How to unclog bathroom sink clogged with hair

Introduction of how to unclog bathroom sink clogged with hair

Dealing with a clogged bathroom sink is annoying and inconvenient. Even more aggravating is when you know the culprit is wads of hair accumulating in the drain. With strands winding their way down the drain every time you shave, style your hair, or wash, it’s no wonder bathroom sink drains get clogged with hair.

Luckily, hair clogs can often be cleared up quickly without calling for professional help. This article will outline several DIY methods for busting through hair clogs to get your bathroom sink draining freely again. We’ll also look at tips for preventing future clogged drains.

Common Causes of Hair Clogs

Hair gets stuck in drains because its thin, stringy nature allows it to wind through plumbing and accumulate easily. Typical causes of problematic hair buildup include:

• Shedding hair while brushing and styling
• Shaving facial or body hair
• Hair left in the sink basin getting swept into the drain
• Pet hair from bathing animals
• Excessive hair loss from illness or medication
• Old pipes with cracks and gaps that catch hair

Hair combined with soap scum and oils forms dense clogs that gradually block water flow. Without removal, these masses compact and worsen over time.

Preventing Hair Clogs

While not infallible, you can take some steps to minimize hair getting into the drain:

• Install a hair catcher over the sink drain to grab strands. Clean out regularly.
• Wipe stray hairs from the basin before rinsing lather or water.
• Cover drains with a stopper when shaving or styling hair.
• Collect hair from brushes/combs and dispose in trash.
• Use drain covers and traps on shower drains also prone to hair clogs.
• Have old pipes inspected and repaired for cracks loosening hair into the walls.

Catching hair before it goes down the pipes is the best prevention. But even with good habits, hairs inevitably still escape down the drain now and then.

Unclogging Methods

If you’ve got a current clog, there are several methods to break up the mass of hair:

Chemical Drain Cleaners Harsh chemical cleaners dissolve hair, grease, and gunk. Products like Drano utilize lye or sulfuric acid. Follow all safety instructions. While effective, chemicals can damage pipes with repeated use.

Baking Soda and Vinegar A homemade solution of baking soda and vinegar can break up mild clogs. Mix 1/2 cup baking soda with 1/2 cup vinegar and pour down the drain. Cover and allow the fizzing reaction to work for 5-10 minutes before rinsing with hot water.

Boiling Water Heat helps dissolve hair and grease blockages. Boil several pots of water and slowly pour down the drain one after another. Be cautious to avoid splashing or injury.

Drain Snakes Manual drain snakes are long, flexible cables you Feed down the drain to physically hook and maneuver clogs loose. An electric drill attachment rotates the snake to efficiently break up and extract hair.

Wet/Dry Shop Vacuum Use the suction of a wet/dry vac to draw the clog up from the drain. Seal the vacuum mouth over the sink drain opening and turn on full suction. Stop to dump out contents. Repeat until water flows freely.

Using a Plunger on Hair Clogs

Standard cup plungers can successfully force out some hair clogs. Fill the sink halfway with water; seal the plunger cup tightly over the drain opening and vigorously plunge up and down. The water pressure dislodges the clog, pushing it down the pipes. Repeat several times moving the plunger to cover all drain holes.

Removing the P-Trap

If you can’t clear the clog using the above methods, take apart the p-trap beneath the sink. Place a bucket below the u-shaped pipe. Loosen the slip nuts on both ends and disconnect it from the sink arm and drain pipe. Inspect and remove any built-up gunk. Rinse thoroughly before reattaching.

Taking Apart the Drain

For severe clogging, you may need to detach the sink drain entirely. This involves unscrewing the drain flange from inside the sink basin and pulling up the tailpiece and stopper mechanism. Rinse out hair and grime before reassembling so water flows freely. Be aware this requires puttingty, caulk or a gasket to seal and prevent leaks.

When to Call a Plumber

Don’t attempt repairs beyond your skill level. If you can’t clear the clog through DIY means or by taking apart the drain, call a professional plumber. They have high-powered augers and tools to cut into drain lines if required to remove difficult clogs. Hiring a pro also makes sense if you have a larger clog in the main sewer line.

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