Drain Cleaning
Clogged kitchen sink repair
Most kitchen sink clogs are grease and food solids that have built up in the trap or in the horizontal branch line inside the wall. A plunger or cleaning the P-trap clears a clog near the sink. If both bowls back up, or water returns after it is cleared, the blockage is further down the kitchen line and needs a drain cable or jetting.
- Independent licensed local plumbers
- The plumber gives you a price before work starts
- Free referral, no obligation
Kitchen drains clog differently from bathroom drains. Fats and oils go down warm and liquid, then cool and coat the pipe a little further along, and each layer narrows the opening until coffee grounds, rice or peelings finish the job. That is why a kitchen line often drains a little slower for weeks before it stops.
Where the clog sits decides the fix. A double sink with a disposal has two bowls joined at a tee before the trap, so a clog at the trap backs up both. A clog deep in the branch line may also back up into the dishwasher or an adjacent laundry drain that shares the pipe.
When you need clogged kitchen sink
- Water stands in one or both bowls and drains slowly or not at all
- Running the disposal pushes water up into the other bowl
- The dishwasher leaves water in the sink or in its own tub
- The sink gurgles, or smells of rotting food from the drain
- The clog comes back within days or weeks of being cleared
How it is done and the choices involved
- 1
Check the disposal first
A jammed or tripped disposal can look like a clog. The plumber confirms the unit turns freely and that the dishwasher inlet and the tee to the trap are clear.
- 2
Clear the trap and trap arm
The P-trap is removed and cleaned, and the short pipe into the wall is checked. Many clogs end here.
- 3
Cable the branch line
A small drum machine runs a cable through the wall pipe to the stack or main, breaking through grease and solids further down.
- 4
Jet a grease-lined pipe
When a cable only punches a hole through heavy grease, water jetting scours the pipe wall so the line does not close up again in a few weeks.
What affects the cost of clogged kitchen sink
Prices vary by market and job. The pro gives you a price before starting; these factors drive it.
- Clog at the trap versus deep in the branch line
- Whether a disposal or dishwasher connection is involved
- Cable versus jetting
- Access: under-sink only, or a cleanout elsewhere
- Condition of old trap parts that may need replacing once disturbed
Clogged Kitchen Sink FAQ
Why does my kitchen sink keep clogging?
Usually grease has coated the branch line, so a cable opens a channel that closes again. A long, flat run of pipe or a sag in the line makes it worse. Jetting, or a camera look at the line, addresses the cause instead of the symptom.
Can I use chemical drain cleaner on a kitchen sink?
It is not recommended. Caustic cleaners rarely dissolve a solid grease plug, they can damage older pipes and disposal seals, and they leave a sink full of corrosive water for whoever opens the trap next. Tell the plumber if you have already used one.
Why is water coming up in the other side of my double sink?
The two bowls join before the trap, so a clog at or after the trap sends water from one side up the other. If only the disposal side is affected, the disposal or its outlet is more likely the problem.
Is it safe to plunge a sink with a garbage disposal?
Yes, with the disposal switched off. Seal the other bowl with a wet rag or stopper so the pressure goes down the drain, and clamp the dishwasher drain hose if you can reach it.
Part of drain cleaning
Clogged Kitchen Sink is one job within drain cleaning. The main page covers the warning signs, the full process and what you can safely do yourself.
Need help with clogged kitchen sink?
Call (833) 520-4758 to reach an available local pro.