The Slow-Draining Sink, Explained!

A slow draining sink is an inconvenience, especially in a busy household. It can lead to unpleasant smells in a sink, which is disgusting, but not dire. If left unattended, a slow drain can lead to complete blockage, and cause other issues. In other words, if it’s not taken care of in a timely manner, it can go from annoyance to big problem easily.

At Triple T Heating and Air, we want you to have an easy experience in using your sink without stinky smells and clogged drains. That’s why we take pride in the fact that we help residents of the Provo, Utah and Utah County areas by fix plumbing issues like slow draining sinks.

Why Is My Sink Draining Slowly and How Do I Fix It?

If your sink is slow in emptying after use, this may be caused by several issues. Consider these:

Debris may be clogging the drain. Soap, hair, dirt, and grime may be building up and clogging a bathroom sink; food residue and soap could be clogging the drain in the kitchen. This could be an easy fix though. Check the trap for this sort of debris and remove what you can. Remove the stopper and clear the parts of the hair that might be wrapped around it or other debris. Put the drain stopper back in and test the drain, and if that fixes it you’re good to go. If not, you may want to consider using a plunger to try and dislodge a clog or using a drain cleaning agent to break up the clog.

The pop-up of the sink may not be adjusted properly. To test for this problem, fill the sink and remove the stopper. If it does not drain properly, there could be an issue with the placement of the pop-up. There are a couple of ways to do this. First, you may have to adjust the height of the plug, using a lug wrench to move the bolt under the sink to raise the pop-up. The second way is to move the mechanical sink drain rod to another spot on the bracket under the sink.

The problem may not be in your sink, but elsewhere. The main drain may be blocked, or there may be a broken connection to the sewer system. This is a problem where you’ll need to call in a professional. They may use a video system to get a visual on the pipes or snake the drain between the house and the sewer main to tell you what the issue is, and what your next steps can be.

There may be other places where issues exist, like in the drain vent that is typically hidden behind the wall of your bathroom or kitchen, and like the situation where there’s a broken sewer system connection, you’ll probably want to get a professional’s opinion if you don’t see the problem as a simple one to fix. Our technicians can help you find the right solution for slow draining sinks and other plumbing issues in the Provo Utah and Utah County area. Give Triple T a call today to schedule an examination of your plumbing today!