How to Use Ammonia to Unblock a Sink

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One of the most commonly used plumbing fixtures is the sink. Sinks are often prone to all kinds of clogs. Whether the sink is located in your bathroom, kitchen, or anywhere else in your home, it can easily get clogged.

The bathroom sink is typically used when brushing the teeth, washing hands, washing the hair, and shaving beards. Thus, it’s prone to clogs resulting from hair and soapy buildup.

On the other hand, kitchen sinks are used for washing dishes and other kitchen uses. As a result, the kitchen sink is prone to clogs resulting from soap, grease, and food.

The utility sink connected to the washing machine is also prone to clogging with dryer sheets, soap, and lint buildup.

One option is to call your Sydney commercial plumber to fix the clog. The other option is to try and use ammonia. Ammonia is one of the best products for loosening sink clogs before plunging the sink to force the clogs through the drain.

Step 1

If your sink has a drain stopper, pull it off before starting to work on the drain. Inspect it for any debris, such as hair, that may be stuck on it.

Pull out any debris you’ll find on the stopper. You can use your fingers to pull out the debris. Removing debris from the stopper will allow ammonia to get to the drain pipes easily and quickly.

Step 2

Gather some old rugs and stuff them into any overflow pipes or drains that may be connected to the sink drain. Doing so will block ammonia from flowing to unintended routes and ensure it only flows through the clogged drain.

Step 3

Pour one liter of water into a cooking pot and heat it until it boils.

Step 4

Get a cup and fill it with ammonia (household type). Pour the ammonia into the water you’ve just boiled.

Step 5

Pour the hot ammonia and water mixture down the sink drain slowly. Allow the mixture to work on the drain for at least 30 minutes. Don’t use the sink during this period.

Step 6

Heat some water until it’s lukewarm. Pour it into the sink until its 3 inches full.

Step 7

Take petroleum jelly and rub it generously around the base of a plunger. The jelly will assist in sealing the area between the plunger and the sink drain opening for a powerful suction.

Step 8

Position the plunger in such a way that it fully covers the sink drain opening. Work the plunger up and down rapidly for at least 10 times. Doing so will force air into the drain and dislodge the blockage.

Step 9

Pull out the plunger from the sink. Run water down the sink to check whether it’s draining smoothly. If not, repeat the above steps.

Step 10

Rinse out any leftover ammonia product and its odor by running cold water down the sink drain.

Call Professional Plumbers to Clear Major Blocks

If you are unable to unblock your sink using these steps above, reach out to our expert plumbers in Sydney.