Why is my sink draining slowly?
By the Drain Guru team · Updated September 27, 2026
Quick answer
Most slow sinks are a partial clog: hair and soap on the stopper in bathrooms, grease and food in kitchens. Clean the stopper, clear the trap, and plunge or use air pressure with the overflow sealed. If several drains are slow at once, or they gurgle, suspect a blocked vent or main line instead.
The six usual causes
- Hair on the pop-up stopper (bathroom): pull and clean it.
- Soap scum and toothpaste build-up in the tailpipe: hot water and a brush.
- Grease and food in the trap (kitchen): hot water with dish soap, then plunge.
- A full P-trap: unscrew and rinse it out.
- A partly closed stopper that doesn't lift fully: adjust the pivot rod under the sink.
- A blocked vent pipe: drains gurgle and slow down together. See our guide on gurgling drains.
Treat a slow drain as a warning. It's much easier to clear a partial clog now than a full one later.
More questions
Is a slow drain an emergency?
Not usually. It becomes urgent if water backs up into other fixtures or smells like sewage.
Related answers
General information only. Plumbing codes, prices and landlord-tenant laws vary by location. For gas, electrical, sewer-line or structural problems, contact a licensed professional.