Cleaning Sink Pipes: How to Clean Plumbing at Home

The plumbing system is about 15 percent of the value of the house. A sound plumbing gives far greater sale value to a house than poor plumbing. Clean and smoothly functioning pipes add convenience to standard of living.

Anyone can install the pipes but major plumbing installation jobs should be done by licensed and professional plumbers. It also pays to invest additional money on high quality materials.

The best place to buy your plumbing supplies is at the local plumbing store, or at the store where you bought the fixtures. Buying pipes from online stores can be fun but you must choose companies with good reputation.

Always buy top quality brands for your plumbing needs because they often offer stock parts designed to fit the main products perfectly.

The drain in the kitchen sink is the most used and most-often clogged. By watching what is emptied into the sink drain, clogging can be prevented. Regular use of biodegradable waste digester is also recommended.

Clogging of pipes is caused by liquid fats, coffee grounds, and small bits of food. Films of grease will form on the pipe walls and create build-up of small waste particles. Best practice: do not pour used oil down the sink drain. Collect all oily substances in a container with air-tight cover then dispose it with the garbage.

Minor clogs can easily be removed by using a plunger. It is a rubber suction cap attached to a long wooden handle. Cover the drain completely with the cap and push down several times. The forced gusts of air will push down the jam inside the pipe. If the sink has double drain, seal the other one to avoid splashing water all over the place.

Another way of removing clogs is by cleaning the pipe itself. Remove the J-bend or the P-trap. Place a bucket or deep basin right under the fixture to catch drippings and the clogging materials.

Believe it or not, you'd only need 3 items: a box of baking soda, a cup of vinegar, and a pot of boiling water. Pour the baking soda in the drain hole; followed by the vinegar. The mixture will start foaming. Let it foam while waiting for the water to boil. Pour boiling water into the drain hole. This should remove the clogs; but if not, repeat the procedure one more time. If the second attempt failed, try using rubber suction or removing the 'bends' and 'traps'.