Clear Clogged Kitchen Sinks with One Simple Snake Trick

Has your kitchen sink been draining slower than usual? Do you notice gurgling sounds or foul odors coming from the drain? If so, you're likely dealing with a clogged kitchen sink - a common plumbing problem that can quickly lead to a mess of standing water in your sink. While you may be tempted to reach for harsh chemical drain cleaners, there is a simple mechanical solution that works better and is safer for your pipes. Using a standard plumbing snake, also known as a drain auger, can effectively unclog a stubborn kitchen sink drain without calling a plumber.

Read on to learn what causes clogged drains, why a plumbing snake is an effective and easy DIY unclogging solution, and steps for using a plumbing snake to clear your kitchen sink drainage pipes. This simple snake trick will have your sink draining freely in no time!

What Causes Kitchen Sinks to Clog?

A variety of household gunk and grime can build up over time and cause a clogged or slow draining kitchen sink. Typical culprits include:

• Grease and oil residue from cooking that coats and sticks to the sides of pipes.
• Small bits of food particles that get washed down the drain.
• Globs of hair and soap scum that accumulate in drain traps.
• Damaged or improperly installed plumbing pipes and drains that obstruct water flow.

Signs Your Sink is Clogged

How can you tell for sure if your kitchen sink is clogged? Signs to look out for include:

• Water draining slower than usual.
• Standing water pooling in the sink that takes a long time to go down.
• Gurgling sounds coming from the drain.
• An foul sewer odor coming from the drain.

If you notice any of these occurring, especially more than once, there's likely a clog in your pipes blocking proper drainage. While a mildly clogged sink may still drain slowly, a fully blocked drain is when water no longer goes down at all.

DIY Methods To Try Before Using a Snake

Before reaching for the big guns with a mechanical plumbing snake, start by trying a few DIY methods using common household items:

Plunging the Drain

For a new clog or partial blockage, a forceful plunging can dislodge the debris. Cover the overflow hole fully with a wet rag to get a tight seal. Then quickly and vigorously plunge the drain up and down 15-20 times to apply pressure. Repeat if needed. Plunging works best for clearing loose debris and hair.

Baking Soda and Vinegar

Pour 1/2 cup baking soda down the kitchen sink drain followed by 1 cup vinegar. The chemical reaction will fizz and help break up some of the gunk. Let the mixture sit for 5-10 minutes before rinsing with hot water. This can help clear grease and organic material clogs.

Boiling Water

For fat and grease clogs, boiling water can effectively melt the gunk away. Carefully pour 2-3 kettles full of freshly boiled water down the affected drain. This hot water method works best on organic clogs.

Try these simpler home remedies first before bringing out the plumbing snake. If these DIY options fail to fully clear the stubborn drain blockage, a mechanical snake is your next best bet.

Why a Plumbing Snake is the Best Option

While the above home remedies may help loosen clogs, a plumbing snake is often the only way to fully clear out tougher obstructions deep in your sink drain pipes. Here are some key reasons a mechanical snake is the most effective drain unclogging tool:

Reaches Deep Clogs

A snake is designed to physically remove debris and push through gunk, rather than just dissolve it. The flexible steel cable can reach deep into pipes, accessing clogs around bends and traps. Liquid solutions simply can't penetrate that far into plumbing.

Simple to Use

Operating a plumbing snake is straightforward and requires no caustic chemicals. Compared to calling out a professional plumber, a basic hand-crank or electric auger is easy for DIYers to handle safely.

Works Quickly

Snaking a drain provides immediate results by fishing out and clearing gunk as you work the clogged area. Enzyme-based drain cleaners take hours or days to slowly dissolve obstructions.

How To Use a Plumbing Snake to Unclog Drains

Ready to put your plumbing snake to work? Here are some tips for effectively using it to clear out a clogged kitchen sink drain:

Types of Snakes

For home use, the most common types are handheld manual crank augers and powered drum augers. Handheld are good for bathroom sinks, while powered drills work better for longer kitchen sink drains. Ensure you get one long enough to reach your specific clogged pipes.

Snake Usage Tips

• Wear gloves to protect your hands from gunk splatter.
• Slowly feed the plumbing snake into the drain opening.
• Crank the handle or drill to work the cable through the clogged area, twisting to catch debris.
• Repeat plunging the snake further into the pipes until water starts flowing freely.
• Be patient and keep working the snake through multiple blockages.

Unclogging a Garbage Disposal with a Snake

If your garbage disposal is the culprit, use extra care when snaking it. Carefully insert the auger down the drain throat, keeping it centered to avoid damage. Work the cable slowly and gently through the grinding chamber to hook and dislodge jams.

It may take a few tries going in and out to fully clear a severe clog. Don't give up too soon if water isn't draining completely after the first snake pass.

Unclogging Drains without a Snake

While a mechanical plumbing snake is an effective DIY method, it isn't your only option if you don't have one on hand. Other possible methods include:

• Calling a professional plumber for professional drain cleaning.
• Using a flexible drain auger tool instead of a snake.
• Trying an enzymatic drain cleaner to slowly break down organic gunk.

However, a standard plumbing snake is inexpensive and easy to find at any hardware store or home improvement center. Investing in one can save you from plumbing bills for minor clogged sink issues.

Dealing with a chronically clogged kitchen sink can quickly become frustrating. While liquid drain cleaners may seem like an easy fix, they are often ineffective on severe clogs. Using a simple mechanical plumbing snake is a far better DIY solution for clearing out gunk, grease, and grime blocking your drain pipes.

By taking preventative steps like installing drain covers and regularly pouring baking soda and vinegar down your sink, you can avoid future clogs and keep water flowing smoothly. But even with good maintenance, sinks can still get blocked over time. Keeping a plumbing snake on hand means you'll be ready to quickly clear drainage pipes next time your kitchen sink acts up.