What may cause your bathroom sink to become clogged? Your bathroom drains only allow toothpaste, water, and soap to pass through them. How are they accountable? It appears that they are at least partly to blame. We can isolate the four most likely causes of your sink’s obstruction. Let’s examine the causes of the recurring water buildup in your bathroom sink.
Soap Scum
When calcium and magnesium ions in water interact with compounds in soap, soap scum typically results. A filmy, chalky substance slowly accumulates on the pipe walls’ surfaces. This substance, like hair, catches itself and other objects that fall and forms a slow-growing obstruction. Because it’s sticky, soap scum can produce extremely annoying clogs. Without a snake or other specialized instrument, it can be challenging to remove accumulated soap scum away from pipe walls.
If you use a water softener, soap-related blockages are less likely to occur, but they still can. Some soap may adhere to walls if too much is poured down the drain, which could lead to a buildup. The clogs described above can also be caused by heavier chunks of soap stuck in the p-trap. Even the pipes could be harmed by potent, gritty soap, causing corrosion or rust blockages.
Clogged P-Trap
Your bathroom sink’s bending drain pipe is called a P-trap. It is situated immediately below the sink. It joins the drain from the sink to the giant drain pipe that leads to the sewer. P-traps bend to stop sewage gas from floating back into the drain and becoming toxic and foul-smelling. Additionally, the P-bend trap stores water, contributing to the suction necessary for a drain to clear. The issue is that bathroom sink P-traps frequently catch other objects.
Unexpectedly small objects can catch in the p-trap. Your P-trap can become clogged by rings, earrings, bits of soap, and even oil. If your P-trap is not emptying, you may hear an odd stuttering sound when water flushes down the drain. Most p-traps are relatively simple to remove from beneath a sink manually. You can usually resolve the problem by clearing the p-trap using an old toothbrush or other tools. When you remove the P-trap, make sure you have a bucket beneath!
Damaged Pipes
Various types of pipe damage may clog your sink. Rust accumulation on the inner pipe walls caused by corroding pipes can limit water flow. If sufficiently damaged, dented pipes restrict or stop the water flow. Even pipe joints can deteriorate or separate, which may cause pipes to sag and obstruct water flow. If pipes are not firmly secured, they may move over time and eventually become detached or displaced.
It’s challenging to avoid pipe damage altogether. All pipes eventually become old, and when they do, they corrode or degrade. Installing new replacement pipes is the only proven remedy in such cases. Are your pipes attached firmly? Are they in a vulnerable location to damage? Call in the experts for a replacement bathroom sink drain if you’re at your wits’ end attempting to solve the issue.
Conclusion
Hopefully, you’ve figured out why your bathroom sink keeps filling up with water and what causes bathroom sinks to clog. But whatever the reason for your obstruction, there is a remedy. Gray Plumbing can help if you need assistance keeping your bathroom drain flowing. We’re glad to assist you in figuring out the bathroom sink challenge.
