Clear Double Sink Clogs Without a Plumber and Save

Is your double kitchen sink filled with standing water that backs up when you try to wash dishes? Are both sides of the sink draining slowly even if you only use one basin? Have you noticed gurgling sounds or bad odors coming from the drain? If you answered yes to any of these questions, you likely have a clogged double sink that requires unclogging.

But before you pick up the phone to call a plumber, hold off! In most cases, you can clear clogs yourself without professional help.

Understanding Your Plumbing System

To understand why your double sink may be clogged, you first need to comprehend how the drainage system works. While a double sink has two basins, it connects to a shared drainage line and P-trap underneath.

The P-trap is the U-shaped curve that connects sink drains to the main sewer line. Both sides of a double sink drain meet in this P-trap before emptying into the rest of the plumbing pipes. Since all water flows through here from both basins, any clogs or blockages in the P-trap can prevent proper drainage.

Signs of a Clogged Double Sink

How can you confirm your issue stems from a clogged drain rather than another problem? Here are a few telltale signs your double kitchen sink is not draining due to a clog:

• Standing water in the sinks that does not recede
• Gurgling noises when water goes down the drain
• Bad sewage odors coming from the drain
• Water overflowing or coming up from the drain
• One or both sides draining slowly

If you notice any of these, it likely indicates a partial or complete clog exists in the pipes. Let's explore ways to alleviate this ourselves without calling an expensive plumber!

Trying a Plunger First

Before pulling apart pipes or sticking a snake down the drain, attempt plunging as a safe first solution. Using a plunger creates suction that helps dislodge and break up minor sink clogs.

Choosing the Right Plunger

Make certain to select a cup plunger with a wide, flat rubber end. Unlike standard spherical toilet plungers, flatter sink plungers fully cover and seal drain openings most effectively.

Look for sturdy wooden handles and industrial-grade rubber cups designed specifically for sink applications. Plastic plungers are harder to keep firmly sealed on sinks during plunging.

How To Plunge a Double Kitchen Sink

Start by separating the two drain covers/strainers inside the basins. Fill each side about 1/3 of the way with water. Submerge the plunger directly over the drain hole a few inches down and tilt it to form a tight seal all around.

Quickly push and pull the plunger handle straight down 3-4 inches in rapid motions. Repeat vigorously about 20 times. Move to the other sink basin and repeat.

If your sink starts draining after plunging both sides, run water down each drain to confirm they empty as expected. You may need to plunge multiple rounds before the clog completely clears.

See if this DIY method effectively unclogs your double sink first before attempting more involved repairs.

Using a Sink Snake for Stubborn Clogs

In cases where plunging proves unsuccessful, deploying a sink snake could dissolve the most reluctant blockages.

Choosing Your Sink Snake

Hand-crank augers work best for navigating tight sink drain bends. Select a 1/4 inch diameter metal snake no longer than 3 feet to avoid damaging fixtures.

Measure your P-trap curve depth when shopping. It dictates what length snake you need. Also consider a small plastic snake as an affordable starter option before purchasing expensive metal augers.

How To Snake a Kitchen Sink Drain

Start by clearing any standing water out of the blocked sink before running your snake down. Remove the sink strainer inside the basin. Carefully insert the snake end into the exposed opening and push gently downwards.

Crank handles clockwise while simultaneously advancing the snake further to spin its tip and thread through the clog. Push and crank in measured motions to entangle debris as you go.

Once you hit resistance snaking through all P-trap pipes, slowly extract the snake while continuing to crank. This helps scrape off and remove blockage-causing material clinging inside drains.

Rinse gunk washed out by the snake down alternative sink drains or buckets until water runs clear. Test your formerly sluggish sink by running tap water to confirm you properly cleared its clogs.

Unblocking the P-Trap Under the Sink

If less invasive plunging and snaking attempts still leave you with backed up sink drains, disassembling and cleaning the P-trap may be required.

What is a P-Trap?

P-traps are the curved pipes joining sink drains to vertical disposal vent stacks. All water flows through them from connected fixtures.

