Have you ever encountered a smelly, clogged drain in your utility sink? Although it can be intimidating to clean and unclog the drain traps of a utility sink, the process is not as difficult as it may seem. This blog post will take you through step-by-step instructions on how to go about removing and inspecting the drain traps, cleaning and replacing them, and restoring order in your utility sink. If you find it beyond your skill level, consider calling in a professional drain cleaning service such as Drane Ranger. Let’s begin!
What is a Utility Sink?
A utility sink is a deep basin with an overflow drain, usually located in the laundry room or garage. It’s also sometimes referred to as a slop sink, laundry tub, or mop sink. It’s typically made of cast iron, metal-reinforced porcelain fixtures, or stainless steel and is designed for general-purpose cleaning tasks.
Benefits of Unclogging Drain Traps
- Keeps odors at bay: Clogged drain traps can cause unpleasant odors in your utility sink due to food particles and other debris trapped within the traps and eventually seeping through into the pipes.
- Prevents water from backing up into your home: If the trap becomes completely blocked with debris, it will prevent water from draining properly and can result in backed-up water throughout your building.
- Keeps pests away: Unwanted pests like roaches, rats, and flies are drawn to standing water and the leftover food residue is left behind in drain traps.
Unclogging a Utility Sink’s Drain Traps
It’s important to note that when it comes to unclogging utility sink drain traps, it helps to have some basic plumbing knowledge. If you don’t have the time or expertise to tackle the job yourself, calling in a professional drain cleaning service is always recommended.
Here are a few steps on how to unclog the drain traps of your utility sink:
- Locate the trap. The trap is usually located near the back of the sink where the pipe connects it to the wall. If you can’t find it right away, look carefully behind and underneath any other fixtures in the room.
- Wear protective gloves while unscrewing and removing the trap from its housing by unscrewing clamps and other attachments with a wrench or screwdriver (depending on what type of clamp).
- Empty any solids or sludge from inside of the trap and dispose of it responsibly, as per local regulations.
- Rinse any residue off of the walls of both ends of the trap using hot running water. Use a small wire brush if necessary for tougher stains or debris buildup around hard-to-reach areas within the pipes or fittings of your utility sink drain traps.
- Reinstall your cleaned and cleared traps back into their original mounting locations, making sure they are tightly sealed with all clamps properly fastened down before running water through them again for testing purposes.
- For more challenging blockage cases, use products like drain cleaners and plungers as directed to make sure everything loosens up enough to restore a normal flow in your utility sink’s pipes!
Unclogging With the Help of a Professional
It is important to remember that when unclogging utility sinks drain traps, it helps to have some basic plumbing knowledge and experience. Professional plumbers are always available for tackling the job if you don’t feel confident doing it yourself. For commercial businesses, Drane Ranger is a reliable source for expert cleaning services including drain traps and other similar plumbing issues. To know why grease traps are essential for kitchens, click here.