Expert explains how to deal with slow water drainage in a sink and bathtub

The cause is household grime

Slow water drainage in a sink, bathtub or shower stall most often indicates a buildup of grime in the trap. This was told to Gazeta.Ru by Ivan Khoroshev, head of the customer service department at RMS Company. According to him, in the bathroom the main culprits are hair, soap residue, cosmetics and skin grease, which gradually settle on the walls of the trap and pipes, while in the kitchen it is grease, small food scraps and detergents: over time, the deposits compact and narrow the pipe's bore.

Prevention and common mistakes

To prevent clogs, the specialist recommends placing mesh strainers over drains to catch hair and food scraps, regularly cleaning the removable parts of the drainage system, and not pouring cooking grease into the kitchen sink. Khoroshev also warned against a common mistake — using boiling water against grease deposits: high temperatures can damage plastic parts, seals and joints, so before flushing with hot water one should take into account the temperature limits set by the plumbing manufacturer.

Caution with chemicals and signs of a general clog

Concentrated alkaline and acidic formulations do indeed act on organic grime, but, the expert warned, improper use can damage the materials and seals of the drainage system. It is especially dangerous to mix different products or to pour in a new cleaner when another chemical is already in the drain. If water drains poorly at several points in the apartment at once, the cause may lie further along the sewage system: a simultaneous deterioration of drainage in the bathtub and the sink sometimes indicates a clog in a shared section of the pipeline. Gurgling in the traps, an unpleasant smell and water rising in a neighboring fixture were also named as warning signs. If wastewater flows back, plumbing should not be used until the cause is eliminated.