So you're wanting to wash dishes in your sink but you discover that your sink is holding onto the wastewater instead of properly draining out. You hope, hold your breath, and turn on the disposal. It looks good for a minute but the water starts coming up out of both drains in the sink and all the particles of food churn around in the murky water.
You try different ways to remove the clog and get rid of the wastewater, but nothing you try works. So then it's time to get the plunger. But wait, there are two drains. So when you try to plunge one side, the other side is open and the air goes there instead of into the pipes to create suction.
How do you remove clogs on a double bowl sink with a plunger?
Sink Plungers and Toilet Plungers Are Different
First of all, if you're not using the right plunger, you won't be able to get a good seal where pressure can build up to force the clog to break up.
Unlike
sink plungers, the toilet plunger is shaped differently because the shape of the drain on a toilet is different from the shape of the drain on your sink. The sink plunger needs to form a seal on the surface in order to build up enough pressure as you plunge, so don't use a toilet plunger. If not for that reason, it's just not a good idea to contaminate your sink.
Sink plungers have a smaller cup than a toilet plunger. While the toilet plunger normally has a fold out flap or an elongated shape, the sink plunger has a flat bottom that creates a seal on only flat surfaces. The sink plunger has a rigid but flexible rubber cup and only comes in slight variations of this shape.
Toilet plungers have the elongated shape that fits into the curvature of the bottom of the commode drain. Generally, the elongated plunge cup is around twice the length of the sink plunger's and is more tubular while the sink plunger is flatter.
Effective Clog Removal Techniques For Double Sinks
Kitchen sinks normally come with two sides and two drains. In general, the sink drains lead into pipes that join together and to the sewer line. This matters when you're trying to plunge out one side of the sink.
You need to stop up the other side of the drain in order to get an effective seal on the plunger. If you don't have a stopper for the other side of the sink, you'll need to get one because you need to cover the drain of the sink on that side so pressure can build up in the pipes as you plunge, otherwise the forced air and wastewater will just come up that side.
Stoppers come in different varieties and shapes to fit particular types of sink drains, so be sure you're getting the right stopper for your sink. It's important that there is a good, tight seal when you place the drain stopper in.
Once you have the stopper, put it in and ensure it's in place correctly. Fill that sink with fresh water so the weight of the water on top of the stopper holds it down against the force of the pressure you'll be creating on the other side. If necessary, just hold down the stopper with your hand but still make sure you have some water in that side as well.
Now you should be able to get a good seal with the plunger on the other sink drain. Now all you need to do is plunge up and down without lifting the edges of the plunger from the sink surface. Do this until it seals and starts to force water through. You will be able to hear it. Then you can get tougher with it and try to plunge harder until the clog is loosened and forced down the pipes.
Call AAA Paradise Plumbing & Rooter For Stubborn Drain Clogs
If you can't get it to work for you, don't bother trying to buy drain cleaners. They're useless and can harm your pipes. Plus, the don't clean the entire clog out if they work at all which means it's only a matter of time before you have another. Instead, call AAA Paradise Plumbing & Rooter for drain cleaning service and you'll wind up with thoroughly cleaned drains that will last. As a professional Ventura Plumbing & Rooter Company, we can remove the most difficult clogs including those from tree roots.
