Cleaning a basin drain in Los Angeles

A sink that drains slowly almost always has a clog in the P-trap, the U-shaped bend under the basin, or in the short pipe beyond it. Put a bucket under the trap, unscrew the two slip nuts, clean it out and reassemble. That takes about fifteen minutes and costs nothing. A plumber clearing a sink line in Los Angeles typically charges about $150 to $350.

The cause differs by room, so the sections below split kitchen from bathroom. If the sink is slow but the pipe is not clogged, see kitchen sink draining slowly with no blockage. More services are on the LA Drain Works home page.

What can unblock a sink?

A plunger, a cleaned P-trap and a hand-cranked drain snake unblock almost every sink. Use them in that order. Chemical cleaners are the last resort and the least reliable. A cup plunger forms a seal over the drain and pushes and pulls the clog loose, which works for soft buildup.

Order of attack:

1. Remove standing water with a cup, then plunge with the overflow blocked by a wet rag.
2. If it still holds water, open the P-trap over a bucket.
3. Run a short hand snake through the trap arm and into the wall pipe.
4. Reassemble, run hot water for two minutes and check for leaks at the nuts.

If the sink and the washing machine standpipe back up together, that is a branch line, not a basin problem. Read drain snaking for what a plumber's cable reaches.

How do I unclog a kitchen sink drain?

Kitchen drain clogs are mostly grease, soap and food paste that cool and set inside the trap and pipe. Clear the trap first, then flush with very hot tap water and a squirt of dish soap. Run the garbage disposal only once the water is moving. Wipes and fibrous scraps such as celery strings add to the plug.

A kitchen sink usually has two bowls and one trap, so check both strainers and the disposal outlet. If a disposal is installed, unplug it or switch off its breaker before you put a hand anywhere near it.

LA Sanitation reports that poured fats, oils and grease are one of the main causes of sewer backups in the city, along with roots. Wipe greasy pans with a paper towel and bin it, instead of rinsing it down. See kitchen drain cleaning cost if the plug is beyond the trap.

How do I clean my bathroom basin drain?

A bathroom basin clogs with hair, toothpaste and soap scum wound around the pop-up stopper. Lift or unscrew the stopper, pull out the slimy hair mat and wipe the stopper clean. Then flush with hot water. That fixes the majority of slow bathroom sinks without touching the trap.

On many pop-up stoppers, a rod behind the faucet connects to a pivot at the back of the tailpiece. Unscrew the nut, slide the pivot out and the stopper lifts free. Rinse everything and reassemble.

Bathroom basin pipes are narrower than kitchen ones, and if a hand tool does not reach the plug, the trap is next. For a bathroom sink that will not drain even though nothing seems stuck, see bathroom sink won't drain but not clogged, which covers vent and trap causes.

What dissolves gunk in a sink drain?

Hot water and dish soap soften grease film. A mix of baking soda and vinegar fizzes and loosens light buildup, though it will not cut through a packed plug. Enzyme cleaners digest organic residue slowly and suit prevention. Lye- and acid-based openers dissolve more but can burn skin and eyes and are hard on old fittings.

Before you buy anything, understand what you are dissolving. Grease needs heat and soap, hair needs removing and mineral scale needs time or a vinegar soak on the fixture. If one product fails, do not stack another, and never mix products. Tell the plumber what you used, because trapped caustic liquid can splash back when a cable turns.

Is Dawn dish soap good for clogged drains?

Dish soap helps with light kitchen grease. Squirt some in, follow with a kettle of hot, not boiling, tap water and wait a few minutes. It will not clear a hair plug or food mass in a basin. Use it as a first step and as monthly maintenance, not as a fix for a full blockage.

Hot water also softens grease for a while, but grease cools further down the pipe and sets again. That is why a sink can drain fine for days and then clog. The lasting fix is a cleaned trap and less grease going in.

When should I consider calling a plumber for a sink?

Consider a plumber when more than one fixture is slow, when you hear gurgling from a toilet or tub, when a hand snake meets a hard stop, or when a sink clogs again within weeks. Those point to the branch line or main, not the basin. Do not pour more chemicals in.

Other reasons to call:

• A leak at the trap after you reassemble it that does not stop.
• A sewer smell that survives cleaning.
• Old galvanized or cast iron pipe that crumbles when you touch it.

Does a sink drain need a cleanout? Not normally. The trap is the access point for a basin. A cleanout belongs on the main sewer line, which is covered in main line drain cleaning.

If the plug is beyond the trap, the price request page is the quickest way to get a visit and a written quote.

Tell us about your drain cleaning job

Fill this in and we'll arrange a local drain cleaner to come and price the job.

Name

Phone number

Email

What do you need done? Choose one Drain cleaning Sewer line replacement and trenchless Hydro jetting Sewer backups and smells Shower and tub drains Sewer cleaning Something else Not sure yet

Address of the job

Lets the business see where the job is before they quote.

City or town

When would you like it done? As soon as possible Within a week or two Within a month No rush, just comparing prices

Job details (optional)

I agree my details go to the local drain cleaning business that will quote for this job, and that it may pay LA Drain Works for the introduction. Read the privacy policy

Send my details

Questions people ask

What is the absolute best drain unclogger?

For a sink, the best unclogger is a plunger followed by a cleaned trap or a hand snake, because they physically remove the plug. Chemical openers vary and carry burn risks. A plumber's machine is the strongest tool and is only needed for longer or deeper clogs.

Why pour salt down the drain every night?

Some people do it hoping to scour the pipe, but salt does very little for a sink drain. It does not dissolve grease or hair. Hot water and soap after greasy dishes, and a monthly trap check, do more for a kitchen drain.

How do I clean a kitchen sink drain smell?

A smell usually comes from food film in the trap or the underside of the stopper or disposal. Clean those parts, then flush with hot water and dish soap. If the smell stays after that, the trap may be dry or a vent may be blocked.

Can I snake a kitchen sink drain myself?

Yes, with a small hand-cranked snake of 15 to 25 feet. Remove the trap first so the cable goes into the wall pipe cleanly. Stop if you meet a hard stop. A plumber's longer cable handles clogs in the branch line beyond.

How do I unclog my basin when the water will not move at all?

If water sits in the basin and does not move, bail it out, then plunge with the overflow blocked. If that fails, take the trap off over a bucket and clear it. A full stop after that means a clog deeper in the wall pipe.