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Unclogging stopped drains
Tools of the trade
Make the job easier with the right tools: a good quality
plunger, a pipe wrench, a 25 ft sewer snake (auger) , a closet
auger. ... Avoid caustic chemical drain cleaners.
Kitchenn sinks:
(Usual cause: grease, food particles)
If the sink is a double-bowl model, plug one side with a cloth
and hold it firmly in place. If a disposer is mounted in one
side, plug the opposite side.
Run hot water into the sink, the hotter the better, even
boiling. If the sink has a disposer, turn it on. If this
doesn't clear the obstruction, try using a plunger, making
sure the plug on the drain on the other side of the double
bowl doesn't pop loose. It's good practice to apply a thick
layer of petroleum jelly to the rim of the plunger before
using it to ensure a tight seal, thus greater suction.
If this doesn't work, you may need to run a snake
through the pipe under the sink. First check to see if the
trap has a clean-out plug. If it does, remove it (be careful;
water will drain out), and push a straightened coat hanger or
bottle brush around the bends of the trap to remove debris.
If that fails, you will have to disassemble the trap; (be
aware that all the water in the sink will pour out when you do
this). The trap is held in place by a large nut on either end.
They may come loose by hand, but you may need a pipe wrench;
be careful not to damage them.
Once the trap is removed, check to see if it's clear. If it
is, feed the snake into the drainpipe going into the wall. You
should eventually detect resistance, but this could be as far
as ten to fifteen feet into the drainpipe. As you turn the
snake, feed another foot or two into the pipe, and then remove
it. You should see some debris on the tip of the snake.
Re-assemble the trap and try running hot water through the
pipe again. If it's still clogged, try using the plunger
again. You may have to repeat the whole process once or twice
more.
Bathtubs
(Usual cause: hair, soap scum, body oils)
Quite often, the problem here is simple. Hair tends to
collect at the drain itself and can be easily removed to clear
the obstruction. If there is a screen over the drain, remove
it and insert a bent wire such as a coat hanger to fish out
any hair or debris that may be stopping the drain. If there is
a pop-up drain, raise it and try pulling the debris right out.
If this fails to clear the obstruction, try using the
plunger. But you will need to plug the opening at the bottom
of the overflow plate to keep the pressure from escaping
there.
If the plunger doesn't work, you will need to use the snake
as before, but feed it through the overflow plate. Two screws
usually hold this plate in place, and when you pull it out the
drain-opening mechanism will come with it. Most bathtub
obstructions are within three feet of the drain, but the snake
may be harder to feed through the pipe because of the S-shaped
trap under the floor.
As with the sink, the first try may not resolve the
problem, or it may re-occur further down the pipe so you may
have to repeat the process; once it is cleared, re-assemble
the overflow and drain screen and run several gallons of hot
water to clear any residual debris.
Bathroom sinks:
(Usual cause: hair)
Most clogs will be caused by hair collected in the drain.
Unscrewing the drain plug and using a bent wire to clean any
debris in the pipe above the trap can usually easily clear
this obstruction.
If this fails to clear the blockage, try using the plunger.
Be sure to plug any overflow vents with a cloth before
plunging to keep pressure from leaking there. If that fails,
you will need to use the snake. Follow the same procedure as
described under Kitchenn sinks.
Showers:
(Usual cause same as bathtubs)
The simplest but sometimes the most stubborn clogs.
Occasionally, hair will collect at the drain, but more often,
it will be deep inside the pipes. Problems can often be
prevented here by installing a supplemental screen in the
drain to prevent any hair from passing through.
Once the pipe is clogged, however, first try plunging, but
usually a snake will be needed, and it may well need to be
extended to its full length to reach the obstruction. You will
need to remove the drain cover, which is usually held in place
by two screws.
Toilets:
(Usual cause: toilet paper)
Toilets usually clog in the trap built into the fixture, so
the proper tool to use in these cases is a closet auger, which
is only about three feet long.
A plunger will usually clear the obstruction fairly easily,
but in the event that it doesn't, place the auger in the
toilet with the upturned tip going into the drain and push
down as you crank to the right.
Once you feel the auger pass through the trap, crank to the
left to pull it back out. Pour a bucket of water into the bowl
to make sure it empties before flushing the toilet again. You
may have to repeat the process, working the cable left to
right until it's free.
Whole House blockage:
(Usual cause: backed-up sewer or septic, broken sewage pipe.)
This involves a blockage in the main drain leading out of
the house. Obstructions in the line leading to the street can
be the most stubborn of all and could indicate more serious
problems that professionals are best equipped to handle.
If you want to try freeing the clog yourself, you can rent
a power auger and feed it through the cleanout just below
where the main drain leaves the house.
You can try running a snake through the cleanout pug found
at the farthest end of the drain just above the ground Lever,
or you may need to rent a power auger
The cleanout plug is mounted on the largest drain pipe near
where it exits the house. It may be in a basement or
crawlspace, or in a utility closet in slab construction. It
may be in a vertical or horizontal pipe.
The cap has a square fitting at the top, which will have to
be removed by an open-ended wrench. Once again, be prepared to
mop up the water which will escape when it is opened.
One option that may be tried is to use a powerful stream of
water from your garden hose in the drain to force a clog free,
but this could cause even more flooding.
If this fails, the next step is usually best left to a
professional.
( If you have a septic tank, it may need cleaning out.)
Preventive measures:
Clearing drain clogs are no fun and it's a lot better to
prevent them from occurring in the first place if possible.
- First and foremost, try not to let hair, soap scum,
oils, grease, food particles, paper, plastic, or any foreign
material enter your drain.
- Do not pour any grease down any drain. Pour leftover
grease into cans and throw them in the garbage.
- When using a garbage disposal, run plenty of cold water
to flush food particles that stick to the sides of the pipe.
- Don't empty coffee grounds into the sink.
- Never dump chemicals like paint or paint thinner down
the drain.
- Use strainers in all bathroom drains to intercept hair
before it enters the drain.
- Clean sink stoppers regularly.
- Make it a practice to pour a pot of boiling water down
each drain once a month, but do NOT do this in your toilet
or bidet.
- Periodically empty one half cup of baking soda down each
drain, followed by one half cup of white vinegar. Cover the
drain and let it stand for a few minutes; then pour a pot of
boiling water down the drain. The baking soda and vinegar
mixture dissolves fatty acids which may be starting to
collect.
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