Service 01 · Licensed & Insured
Kitchen drain clearing
Water sitting in one basin, rising in the other, or a dishwasher that leaves a puddle in the sink — kitchen clogs have a recognisable pattern. Here's what to have ready when you request service.
Licensed & Insured · 24/7 service available. Our plumbers clear drains and sewer lines for homes and businesses in Bristol, Connecticut.
What usually backs up
A kitchen sink drains through a trap under the basin and into a branch line inside the wall, which joins larger building drainage further on. A double sink shares one trap arm, so water rising in the second basin when you drain the first is typical of a restriction past the point where they meet. A dishwasher and food-waste disposer normally discharge into the same path, which is why a dishwasher cycle can push water up into the sink.
Fats, cooking oil and food solids are the most common contributors in kitchen lines. The City of Bristol's Water Pollution Control FAQ also asks residents to keep grease and wipes out of drains, because they cause problems in the public system as well as private pipes.
Questions to answer before the visit
- Is it only the kitchen sink, or are a nearby laundry drain, bathroom or floor drain also slow?
- Does the problem appear after the dishwasher or disposer runs?
- Is the space under the sink clear enough to reach the trap? Is there a cleanout in the wall, basement or crawl space?
- Has anyone already used a plunger, hand auger or chemical drain opener? Say so — chemical residue in standing water affects how a technician approaches the trap.
- Has this sink been cleared before, and when?
What clearing may involve — and what it doesn't
Depending on access, we may remove the trap and run a cable through the branch line, or work from a cleanout. Clearing restores flow; it doesn't by itself tell you why the restriction formed. Replacing a corroded trap, a failing disposer or a damaged section of pipe is separate work that should be quoted separately before it starts.
Questions
Why does the other basin fill up when I drain one side?
Both basins usually feed a shared trap arm. If the restriction is beyond the point where they join, water takes the easiest route — up into the other basin.
Is it safe to keep running the dishwasher?
It's better not to. Each cycle sends more water into a line that isn't draining and can overflow into the sink or cabinet.
My sink has needed clearing twice this year. Is that unusual?
We can't tell you why from here. Note the dates and what was done each time; the recurring-clog planner turns that history into questions for the next visit.
Several drains slow at once? Read about main sewer line clearing instead.