The short answer
It’s almost always hair and soap, stuck to the stopper or sitting in the P-trap. Pull the stopper, clean it, and run a plastic zip tool down the drain. That takes ten minutes and solves most slow bathroom sinks we see in Northern Virginia. If it doesn’t, our $99 drain clearing covers a blockage up to the P-trap.
Why bathroom sinks slow down so gradually
Every hair that goes down the drain has a chance to snag on the stopper’s rod. Soap and toothpaste coat the hair, and now the next hair sticks better. The opening shrinks a little each week, so you don’t notice until the water stands in the bowl while you brush your teeth. Bathroom clogs rarely show up overnight. Most of them are months old.
$99 Drain Clearing
This offer focuses on clearing a blockage up to the P-trap, the curved section of drainpipe beneath the sink where debris can collect. See the drain clearing
Step 1: Get the stopper out
Try lifting it. Some come straight up, and some need a quarter turn. If it won’t budge, look under the sink at the back of the drainpipe. You’ll see a small rod going in sideways, held by a nut. Put a towel down, loosen the nut by hand, slide the rod back, and the stopper lifts right out. Clean it over the trash, not the sink. It’s going to be gross. That’s normal.
Putting it back: the rod goes through the hole in the stopper’s tail, then snug the nut. Test that it opens and closes, then check the nut for drips.
Step 2: Fish out what’s left
With the stopper out, feed a plastic zip tool down the drain, the barbed strip that costs a few dollars at the hardware store. Pull it straight up slowly. Do this a few times, then run hot tap water for a minute. Water back to normal? You’re done, and you can keep the tool under the sink for next time.
Step 3: Clean the trap
Still slow? Rag in the overflow hole, then try a cup plunger. If that doesn’t do it, put a bucket under the P-trap and clean out the curved piece. We walk through it in how to unclog a sink drain. Stop if the trap is glued or the chrome is crumbling. That’s a repair, and it’s ours to do.
When it’s not the sink
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| What’s happening | Where the problem probably is |
|---|---|
| Only this sink is slow | The stopper, the trap or the arm. Start with the steps here. |
| Both sinks in the vanity are slow | The line they share, past the traps |
| The sink is slow and the tub is too | A branch line in the wall |
| The toilet bubbles when the sink drains | A shared line or the main. Stop running water and call. |
| Water backs up in a lower floor drain or tub | The main line. Call today. |
Here’s the longer version: how to tell a fixture clog from a main line clog. Anything past the trap is a separate job, usually $200 to $800 at a single fixture, and our cost guide has the rest.
Keep it from coming back
- Pull the stopper and wipe it every couple of months. Two minutes.
- Use a stopper or strainer with a small catch if somebody with long hair uses that sink.
- Don’t rinse hair clippers or beard trimmings down it. Shake them into the trash.
- Skip the monthly bottle of drain cleaner. It won’t stop the hair, and it’s rough on old metal traps.
The $99 drain clearing
This offer focuses on clearing a blockage up to the P-trap, the curved section of drainpipe beneath the sink where debris can collect. It’s a good starting point for a localized sink clog. If the problem is farther down the line, we’ll explain what’s happening and discuss the next step.
Offer scope: Up to the P-trap. Deeper drain or main sewer-line work is a separate service, and we’ll give you that price before we start.
Common questions
Why is my bathroom sink draining slowly but not clogged?
That’s what a clog looks like at the start. Hair wraps around the stopper’s rod and soap sticks to the hair, so the opening shrinks a little each week while water still gets through.
How do you get hair out of a bathroom sink drain?
Pull the stopper and clean it, then run a plastic zip tool down the drain and pull straight up. If the stopper doesn’t lift out, it’s held by a rod and nut behind the drain, under the sink.
Why are both of my bathroom sinks slow?
Two sinks in one vanity often share a drain line, so both being slow points past the traps, to the line they share. Check it the same way, but expect it may need a plumber.
How much does it cost to clear a slow bathroom sink?
Our drain clearing is $99 for a blockage up to the P-trap. If it’s farther down the line, that’s a separate service, usually $200 to $800 at a single fixture, and we give you that price before we start.
Book it
Book the $99 drain clearing or call (703) 997-9757, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Rated 5.0 stars across 1,138 reviews on Google, Angi, Yelp, the BBB and Facebook, Virginia Class A license 2705192276.
