Water flowing up through the sink is the most annoying, but the most typical plumbing issue that most people have is clogged drains and water backed up in the sink. Although it’s generally nothing serious, it’s still useful to understand what may be blocking the drain and how to unclog a sink.
Identifying the cause of a blockage in your kitchen sink might be challenging. You may frequently need to check the drain connections inside the walls.
The good news is that this problem often does not permanently harm your kitchen sink. Once the cause of the obstruction has been found, it can be quickly corrected. Here are some ideas to help you identify why water coming back up kitchen sink and how to fix it:
Also Read: How to fix low water pressure in kitchen sink?
Water coming back up kitchen sink:
Whenever the water drainage from the sink is very slow, it may be a sign that your sink is becoming blocked. Various things might cause the water in the sink to back up.
The causes of water rising through the sink are listed below. When you understand the root of the problem, you may start to take action to unclog the sink.
- Food accumulation: One of the main reasons for clogged drains is food. Many individuals flush food scraps, peels, eggshells, and other food-related materials down the toilet. These items can accumulate and clog the drain over time, even if you have a garbage disposal.
- Grease and Fat accumulation: Some individuals run leftover oil and grease down the sink. These substances may harden with freezing temperatures and time, leaving buildup that clogs the piping and causes the sink to overflow.
- Hair particles: Hair is more frequent in bathroom sinks, which can clog the drain and cause other issues.
- Roots and herbs growth: Roots may grow into the plumbing and cause blockages, usually closer to where the plumbing meets the ground. Still, they tend to be more problematic with clogging the toilet and bathtub plumbing as those pipes run directly into the ground.
How to resolve the water coming back up the kitchen sink
There are just a few things you can do yourself to unclog a clogged sink before hiring an expert. Here are a few simple solutions to unclog a sink.
Make some water boil:
Boiling water can occasionally be used to dissolve a grease blockage partially. Bring water to a rolling boil in a saucepan or teakettle. After that, gently dump it down the drain. You’ve solved the blockage if the water flows freely; now read the management advice for the kitchen sink underneath. If not, attempt the subsequent step once the water has cooled.
Get rid of any standing water. Remove any standing water as soon as possible since it quickly attracts insects, germs, and mold. It can be removed so that more water can be added later to flush the drain.
Grain out waste disposal:
Clear any obvious obstructions and inspect the waste disposal. Put on rubber gloves and clear the garbage area, including undesirable hair and food crumbs. Your garbage disposal is probably clogged if it emits a faint hum. Turn the blades manually to clear the blockage after turning the machine off and unplugging it.
Warm water and Vinegar:
Try pouring a solution of warm water and vinegar down the drain first to see if it helps clear the pipes before attempting other options. There are several liquid chemical drain cleaners. However, they may not work and expose you to the chemicals (or a plumber).
Employ a plunger
A plunger should be placed over the drain opening after the sink has been partially filled with water. Like plunging into a toilet,
Employ a plunger
A plunger should be placed over the drain opening after the sink has been partially filled with water. You need to push the center of the plunger, just like you would while plunging a toilet. In theory, this forces any debris obstructing the drain down and through, clearing the way for the water to flow freely. This forces a pocket of air from the plunger down into the drain.
Make an Expert Call
When the techniques mentioned earlier don’t work, hire experts. Plumbers have experience with even the most clogged drains, so they can guarantee that whatever obstructs the sink is properly removed.
It is also crucial to stress that you should never attempt to remove anything from the sink using your hands or fingers, especially if there is a garbage disposal, for your safety. Take no chances if you are unsure if there is waste disposal. Some of the most horrible accidents are the consequence of them.
How to avoid a blocked sink:
Try to avoid having a blocked sink in the first place since it is one of the finest things you can do after one. Whether or not you’ve ever had a clogged sink, adopting some of these smart behaviors today will help you avoid time-consuming, expensive, and annoying plumbing issues later on.
- Scrape off any remaining food, then dispose of peels and other objects in the trash rather than the kitchen sink.
- To stop bigger particles from traveling down the drain and clogging the plumbing, install strainers at the entrance of the sink drain.
- Never pour leftover oil or grease down the sink. In addition to running the danger of potential plumbing problems, consider where your garbage may end up!
- Avoid letting thick clumps of hair run down the drain, whether taking a shower or doing your hair in the bathroom (again, a strainer can help to catch a lot of hair).
Bottom lines:
Effective venting is necessary for your drainage system to operate correctly. Thanks to this venting, the system can take in the air it needs to keep the water flowing properly. Water can have difficulty moving through the system if your vent pipes are blocked. Bugs, squirrels, or birds frequently create nests inside these vents, obstructing the pipe.
If so, you must inspect the roof for any vent pipe obstructions. Contact a professional to clean the vent pipe of any material that could have contributed to the water backup in your kitchen sink.
