You don’t need a plumber, unblock the sink yourself
If your drain is clogged and needs unblocking, be cautious about the wastes, writes Sharon M. Omurungi
Food stuff, hair strands, too much toilet paper or large deposits, small particles from some sponges and soap froth inadvertently make their way down the kitchen sink and toilet drains which eventually get blocked. And for different reasons you might find it hard to unblock the sink and toilet.
If water in the sink is still draining but is taking longer than usual it’s one sign that your sink is blocking. But if this occurs or is brought to your attention, it’s best to act fast rather than when the problem is worse.
Unblocking the sink or toilet is an unpleasant job but can be done by you without even calling the plumber. Mr Charles Nsimbe, a plumber with Updeal Limited, Luwum Street, says it’s not true that plumbers cheat people whose toilets and sinks are blocked.
Between the toilet, kitchen sink and the drain there is a trap, which is usually full of water serving as a filter to create a seal and also prevents foul gasses from entering the house from the sewer tank or soak pit. Most common traps are in U shape. They often get clogged with debris from the sink.
However Nsimbe says it’s important for every household to have a plunger, gloves, bucket and a wire coat hanger used in unblocking toilets and kitchen sinks. He says it saves a lot of money when one learns how to unblock the sinks and drains. Nsimbe notes that although some blockages seem hard, when the correct tools are used, it can easily be rectified.
