You may have noticed that your bathtub has an overflow vent hole, too, but not your kitchen sink. That’s the overflow hole in your sink and most people don’t give it much thought.However, it’s important to know how this little bit of negative space functions so that you can keep your bathroom sink clean and clear. It's unusual for the overflow opening of a bathroom sink to get clogged, given that the sink is seldom filled to the point at which its services are required. He has degrees in science and humanities and years of teaching experience. A Zip-It tool is about 12 inches long, which is long enough to reach all the way through the overflow passage to the point at which it empties into the drain. Insert it into the overflow opening, push it in as far as it will go and extract it. There are several ways to unblock a drain. This will remove debris and buildup. It achieves this by diverting excess water, allowing you to The pumping action will force anything in the overflow passage to back up, and you'll know you're successful when water (and possibly gunk) come shooting out of the overflow opening. Hunker may earn compensation through affiliate links in this story. They clogged the sink drain and left me to clean up the mess. Here’s how to unclog a bathroom sink without chemicals. Slowly pour the boiling water through the funnel to loosen and flush any remaining buildup. And for a two-basin kitchen sink, cover one of the sink drains with a … You don’t want to splash yourself with boiling water and steam can give you a nasty burn, too! The basin and the overflow empty into the same drain pipe, but the overflow is always open and isn't affected by the sink stopper. I unclogged the primary drain (one at the bottom of the sink using a wire coat hanger and just wiggling it around. Basin/sink overflow cover plug in various colours. Instead, you plunge the drain and take advantage of the fact that the overflow passage is connected to it. Start by blocking the overflow hole with a wet rag or your other hand; also if you have a double sink you will have to block the drain and overflow … Follow with boiling water or an enzyme cleaner to get rid of bacteria in the overflow hole drain. Sink overflow covers are sink or basin hole inserts which will make sink look great. My sink clogs up easily for some reason, but I can solve my problem instantly with this trick. Caustic drain cleaning chemicals won't work either, and you should avoid these anyway, because they can harm your pipes. This hole also needs … I also thought it would work better if I could figure out how to get the sink stopper out. A mix of baking soda and vinegar can also be used to clean and flush out the overflow. In the time it takes bathtubs to fill, people may walk away and become If you have a single bathroom sink, simply insert a damp cloth into the overflow hole or holes to give the plunger more suction power. Next, slowly pour the vinegar down the funnel. Locate your sink's overflow hole. It is uncommon for a sink overflow drain to become clogged. The plunger is the first choice of most plumbers for clearing a clogged drain, and although it seems counterintuitive, you can use one to clear a sink overflow passage. After extracting the obstruction, don't forget to repack the tailpiece flange with fresh plumber's putty before you reassemble the drain. That clog won't go away on its own and will require immediate attention to keep any standing water from rising. Oh, boy. Some sink overflow drains consist or just one hole while others have several smaller holes in a row. When it does get blocked, the problem could be an accumulation of hair or a small object that somehow got forced through one of the overflow holes. Run water until it is several inches deep in the sink. There &# 8217 ; s no need for harsh chemicals to unclog a drain because Drano products are high in chemicals and have a strong smell . If the clog is in a kitchen sink, lift out the removable basket Fill the Persistent clogged sink, try the blocking spiral If it does not overflow with the use of the traditional suction cup, the next step is to try a hand-held block or spiral lock, which is available in various lengths from 4.5 to 15 The little hole that you see in a lot of sinks, many refer to it as a sink overflow hole. I can stick my finger in there, and rub off a small circle's worth of stuff, but I'd like to clean it more than That leaves you one last option, which is to disassemble the drain and manually remove it. Put a cloth in the overflow hole tightly, it's usually near the top of the sink or by the front of a bath tub. Start by disconnecting the pop-up stopper and removing the stopper lever from the drain tailpiece. Function A sink's overflow drain functions much like the main drain in the sink. I was plunging last night, and could hear air coming from the overflow hole. Answer + 2 Answered 4 answers Darlene Kruszynski Meier on May 20, 2017 Lowes or Home Depot if you have one of these in your area has a simple,long plastic thing that has little teeth on it. If you’ve ever taken a good look at the back of your bathroom sink, you’ve noticed that there’s a small hole underneath the faucet and toward the back of the bowl. Function 1: Preventing Water From Overflowing If you close the drain of your bathroom sink and fill up the sink basin to the level of the overflow hole, the water will begin draining into the overflow opening and down the drain. We have to call maintenance However, if it does, a plunger will not work on most sinks because of the angle and area of the overflow drain hole. Stick the pipe cleaner or sink-cleaning brush into the overflow hole. But unnoticed a smell a few days later and it's coming from the overflow drain (on the side of the sink), where said person must have tried to drain their vomit after clogging the main drain. Work slowly so you don’t splash yourself or get a steam burn. Let this sit for about 15 minutes so the baking soda and vinegar can work their deodorizing magic. [ 3 Answers ] The bathroom sink has a strong odor coming from it. The bathroom sink has a strong odor coming from it. Looks kinda like this (the An overflow hole exists for one purpose only, to keep your bathroom sink from flooding in the event you have a plumbing issue or if someone left the faucet on by accident. If the drain is clogged by hair or anything similarly sinuous, it should come out with the tool. I want to clean inside the hole of the bathroom sink that is