Understanding Your Responsibility for Clogged Kitchen Sinks

As a tenant, it's important to know that maintaining the plumbing in your apartment, including addressing clogs in your kitchen sink, typically falls under your responsibility. Prompt and proper care not only prevents further issues but also ensures a pleasant living environment. Below are guidelines to help you address clogs in kitchen sinks, with or without a garbage disposal. Please note, if we dispatch someone out and the clog is due to an item lodged in the garbage disposal or sink and not a failure of the disposal or plumbing the cost of the repair will be added to your ledger.

For Sinks with a Garbage Disposal

Resetting Your Garbage Disposal

1. Safety First: Ensure the disposal is turned off.
2. Find the Reset Button: Typically located on the bottom of the unit.
3. Press the Reset Button: Wait a few minutes, then turn on the water and disposal.

If the disposal doesn't start, it might need to be manually turned. Use an Allen wrench in the center hole at the bottom of the disposal and gently rotate back and forth to free up the blades.

The photo below shows the typical location of the reset button and the Flywheel Wrench hole.

Clearing the Clog

1. Baking Soda and Vinegar:

   • Pour a half cup of baking soda down the disposal.
   • Follow with a half cup of white vinegar.
   • Cover the drain and let the mixture sit for a few minutes.
   • Rinse with hot water.

2. Boiling Water:

   • Boil a pot of water.
   • Pour it directly down the drain.
   • Repeat if necessary.

3. Plunger Method:

   • Use a sink plunger (different from a toilet plunger).
   • Fill the sink partially with water.
   • Firmly plunge up and down several times.

For Sinks Without a Garbage Disposal

1. Boiling Water:

   • Slowly pour boiling water down the drain.
   • Wait a few minutes and check if the water drains.

2. Baking Soda and Vinegar:

   • Pour a cup of baking soda followed by a cup of vinegar down the sink.
   • Cover the drain and wait for 15-20 minutes.
   • Rinse with hot water.

3. Plunger Technique:

   • Use a cup plunger.
   • Fill the sink with enough water to cover the bell of the plunger.
   • Plunge vigorously.

Additional Tips

• Avoid Chemical Drain Cleaners: These can damage pipes and are harmful to the environment.
• Prevent Future Clogs: Avoid pouring grease, coffee grounds, and hard-to-grind food scraps down the sink.
• Regular Maintenance: Regularly use baking soda and hot water or vinegar to keep drains clear.
  
• Best Practice with Garbage Disposal: The garbage disposal should be used to break up fruit skins, bones, or any other solid material.

When to Contact Maintenance

If these methods do not resolve the clog, it may indicate a deeper issue requiring professional attention. In such cases, please contact our maintenance team for further assistance.

Remember, taking care of minor maintenance issues like a clogged sink not only helps keep your home com