Over time, debris, oils, soaps, and other contaminants coat trap walls causing gradual clogging. Unscrewing pipes to clean their interior and reassemble prevents ongoing drainage issues.

How To Disassemble and Clean P-Traps

Start by placing a bucket beneath trap areas to catch inevitable water spillage when detached. Loosen slip nuts connecting short straight pipes on both trap sides using pliers or your hands.

Once detached, visually inspect the trap interior with a flashlight for any stuck sludge or objects plugging the pathway. Use sink snakes pushed through to loosen and extract any stuck-on gunk.

Clean all pipe interiors thoroughly by flushing trapped debris out with hot water. Fully drying pipes prevents future leakage and permits tighter reassembly.

Reconnect the S-bend curve piece then both straight portions properly to restore an airtight water seal keeping sewer gases safely out of your kitchen when not in use.

Avoiding the Garbage Disposal on Double Sinks

Many homeowners naturally assume kitchen sink garbage disposals conveniently eliminate leftover scraps and waste washed down drains. However, using them can actually jeopardize drainage systems.

How Garbage Disposals Can Damage Drains

Disposers grind rather than dissolve debris despite appearing convenient. Their blades turn solid shards into slurry that still clings in pipes to eventually clog. Passing ground solids downstream risks expensive plumbing repairs.

On double sink setups sharing P-traps, disposing waste down one basin transfers ground particles into the other drain. Only use disposals if they empty separately without connecting.

Best Practices for Safety

When unavoidable, only run a disposal in short 5-second bursts on the lowest, coolest setting. Between uses, flush drains thoroughly with cold water driving spun solids downward more effectively.

Never drain greases or oils into disposals despite appearing logical. When cooled, they rapidly coagulate into pipe coating sludge blocking water movement nearly permanently until cleaned out.

Checking for Leaks in Drainage

Alongside clearing clogs, confirming no leaks exist enables proper water flow through your entire drainage network long-term.

Signs of Leaks

Visually surveying all plumbing joints and connections below your sink offers the best leak check. Seek out:

• Puddles or water spots on pipes or flooring
• Dripping water droplets from pipe joints
• Rust stains indicating chronic dampness
• Pungent mildew odors near plumbing

Wetness anywhere signals issues requiring seal restoration to prevent water backing elsewhere up your drains.

Fixing Leaks

If found early, many leaks stay reparable using DIY methods. Tighten slip joints or replace cracked plastic washers. Upgrade old corroded piping whenever possible.

However in cases of persistent leakage or pervasive permeability from age, calling your local plumber finally proves prudent. Seeking professional assessments prevents extensive water damage or mold onset in home walls and cabinetry.

When to Call a Professional Plumber

While considerable sink drain clogs succumb to approved at-home techniques, knowing precisely when to enlist a licensed plumber's expertise remains key.

Call a Plumber If:

• DIY methods fail to improve drainage
• Clogs reoccur frequently
• Significant leaks arise underneath
• Rusty particle discharge and reduced pressure occur

In such scenarios, an experienced plumber possesses industrial-grade hydro-jetting equipment and professional drain augers reaching blockages home solutions cannot.

They also diagnose issues more accurately after comprehensive inspections pinpointing underlying causes. Any instances of chronic repeat clogging indicate larger unaddressed problems in need of repair.

As demonstrated above, many common double kitchen sink clogs stay fully manageable through several DIY techniques without requiring plumber premiums.

Attempt using a flat-edge plunger first to purge drains manually before escalating efforts. For stubborn obstructions, metal sink snakes coiled through trap pipes scrape buildup effectively.

When simple unclogging proves insufficient however, dismantling the connecting P-trap offers direct access for cleaning trapped gunk out fully. Checking underneath all pipes for potential leaks also provides lasting solutions.

Knowing when professional assistance makes sense avoids throwing money at issues beyond homeowner capacities though. Be smart if problems persist and call your licensed plumber to prevent extensive flooding or permanent sink damage.