How to Clean Bathroom Sink Overflow Drain

Overflow drains are an often overlooked part of the plumbing system. Most people don’t pay much attention to them until they clog up and don’t work correctly. If you want to know how to clean a bathroom sink overflow drain, then read on!

How to Clean Bathroom Sink Overflow Drain

This post tells readers how they can maintain their bathtub overflow drain by providing them with certain tips and tricks to make sure they can clean it easily and maintain it without having to call a plumber every time it gets clogged up.

The average bathtub has an overflow drain, and for most people, this is something they don’t know much about and certainly don’t know how to clean. So, this article is for you. You will learn how to clean bathroom sink overflow drain with just one simple trick!

Step to Follow on How to Clean Bathroom Sink Overflow Drain

Step One: Determine

First, to clean the overflow drain, you need to determine how long it has been since the last cleaning. If debris and grime have built up and clogged the drain over several years, this process will take a bit longer than if you had just let it go for a few months.

Cleaning the Overflow Drain

If you have let the sink overflow drain build up with debris for a few years, you may need to remove some metal from the pipe beneath it. This is done by pulling out your trusty screwdriver and removing screws beneath the overflowing sink. Be sure to put these away in a safe place where they won’t be lost or fall into the plumbing.

Step Two: Mark it Off.

Once the overflow drain cover is removed, you need to clean it off. First, use a cloth and some cleaning supplies to wipe out all of the gunk built up over the years. A toothbrush works well for this job as it gets into small spaces around the piping. Once you have finished scrubbing it down, please give it a quick rinse with water.

Be careful not to get rags or clean supplies into the plumbing as this can cause it to back up and should be avoided at all costs. If the overflow drain is terrible, you may want to consider using a chemical cleaner on it.

Step Three: Take out the Pipe

At this point, you need to drain your sink. You can do this by turning on both your hot and cold water faucets until the water drains. This will create suction that helps remove debris from the drain. Then, turn off either one of these faucets once most of the standing water has drained.

Draining  Sink

After you have done this, unscrew the pipe beneath the sink. Once it has been removed from the plumbing, take a look at it and see if there is any damage. If it looks okay, you can place it back into place. However, if it looks like the metal has rusted or corroded in any way that might cause it to leak, you can choose to replace it.

Step Four: Clean the Pipe

Once you have replaced either the overflow drain pipe or cleaned down the old one, take your soapy water and clean the piping underneath it. This will help ensure that everything is as free of debris as possible. Allow it to dry for about thirty minutes, and then attach it back to the plumbing.

Then, you need to screw the overflow drain back into place and reattach any other pieces that may have been removed. You can now turn your water faucets on to check and see if it is working again. If not, go back and double-check all of your work before calling a plumber for help.

You can check it to Stop the Overflow Drain in a Bathtub.

Step Five: Flushing

Finally, to finish up the entire process of cleaning the bathroom sink overflow drain, you need to pour a pot of boiling water down the pipe. This will help clear out any small pieces of debris that might have been left behind. Again, be sure that there are no children or pets nearby as the hot water can cause burns if they are not careful.

Pouring a Pot of Boiling Water in Bathroom Sink

Every few months, this should be done to keep the sink working correctly and stay clean throughout its life. If you fail to do this, over time, the overflow drain will begin to clog up again, and you will need to go through the entire process all over again. These steps should help you in learning how to clean bathroom sink overflow drain.

You can check it to Fix Rotten Floor Joist Under Bathtub.

Step Six: Prevention

To prevent your overflow drain from getting clogged, you can take a few steps. One of those is to pour some baking soda and vinegar down the pipe once every week. This works as a natural cleaner and will also help with any odors coming from it.

Then, it would help if you watched what you throw down the drain, as this can affect how clogged it becomes. This means that you cannot pour any oils, fats, or other cooking materials into the sink to try and prevent gunk from building up. If you do happen to notice a very slow draining sink, this could be why it is likely due to fat, oil, or other cooking materials building up.

If you are experiencing a very slow draining sink, this usually means that you need to call a plumber for help as it might be due to an issue with the plumbing under the sink that is not solvable by yourself. Additionally, anytime that mold begins to build up in your overflow drain, you will need to call a plumber for help as it can cause illness.

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Conclusion

If you need to know how to clean your bathroom sink overflow drain, this article should help. We’ve broken down the process into a few easy steps that will have your problem solved in no time! Here are some helpful hints for cleaning an overflowing bathtub or shower drain.

Before attempting any of these fixes, be sure that cold water is running through the pipes and hot water isn’t being used at all. You may also want to turn off the heating system if it’s on but not currently being used as well. The article has been a good guide on how to clean bathroom sink overflow drain.

You may also read this – How to Remove a Stuck Bathroom Sink Drain Flange .

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