How to Fix a Slow Draining Sink

Dealing with a slow draining sink may be frustrating, but it’s a fairly common problem that homeowners face from time to time. Clearing the drain, so the water flows freely again is the first step. However, it may be necessary to take further action to fix a slow draining sink if the problem continues.

Most Common Causes of Slow Draining Sinks

The most common culprit behind a slow draining sink is a clog that obstructs the flow of water through the pipes. This can happen over time or suddenly, depending on what’s blocking the plumbing. In most cases, you’ll find one — or more — of the following in the pipes:

• 
  Dirt: Dirt and debris can get into the plumbing system if you rinse off gardening tools or shoes in the sink or tub.
• Food: Even if you have a garbage disposal, food rinsed off dishes can clog the pipes under the sink.
• Grease: Grease, including butter, fat, and cooking oil, can build up in the pipes over time.
• Hair: Hair knots up and can attach to grease and soap scum that has built up along the walls of the pipes.
• Objects: An object small enough to slide through the drain, like a toy or jewelry, can quickly clog a pipe.
• Tree roots: Tree roots can crack the pipes underground and grow into them, slowing the flow of water through the plumbing system.
• Soap scum and shaving cream: Both soap scum and shaving cream can build up in the pipes, especially when they collect and gather hair.

Clogs aren’t the only cause of a slow drain. Improperly installed plumbing, including the pipes and drains, can affect the way a sink drains. The system needs the right balance of air and gravity working together to keep the water moving through the pipes. This requires adequate pipes and ventilation.

How to Prevent a Slow Drain

The best way to prevent a slow drain is to keep out items that can block it. Scrape food and scraps (including egg shells) into the trash can. Clean hairbrushes over the trash can instead of the sink. Hose off dirt-caked items outdoors. Pour grease into a sealed container instead of down the drain.

Install a New Drain

A drain is an important line of defense against clogs because its primary job is to keep unwanted items out of the wastewater. Drains come in a variety of styles, including pop-up, lift and turn, and grid. Understanding the different types of drains and how they work can be helpful when you’re trying to figure out why a sink keeps backing up.

• Chain and stopper: This simple drain has a flexible plastic stopper that slides into the drain to prevent water from going down the drain. A chain and stopper is easy to use, but debris that’s big enough to fit through the drain can pass through it with the wastewater.
• 
  Grid: Also called a grid strainer drain, this type of drain has a grid that collects hair and pieces of debris larger than the holes in the drain. This helps protect the plumbing from items that could otherwise go down the drain and clog the pipes.
• Lift and turn: The name of a lift and turn drain describes how it works: Turn it in one direction to open it and the other direction to close it. These drains typically lift enough to let water drain from the sink without letting chunks of debris through. Soap scum can build up on the openings in the drain and cause a slow down.
• Pop-up: To open a pop-up drain, tap the top of the drain. Press down on it to close the drain. Like a lift-and-turn drain, an open pop-up drain is wide enough to let the water run through it without space for larger pieces of debris to pass. However, strands of hair may still be able to enter.

Replace the P-Trap

Sometimes the drain does its job, but the sink still clogs. When this happens, the P-trap may be part of the problem. It’s an important part of the plumbing system that forms a seal to prevent sewer gases and sewage from backing up into the sink. However, the P-shaped bend is perfect for collecting grease, hair, and objects that can block the flow of water.

You can remove the P-trap to remove the object or clear the pipe of collected grease and soap scum. If the build-up is excessive, it may be time to replace the P-trap. This is a simple job for the homeowner and requires a replacement P-trap that fits in the space under the sink and is the same size as the existing plumbing system.

Update the Plumbing

Improperly installed or aging plumbing can cause many problems, like slow draining sinks. For example, the P-trap should be no more than 2 feet under the drain. If it’s more than 2 feet away, the system relies on gravity to move the water through the pipes instead of the natural flow of water. On the other hand, you may need to install an extension to make sure the drain reaches the P-trap.

Poor installation is not the only reason you may need to replace the plumbing. Over time, minerals from hard water can build up in the pipes like grease and soap scum do. With less room for the water to flow, the sink may drain slowly. When this happens, you may try cleaning the pipes with harsh chemicals and find that it’s ineffective — and likely dangerous. Snaking the drain may also not work because of the way the minerals harden along the walls of the pipes.

If it’s time to replace the pipes, turn to Kingston Brass to find the parts you need. From drains and P-traps to extension tubes, you can find a variety of plumbing parts on the website. P-traps and extension tubes come in multiple finishes, which lets you match parts and coordinate them with the rest of the room.