What does a plumber use to unclog a kitchen sink?

Author: Rod Smitham  |  Last update: Thursday, December 4, 2025

A manual drain snake, also known as a plumber's snake or a drain auger, is a small boring tool that rotates slowly as it's physically pushed through a stubborn clog. The terminal end of the device is a corkscrew-shaped hook that is fed into a clogged drain or toilet.

How do you unblock a badly blocked kitchen sink?

Use Baking Soda and Vinegar Pour a cup of baking soda into the clogged sink and wait for about four minutes. Afterwards, pour a cup of vinegar down the same sink. Plug the sink and leave it for 10 minutes to break down the blockage. Afterwards, run hot water to see if the clog is gone.

What chemical do plumbers use to unclog drains?

Properties and Uses: Hydrochloric acid, also known as muriatic acid, is a highly corrosive acid used extensively by plumbers to clear severe clogs. It reacts rapidly with organic materials in drains, breaking them down into simpler compounds that can be easily flushed away.

What do professionals use to unblock drains?

Drain snakes also called drain rooters or augers, use a long cable with a spiral-shaped head.

What is the best chemical to unclog a kitchen sink?

The 4 Best Finds for Unclogging Kitchen Sink Drains
  • 1. Green Gobbler BIO-Flow Drain Strips, $10 for 24
  • 2. Green Gobbler DISSOLVE Liquid Hair & Grease Clog Remover, $15 for 31 ounces
  • 3. Vastar Snake Drain Clog Remover, $6 for three
  • 4. General Pipe Cleaners Spin Thru Drain Auger, $21

How to UNCLOG a kitchen DOUBLE SINK with Garbage Disposal EASY and CHEAP. NO HARSH CHEMICALS NEEDED!

What happens if you put too much baking soda down the drain?

If you put too much baking soda down a drain onto a clog, it can sit on the clog and become a solid mass as it is subjected to more and more water. This will make the block worse and even harder to remove.

What should you use to unclog a completely backed up sink?

Place the plunger over the clogged sink drain and fill it with water (approx. 3–4 inches). Hold a wet rag over the adjacent drain and plunge vigorously for several minutes. You can also fight especially persistent or tough garbage disposal clogs head-on with Liquid-Plumr ® Pro-Strength Clog Destroyer Gel.

How does a plumber unclog a kitchen sink?

A manual drain snake, also known as a plumber's snake or a drain auger, is a small boring tool that rotates slowly as it's physically pushed through a stubborn clog. The terminal end of the device is a corkscrew-shaped hook that is fed into a clogged drain or toilet.

What is the best drain cleaner according to plumbers?

Drano Max Gel Liquid Clog Remover

The best drain cleaner overall. A thick gel that descends through standing water to the source of the clog and starts to work melting soap scum, grease, and other gunky obstructions, is safe for plumbing and septic systems.

Why should you never use baking soda and vinegar to unclog a drain?

The fizzing reaction and gas created may help loosen some small blockages. However, it is not typically strong enough to break down larger clogs or remove hard-to-reach debris. As a result of the above facts, if you have a serious drain clog, using baking soda and vinegar is unlikely to be effective.

How do you unclog a severely clogged drain?

Pour one-half cup table salt down the drain, followed by boiling water. Or try a cup of baking soda and a cup of vinegar—let it bubble, wait 15 minutes, then pour boiling water down the drain. You can also try a cup of baking soda and a half-cup of salt; let it sit for several hours, then flush with boiling water.

Does green gobbler damage pipes?

Simply put, liquid drain cleaners like Liquid-Plumr, Drano, and Green Gobbler are not designed for frequent use. Because of the chemicals found in these types of products, you could cause irreparable damage to your pipes.

Why is my kitchen sink clogged but pipes are clear?

Causes of a Non-Draining Sink Despite Clear Pipes

Incorrect Pipe Installation or Design: In some cases, the issue may not be with the objects or debris in your pipes, but rather with the pipes themselves. If they're installed at an incorrect angle or have design flaws, it can impede the flow of water.

How to unclog a kitchen sink past the p-trap?

Kitchen Sink Clogged Past P Trap: How to Fix
  1. Step 1: Baking Soda and White Vinegar. These common pantry items double as superstars of the DIY world. ...
  2. Step 2: Follow Up with Hot Water. Next, run hot (not boiling) water and see if you've conquered that clog. ...
  3. Step 3: Plunge the Sink. ...
  4. Step 4: Unscrew and Clean the Sink's P-Trap.

How to fix a kitchen sink that won't drain?

Use Boiling Water to Dislodge the Sink Clog
  1. Bring a half gallon of water to a rolling boil over high heat.
  2. Remove any standing water from the sink.
  3. Carefully remove the boiling water from the stove and pour directly into the drain in a steady stream.
  4. The water should begin to drain.

What drain unblocker do plumbers use?

Hydro jets are a drainage engineer's best unblocking tool. These provide a highly effective method for forcing a blockage out and also help to clean drains and pipes well, too.

What is the best cleaner for kitchen sink drains?

Use a drain cleaner – Products like Drano or a mixture of baking soda and vinegar can help dissolve buildup in your drain. There's a great recipe you can make here, Baking Soda & Vinegar Buildup Remover. Using a garbage disposal can also prevent build-up and unpleasant smells.

How to unclog a kitchen sink with standing water?

First, remove all stagnant water from the sink. Replace it with hot water until it is halfway full, and it generates a seal around your drain. Place the sink plunger over the drain and start pumping up and down swiftly. Remove the plunger, observe if the water flows, and repeat the procedure until water flows freely.

What is the strongest thing to unclog a sink?

The Santeen Sulfuric Acid Drain Opener proved to be the most potent among all the chemical drain cleaners we tested, effectively dissolving 80% of the hair, 80% of the organic matter, 40% of the grease and 76% of the paper products.

How much does it cost for a plumber to unclog a kitchen sink?

That is why you need to enlist the assistance of a professional to get your plumbing back in shape. The national average cost for unclogging a kitchen sink is between $250 and $400, with most people paying around $300 to unclog a kitchen drain using an electric snake.

How do you unblock a sink past the U bend?

Look under your sink and find the U-bend, it's the first bend in the pipe immediately below the plughole. Put your bucket/dish under the U-bend and carefully unscrew the section of pipe. The U-bend has two sets of threads, one at either end. As you loosen them any backed up water will drain out, so take your time.

What chemical dissolves clogged sinks?

CLEANING TOUGH DRAIN CLOGS

The key active ingredients sodium hydroxide and sodium hypochlorite release heat to effectively dissolve the drain blockage. Now that's some powerful science!

Will a clogged sink eventually drain?

While it's not the end of the world, it won't cause immediate damage to your home and the water will eventually drain away, a slow drain is still a problem that needs to be fixed. A drain that is slow to empty will mean there is already a clog in the system and, over time, one that will only get worse.

What is the best thing to unblock sink pipes?

You'll also need to boil a kettle of water to help flush away the blockage.
  • Bicarbonate of soda (or baking powder) and white vinegar. ...
  • Washing powder (biological) ...
  • Alka Seltzers and white vinegar. ...
  • Use a wire or tool to poke/pull out the blockage. ...
  • Use a blast of water. ...
  • Use a natural drain cleaner. ...
  • Bleach and hot water.

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