Can Boiling Water Fix Your Clogged Drain?

When a clogged sink happens, don’t head straight for the chemical drain cleaners. Drain cleaners may eat through pipes leading to more costly fixes in the long term. Instead, try to alleviate a clog quickly and without a lot of effort by using some tried-and-true plumbing solutions we’ve compiled below. Keep reading for at-home DIY solutions for unclogging that pesky drain and what to do if those options fail.

Flush out the clog

For minor clogs, try boiling a large pot of water. Because the boiling temperature of the water is 212 degrees Fahrenheit, it is too hot for direct contact with porcelain sinks and PVC pipes. If you are sure your sink and pipes are neither of the above, slowly pour the boiling water directly down the drain. Afterward, see if the clog loosens up. If it does, great; you probably need to clean out the sink from what’s leftover from the clog. If not, continue to the next suggestion.

Use what is already in the house

If the clog persists, mix ⅓ cup of vinegar and ⅓ cup of baking soda. Once it starts to fiz, this should happen immediately; send your concoction down the blocked drain. For best results, let the vinegar-baking soda mix sit overnight. If time is of the essence, an hour minimum should tell whether the mixture will do the job. Lastly, rinse the drain with hot water, and voila! The sink should be ready for use again.

If you’re still reading, it may mean that the above suggestion didn’t work. Before trying out another method, some savvy homeowners have also used salt in conjunction with baking soda and found that to do the trick. Mix ½ cup of salt and ½ cup of baking soda and scoop them into the drain. Let sit for 20 minutes. Then pour boiling water straight down the pipes. Remember to use boiling water, 212 degrees Fahrenheit, on non-plastic pipes to achieve the best results. 

Clear the pipes

If you’ve gotten this far, you can try emptying the pipe’s contents below the sink basin into a bucket. Most sink piping winds to let gravity do its work and then snakes into the wall. Most commonly referred to as U-shaped pipes or the P-trap, hair, food, and you-name-it can get stuck in this curved tube. Loosen the slip nuts with a wrench and let the contents drip into a bucket below. 

Pro Tip: Wipe out the areas of the pipe where you suspect the clog and rinse with warm or boiling tap water before reassembly. 

Keep in mind that this step requires a knowledge of basic plumbing, getting your hands dirty, and potentially not reassembling the P-trap correctly. Worst case, the clog remains unfixed, and a big mess is left behind. If anything feels too out of the ordinary, contact a plumber in your area to get some advice. A standup plumbing company should offer some help via the phone or come out to take a look. 

Boiling water does not solve severe drain obstructions. For minor blockages or a quick fix, boiling water and a few extra steps can get most sinks functioning again. 

MNS Plumbing provides prompt, efficient, and reliable drain cleaning, repiping, drain inspection, and video sewer line inspection services. Call 602-362-4524 to learn more.