We all love being awakened by the aromatic smell of brewed coffee in the morning. There’s something so homey about it that it feels like a warm embrace that gently lifts our morning spirits up.
However, when it comes to cleaning, there are instances when we unintentionally spill those coffee grounds down the kitchen drain.
Then these questions, How to unclog a sink clogged with coffee grounds?, Do coffee grounds clog drains?, What dissolves coffee grounds? often arises in our mind.
As far as instant coffee is concerned, those granules get easily dissolved.
When faced with this kind of situation, there are simple ways on:
Table of Contents
How To Unclog A Sink Clogged With Coffee Grounds?
Plumbers have commonly faced simple problems like this. There have been much worst. Homeowners would often ask what they can do by themselves if things like it happen again.
Fortunately, plumbers have recommended three effective ways on how to remedy a clogged kitchen sink due to coffee grains:
1. Use the Plunger
Plungers are quite common in households. This tool is used to clear clogged toilets, drains, pipes, and kitchen sinks. It is made up of a rubber suction cup that is held by a long shaft.
Using the plunger is very easy. If it’s your first time, you may follow these simple steps:
- Fill the sink with enough water. Make sure the rubber cup of the plunger is covered with water.
- Seal the other side of the drain with a towel or rubber stopper.
- Place the rubber cup of the plunger over the drain opening.
- Push the rubber cup down, then pull up. Repeat until the clog clears up.
If you don’t have a plunger then you can this out on amazon.
2. Use a Drain Snake
Drain snake, also known as plumber’s snake is a long, flexible auger used to unclog plumbing pipes. Plumbers resort to using this tool when plungers are no longer deemed effective in easing or loosening difficult clog problems.
Sometimes, it is also called a toilet jack. If you find yourself worrying about a clogged kitchen sink, drain snakes can be rented and could cost about over a hundred dollars for the week.
If those coffee grounds seem to interfere with your plumbing system, you can try doing these simple steps:
- Push one end of the drain snake into the drain opening.
- Turn the handle that has the coiled snake.
- Keep pushing the snake deeper into the pipe until there comes a resistance.
- Crank the handle to make it bend on the tight curve under the sink.
- After the snake is turned, you will feel that it would already smoothly slide until it finally hits the clog.
- Rotate the snake against the clog until it is freed up. By doing so, the clog can be dissolved, chopped, or broken. If it doesn’t break through, pull the auger out of the drain together with the clog.
- Run water through the drain to ensure that the obstruction has cleared.
If after all your best efforts and your clog problems still persist, you may hire a plumber to do it for you instead. On an average, the rate for such a service can cost around $110 or more depending on your location and service provider.
If you don’t have a drain snake then you can this out on amazon.
3. Clear the P-Trap
The P-trap is the plumbing pipe fixture usually located at the bottom of the sink. It is meant to trap debris drained from the sink to prevent any clogs in the plumbing system.
When dealing with clogs, whether due to coffee grounds or other debris, you can opt to clear the P-trap if the clog continues to persist even after several attempts of declogging via a plunger or drain snake.
To accomplish this, you may do it yourself, or ask someone to do it for you such as a housemate, your partner, or better yet, a professional plumber. When doing it by yourself, you may follow these simple steps:
- Find out where your sink trap is located. Get a bucket and put it underneath to serve as a catch basin for any leak or spill.
- Loosen the nuts that connect the drain line on both ends. For metallic pipes, loosen it by using a wrench.
- To loosen the nuts turn it counterclockwise. For plastic pipes, you can loosen it using your bare hands.
- Once loosened, pull the trap from the pipe. By this time, make sure that the bucket is there to catch anything that may fall from the drain pipes.
- Check the trap and remove any debris. Don’t forget to use a pair of gloves for safety. You can also use a pointed tool such as a screwdriver to remove it.
- Rinse the trap and remove any remaining dirt and debris.
- Check the pipes again to make sure it is clear.
- Reattach the P-trap by tightening the nuts. Turn it clockwise.
- Test the sink with running water to see if it is draining properly.
If all else fails, you can always call your favorite professional plumbing services.
I’m sure they’ll be happy to help you out. Severe clog problems due to grease buildup and obstructive elements can hinder the proper flow of water waste from your sink to the sewer.
You May Also Like: 6 Pull-Out Spray Kitchen Faucet Problems That Are Easy To Fix
If unresolved, it might worsen the condition and could lead to even greater problems.
When done by professional plumbers, you are assured that snaking will be done with care without causing any damage. Snaking is something they do quite so often, and is something that’s part of their specialty.
But just in case you’re wondering, what is it with ground coffee that causes it to clog the sink? Ground coffee is finely ground coffee beans. It is still essentially an insoluble organic matter.
You May Also Like
- How To Season And Clean Cast Iron Cookware?
- How To Clean Pots And Pans To Look Like New
- How To Season A Ceramic Frying Pan
Conclusion
Maintaining a good-functioning kitchen sink takes effort and conscious cleaning methods. In as much as we would like to maintain a debris-free pipe, other people unknowingly cause the clogs in the sink.
Coffee grounds are common culprits in a clogged sink especially in a home where an everyday brew is essential. Most plumbers have encountered such in their home service plumbing sessions.
The good news is, there are many DIY methods to help you when you find yourself stuck in the scenario.
Now its your turn to try one of this method to unclog a sink clogged with coffee grounds. Please drop a comment below which method you tried or will try to clean it.
Katrina Smith is a seasoned expert with over 25 years of experience in all things related to cooking and the kitchen. As an avid cook and kitchen enthusiast, she is passionate about sharing her knowledge and expertise on cookware, kitchen appliances, kitchen tips, and kitchen staples.
Through her articles and reviews, Katrina aims to inspire and help others improve their cooking skills, experiment with different ingredients, and invest in quality cookware and appliances.
