Bathroom sink backs up into the tub: causes & quick fixes

Warmly welcome to our Superior Plumbing & Heating family! Here we are trying to come up with the best plumbing repair decisions for our clients. This article will discuss how to avoid and struggle with all the bathroom sink backing up issues. Here we go!

What exactly leads to the clogging of your sewer line?

Before you figure out why your sink keeps backing up, you need to understand the causes of blockages throughout the sewer line.

Well, all of us, one way or another, are faced with blockages in the sewer line at least once. Since people are not perfectly robotic mechanisms, they make mistakes in one way or another. And the use of plumbing fixtures, in this case, is not an exception to the rule. All problems with the sewage system are associated with its improper installation and operation.

Improper installations

If the sewage line is installed incorrectly, then after about a year of use, the first blockages may occur.

When installing, it is crucial to pay attention to a great many aspects. First, the correct angle of inclination of the pipes must be observed. Secondly, you need to pay attention to the material from which the pipes are made and the potential load on the sewer line.

Our plumbing guys will help you deal with these and other setup chores by drawing up a detailed plan. If you need such services, feel free to contact us right now!

Improper operation and human factor

Well, of course, the main culprit for all blockages is large and small debris. Agree; probably not a single person can avoid falling into pipes and drains. The most significant source of all those troubles is the kitchen sink. From there, various food waste gets into the entire sewer system: cereals, seeds, etc.

But the bathroom does not lag in the competition for the most dangerous place for sewage. From here, hair, coat and various skin scrubs begin their long way to backup creating. Yes, even various skin scrubs can be the cause due to their oily consistency.

DIY Drain Cleaning – is it worth it?

Before you understand what needs to be done to eliminate the blockage, you need to figure out how to prevent it. Plumbers often advise the installation of a garbage disposal device under the kitchen sink. It effectively grinds down all the debris that gets into the drain and significantly decreases the risk of clogging.

In the case of drains in your bathroom, experts advise using fewer detergents containing oily substances. Specialist maintenance and prevention are the best helpers in dealing with blockages. Our local plumbers have all the equipment you need for a high-quality preventative sewer line cleaning.

Which available tools can help finish the endless war with blockages in drains?

The first tool that comes to mind when it comes to pipe unclogging is, of course, a plunger. Most people start using it right away, but experts advise pouring a lot of boiling water into your sink’s drain before using the plunger.

The second most popular method of dealing with sewage problems is an ordinary baking soda in a duet with vinegar. So when you mix baking soda and vinegar, carbon dioxide is formed. This reaction creates a lot of pressure in the pipe, which, in theory, pushes the blockage out.

It is not paradoxical, but such an easy method is effective with maximum pipe clogging; when there is so much debris, all hermetic conditions are met in the line. In an airtight environment, soda and vinegar reactions can help us fight blockages; in most cases, the result will be unsatisfactory since the pressure in the pipe will not be enough.

If the first two methods are ineffective, people often resort to using special chemicals to clean pipes. Skeptics of this method argue that it destroys pipes and leads to even more blockages. Is it?

Yes, indeed, some studies have proven the harm of repeated use of cleaning substances. Harsh chemicals are not only bad for pipes and drains but also your health and the environment. Therefore, we strongly recommend that you refrain from using this technique.

If you still decide to prepare this “explosive” mixture, here’s a simple recipe:

First, pour half a glass of baking soda directly into the drain. After that, take the same amount of vinegar and pour it directly into the sink or bathtub drain.

The drain hole should be plugged with something since a reaction will occur inside your sewer line. You should wait about two hours. After the right time has passed, pour boiling water into the pipe. That’s it!

Also, salt is another good friend and reliable ally of baking soda in the fight against sewage problems. To implement our insidious plan against the blockage, you will need three glasses of the same baking soda and one and a half cups of salt. Pour this mixture down the drain. It is better to do all the procedures in the evening and leave the mixture in the sewer overnight.

You can also harness the killing power of the whole trio: baking soda, salt and vinegar. Such a dream team will not leave a single chance for the blockages to survive.

Do not forget about mechanical drain cleaning methods. Sometimes, all “backup monster” is hiding in the siphons of your sinks, so you need to unscrew this part and clean it from all possible contamination manually and with boiled water.

What to do with repeatedly clogged bathroom sink

If these sewer line unclogging approaches still do not help you and your tub keeps backing up, you need to figure out other possible causes of the trouble and different, more advanced ways to get rid of it.

Sometimes the water backing up into the tub is not because of the blockage right next to the problematic plumbing fixture. Dirty water can enter your bathroom from the kitchen sink, provided the backup is located farther than the plumbing fixture, which is subject to blockages.

It’s simple physics. The water from the sink cannot pass its way further due to the “tube traffic jam,” and it has no choice but to enter the drain into your bathtub.

So, the main question is how to act in such unpleasant circumstances? To get the most effective result, you need to seek professional help. Superior plumbing & heating is always ready to lend you a helping hand.

What are the types of professional sewer cleaning methods?

Hydrodynamic method

This approach is suitable for establishments and houses. The principle of its operation is simple. Hot water under strong pressure is fed into the pipe, usually through the hole of your sewer in the yard, thus destroying everything in its path. During the entire existence of hydrodynamic cleaning, hundreds of Canadians have already gained and recommended it.

Snaking a bathtub drain

Snaking is another effective way to unclog drains and sewers. Don’t be intimidated by the name! This approach has nothing in common with snakes.

We will tell you how everything will be. A plumber comes to you with a long metal wire. It is with this that he will carry out the cleaning of your drain in your bathroom. The process seems rather primitive, but it requires its execution only by professionals since, with the amateur use of this uncomplicated, there is a high probability of damaging the pipe.

No matter the scale of the plumbing difficulty you are facing, if you need help, our local plumber in your city is always ready to provide it.