Signs a bathroom sink needs more than a quick clean
Slow bathroom sinks get worse a little at a time. These signs mean the buildup is past the stopper. Until we get there, keep hair and product rinse out of it. If the stopper, the trap or the basin itself needs replacing, see sink repair and installation.
- Water takes minutes to drain
- A smell comes up from the drain
- The sink and tub are both slow
- The overflow hole smells or gurgles
- It clears for a week, then slows again
- Water stands with the stopper open
How we clear a clogged bathroom sink
Most bathroom sink clogs are hair and soap within the first few feet of pipe. Worth reading first: why the stopper is usually the clog.
Pull and clean the stopper
The pop-up stopper catches hair on its rod. We take it out, clean it and check that it seals properly.
Clear the trap
Soap and hair collect in the trap under the sink. We clean it out and check the joints for leaks.
Cable the sink drain line
If the clog is in the wall, a small cable clears the branch line without taking the vanity apart.
Test the sink and check for leaks
We run water through the sink and the overflow and check under the cabinet before we leave.
Why bathroom sinks clog in Shore homes
Hair and soap are the usual cause. Well water adds to it.
Hair and soap
Hair binds with soap and toothpaste into a mat that grows on the stopper and in the trap.
Hard well water
Many homes here are on private wells. Hard water leaves scale in the drain that catches hair faster, and water treatment slows it down.
Older drains
Older homes often have small metal drain lines that corrode inside and narrow over time.
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Questions We Get Asked About Clogged Bathroom Sinks
What people ask before they book a bathroom sink visit.
How much does it cost to unclog a bathroom sink?
Clearing a bathroom sink typically runs $175 to $450, depending on whether the clog is in the stopper and trap or further into the wall. You get the price before any work starts, and our drain cleaning cost guide has the full breakdown.
How soon can you come out?
Often the same day, and usually within the week. We work 8:00am to 9:00pm, seven days a week, so evening and weekend visits count too. Book online or call (757) 824-9862 for a time.
What happens when you get there?
We pull and clean the stopper, clean out the trap and, if needed, run a cable into the branch line. Then we run water through the sink and overflow and check for leaks under the cabinet.
Should I try to unclog my bathroom sink myself?
We don't recommend it. Chemical cleaners can damage chrome drains and older pipe, and forcing a stopper or trap apart often leaves a slow leak inside the vanity.
Can you inspect the bathroom sink drain before clearing it?
Yes. If more than one fixture is slow, a camera inspection shows whether the problem is the sink line or the drain it shares with the tub and toilet. It typically runs $250 to $500 and is often credited if we go on to do the repair it finds.
Other clogs we clear
- Clogged toilet: Won't flush, rising water, backups
- Clogged kitchen sink: Grease, food waste, and disposals
- Clogged bathroom sink: Hair, soap, and slow drains
- Clogged bathtub drain: Standing water and slow tubs
- Clogged shower drain: Hair, sand, and pooling water
- Dishwasher not draining: Water left in the tub or sink
- Washing machine drain: Standpipe overflows and backups
- Clogged floor drain: Garages, laundry rooms, and kitchens
- Every drain backing up: Main line clog or septic
Explore related services
- Common clogs we clear on the Eastern Shore
- Sink repair, replacement, and installation on the Shore
- Your Bathroom Sink Is Not Clogged, the Stopper Is
- Water treatment and filtration installation, repair and replacement
- What the Shore says about us
- One membership. Every plumbing system in your house, looked after
- Plumbers who actually live on the Eastern Shore
- How Much Does Drain Cleaning Cost on Virginia’s Eastern Shore
- Clogged toilet repair on the Eastern Shore
- Clogged kitchen sink and garbage disposal repair
- Clogged bathtub drain repair
- Clogged shower drain repair
- Dishwasher not draining? Clogged dishwasher drain repair
- Washing machine drain backing up
- Clogged floor drain cleaning
- Every drain backing up? Main line clog or septic
Ready for a steady hand?
Book with our team, or call us seven days a week from 8am to 9pm.
Call (757) 824-9862