep the water out.
  • Allow 30 minutes for the solution to rest.
  • Next, you have to remove the drain cover and flush the drain with hot tap water to clean it.
  • More severe clogs should be broken up using hot water.
  • Just like any unclogging approach, there is no guarantee that this natural option will work 100 percent of the time.

Therefore, if it appears that you are making progress on the clog after finishing the instructions, repeat the procedure to ensure that the clog is completely removed.

4. Other Methods

Although they are not guaranteed to work, these easy ways to unclog your drain may potentially be effective, particularly for little blockage.

Dawn

  • In rare cases, Dawn dish soap could be used to unclog a clogged sink drain.
  • Pour one cup of dawn into a blocked toilet to unclog it.
  • Leave it to rest for 25 minutes and then flush it out with hot water.

Borax

  • Prepare a solution by mixing 1/2 cup borax with 2 cups of hot water.
  • Next, you have to pour it down the blocked drain.
  • Allow the mixture to rest for 15 minutes, then turn on the water to clean the plumbing.

Also read: How to Remove Sink Stopper

Video Guide: Unclog a Kitchen Sink With Standing Water

How to Maintain Your Kitchen Sink Drain ?

How yo maintain kitchen sink drain

Proper kitchen sink drain maintenance is the most effective method of removing and preventing blockage.

In order to keep your pipes free of obstructions, you don’t have to be a skilled plumber yourself.

Follow these guidelines in your house to keep clogs at bay as much as you possibly can:

If you have an open drain, similar as that in the bathtub, you should try using a strainer to capture hair, food, and other tiny particles that could fall through.

After you’ve finished using it, flush it with hot water. The hot water would eliminate any new accumulation, which will protect it from adhering to the inside of the pipe‘s walls..

Pour a tablespoon of baking soda down the drain, and then flush with boiling water to clean it out. Cleaning with baking soda is a natural cleaning method that may even eliminate smells from drains.

Besides conducting periodic drain maintenance, you can efficiently prevent your bathtub drain from blockages and keep it running smoothly.

Of course, like with any effective maintenance plan, you must adhere to the timetable in order to achieve success.

If you want to wash the drains and pipes after one month, make a note of it in your calendar and ensure to do the maintenance on time.

It’s much too simple to neglect maintenance for a week and then quit the routine entirely since you didn’t complete the chore on that particular week. Get into the habit of doing right away.

Additionally, your drains will work more efficiently and effectively as a result of this treatment.

Also read: How to remove scratches from stainless steel sinks

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Reasons of Clogs

Sinks and bathtubs could get blocked as a result of debris being flushed down the drain.

Hair is the most common problem of a bathtub drainage clog because it may clump together and create a compact block, but soap scum, grime, and other material that you rinse off your body could also accumulate in the cluster.

Bathroom sinks may get blocked as a result of hair and other beauty items that may be washed down the kitchen sink drain.

Food is a major cause of clogged drains in the kitchen, especially grease that solidifies in the pipelines and bits of food which flow down the sink drain.

Depending on how much gunk has accumulated, you could find that the water is draining more slowly than usual.

It may ultimately get so blocked that no water can pass through it, resulting in a pool of water in the middle of the pipe.

Some clogged sink could be cleared out with hot water, but you must take care while dropping warm or boiling water into drains or toilets.

Plastic plumbing parts might be damaged or weakened as a result of the heat.

Extra water, on the other hand, will not assist in a scenario where there is already standing water and may even make the issue worse.

Commercial and household drain cleaners, such as vinegar and baking soda, will not likely pass through the water and penetrate the blockage in this situation.

The most successful techniques of removal are often mechanical in nature.

Also read: How to Remove Sink Smell

Conclusion

Now you know the methods to unclog a sink with standing water.

you can try out these methods before calling a professional plumber, because it saves your time and money.

If any of these methods doesn’t help you out, then you can a plumber to solve this issue.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Can you put Drano in a sink with standing water?

If there is still standing water, apply Drano® Max Gel Clog Remover to get it out. It passes directly into the water and tackles the blockage from the inside out.

2. Can plunging make a clog worse?

Positioning the plunger precisely above the drain and forcefully plunging it down and up numerous times can accomplish this. Excessive pressure might cause problem to the drain pipe connection.

If plunging does not work, a plumber’s snake should be used. When you come up against resistance, you’ve discovered the drain clog.

3. How do you unclog a double sink with standing water?

You could also consider unclogging your sink using a solution made of vinegar and baking soda, which works well.

  • First and foremost, drain any water that has accumulated in your double kitchen sink.
  • Next, add one cup of baking soda into the drain,  accompanied by one cup of vinegar into every drain.
  • Wait for 10 minutes before flushing each drain with hot water to flush out the solution that has accumulated.

4. Can plunging hurt pipes?

Forceful plunging might cause damage to the sewer line, which might result in breaks. Plunging big blockages should be avoided in addition to jams that need more power.

5. Can you use a toilet plunger on a sink?

Toilet plungers feature a cup that is identical to that of a sink plunger.

These flange certainly fits above the toilet drain, making it simple to provide the suction required to dislodge a blockage.

Using the toilet plunger on a bathtub drain with the membrane tucked within the cup is a simple and effective solution.

6. What is the best homemade drain cleaner?

Combine half cup of baking soda and half cup of table salt. Then, pour this mixture into the drain opening.

Allow it rest for around 30 minutes (or overnight if it is a really stubborn blockage), then flush with a saucepan of hot water.

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