used to control overflow. The drain line seems to work well but there is always standing water in the overflow hole… Use a Zip-It Tool The Zip-It tool is one of those simple plumbing inventions, like a plunger, that no household should be without. If you are working on a bathtub, apply duct tape over the overflow opening at the front of the tub. Our commitment to clean, safe and healthy environments, A funnel made of a material like silicone that can withstand the temperature of boiling water and doesn't easily conduct heat. Following the baking soda, pour 1/2 cup of vinegar down the drain. How to unclog bathroom sink? This video and the advice is so helpful. Chris Deziel is a contractor, builder and general fix-it pro who has been active in the construction trades for 40 years. Consequently, the overflow hole and basin drain into the same pipe, but the overflow is not affected by the sink’s stopper. How to Get Rid of the Smell From the Bathroom Sink Overflow. If the blockage is caused by a small, hard object, you may not be able to force it backward with a plunger, and you can't hook it with a Zip-It tool. He worked as an expert consultant with eHow Now and Pro Referral -- a Home Depot site. Carefully flush the sink with the boiling water. (Be careful! The drain line seems to work well but there is always standing water in the overflow hole. 5 ways to unclog a drain without drano vigo bathroom sink pop up drain with the purpose of a bathroom sink overflow why does my bathroom sink drain slowly repair your bathtub overflow drain Unclog A Bathroom Sink Without Chemicals Family HandymanThe Purpose Of A Bathroom Sink OverflowKohler Premier Pop Up Er Drain Without Overflow… Read More » Fill the sink about half full of water, tilt the plunger into the water to fill the cup, then place the cup over the sink drain and start plunging while you open the stopper. This allows water to drain rather than overflow onto the floor. Clean the overflow in a bathroom sink with pipe cleaners or cleaning brushes. How to Clean a Pedestal Sink Overflow Now that you understand the purpose of an overflow hole, you know how essential it is that it … With simple tools you can unblock an overflow drain without damaging your sink. This exposes the overflow passage outlet in the drain opening and allows you to extract the object with a screwdriver or a pair of needle-nose pliers. It's thin and flexible like a cable tie, so it fits into virtually any drain, and its barbed construction makes it perfect for hooking onto hair and dragging it out of the drain. By navigating the site, you consent to our use of cookies. It may be a good idea to call in a helper here.). Actually the sink overflow hole is there for a different purpose than the name indicates. A DIYer by nature, Deziel regularly shares tips and tricks for a better home and garden at Hunker.com. Push the brush in and out several times to remove as much gunk and buildup as possible. If you notice a foul odor coming from the overflow pipe in your sink, the pipe is probably harboring a layer of gunk and a … A Sink Overflow Hole does more than you think. The Zip-It tool is one of those simple plumbing inventions, like a plunger, that no household should be without. Getting a good suction between the plunger and the sink is crucial, so if your plunger is old and cracked or to big for the curves of the sink, this may not work. Cover the hole with a piece of duct tape or stuff it with a damp rag. I removed the stopper piece and used my pinky to poke around the hole for the overflow drainage and I guess I dislodged something. But you don't have to resort to calling an expensive plumber or using a bottle of hazardous chemicals. You could substitute a pipe cleaner, as suggested by Merry Maids, but a Zip-It tool is longer, grabs hair more efficiently and is inexpensive, costing about $5. Water is flowing nicely and no more worries about an overflowing sink. Don’t be afraid to ask for help. How do you unclog an overflow line in the bathroom sink? It's possible that the object got lodged on the lever, and if so, that's all the disassembly you need to do. It'll inevitably happen with any home plumbing system and your kitchen sink is no exception. Stick the funnel in the overflow hole in your sink. If all else fails, unscrew the nut on the bottom of the sink holding the tailpiece, using adjustable joint pliers and push the tailpiece out of the sink. For details and controls, see our updated Privacy Policy. We got these sink hole trims in chrome, gold and other various colour. Because the overflow passage is small and follows the contours of the sink, you can't treat it like a regular drain, but you still have at least three options for unblocking it. It may help to push the Zip-It tool into the lever inlet and probe until you contact the object and are able to dislodge it. To bathroom sink overflow homenish 4 ways to unclog a slow running glacier bay umbrella sink drain without clean bathroom sink overflow hole 4 ways to unclog a slow running The Purpose Of A Bathroom Sink OverflowFunction And Cleaning Of A Sink Overflow Hole Merry MaidsWhat To Do When Your Bathroom Leak Is OverflowingHow To … A stopped-up drain. Is your bathroom sink draining slowly? The drain hole area in the sink is really corroded at the level of the overflow outlet which makes me think that even if the overflow could be unclogged, I should not be introducing water to that area anyway. Be prepared, it will fizz a little. You should only attempt to unclog a bathroom sink using the plunger as a last resort. Because the overflow passage is small and follows the contours of the sink, you can't treat it like a regular drain, but you still have at least three options for unblocking it. This video will take you through our step-by-step process on how to unclog your sink. This site uses cookies. That would be futile, since a plunger can't make a seal against the side of the sink. By creating an account you agree to the Hunker, This Old House: How to Clear Any Clogged Drain, Merry Maids: Function and Cleaning of a Sink Overflow Hole. The small hole under your sink faucet is the overflow hole and has the important function of keeping your sink from flooding your bathroom. When plunging a bathroom sink, use your thumb to cover the overflow hole on the side of the sink. To plunge your sink, if the sink is not already filled with water, then simply fill the sink with water. 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