When you were a renter, you could call your landlord and have them dispatch the handyman to clear the glob of disgusting hair, skin, and soap scum clogging your shower and keeping the water ankle-deep. However, when you own your own home, this is your responsibility. Those plumbing visits, especially after hours, can become very expensive. So, here are some ways to troubleshoot and clear a stubborn clog in a drain like a pro without breaking the bank.
Common Causes of Drain Clogs
Before diving into methods for clearing clogged sinks, it’s helpful to understand what typically causes “hairpocolypse” in your shower drain and a grease-swamp monster in your kitchen sink. Learning this now will prevent you from frantically searching Google while ankle-deep in grey water, watching bits of hair and soap scum gunk float near your feet. Here is what’s most likely to cause a drain clog in your new home.
- Hair and soap scum in bathroom sinks and showers.
- Food particles and grease in the kitchen sink.
- Mineral buildup in pipes over time.
- Buildup of fats, oils, and unflushable solids in the drains.
- Toilet paper and non-flushable items in toilets.
- Objects accidentally flushed down drains, such as your toddler’s small toys.
- Obstructions from invasive tree roots.
- Sagging pipes underground from shifts in the home foundation.
- Running cooked rice and pasta through the garbage disposal.
These causes can vary depending on the type of fixture and the materials used in your plumbing system. Identifying what commonly causes clogs can help you better prepare to prevent your drains from “draining” your wallet.
Identifying Your Clog Type
Before you go all in on fixing your clog, it is critical that you first identify the type of clog you have. Using the wrong tool on a particular drain clog can cause more harm than good. For instance, grabbing a toilet flange plunger to plunge a kitchen sink is not a wise decision. It may give you the plunging action you need, but it is unsanitary, and the extra force within it can damage the sink drain. Also, when using it in a regular sink, you’ll quickly realize that the extra rubber sleeve gets in the way, preventing the airtight seal needed to successfully plunge a sink. Here are some types of clogs you’ll encounter.
- Sink clog
- Toilet clog
- Garbage disposal clog
- Sewage clog
- P-trap clog
- Tree root clog
- The toddler experiment clog
- Flushable wipes and too much tissue clog
- Old pipe clog
- Pasta and rice clog
- Soap scum buildup clogs
- Laundry room clogs
- Hair blob clog
Each of these clogs will require a different method for clearance. Some may even require professional help. Knowing which one you have is ideal for knowing how to unblock it.
How To Unclog Any Drain
If you’re ready to tackle the less-than-stellar task of removing the gunk that’s blocking the drains in your home, here’s how.
How to Unclog a Sink or Bathtub
Plunging a Sink
Step 1: Remove the sink stopper if present.
Step 2: Cover the overflow hole with a wet cloth to create a better seal.
Step 3: Fill the sink with a few inches of water.
Step 4: Place the plunger over the drain and plunge vigorously.
Using a Drain Snake
Step 1: Remove the P-trap under the sink if accessible.
Step 2: Insert the snake into the drain pipe.
Step 3: Turn the handle to feed the snake into the pipe until you feel resistance.
Step 4: Rotate the snake to break up the clog.
Step 5: Retract the snake and run water to clear the drain.
How to Clear a Stubborn Toilet Clog
Using a Plunger
Step 1: Verify there’s enough water in the bowl to cover the plunger head.
Step 2: Place the plunger over the drain opening to create a seal.
Step 3: Push down gently to expel air, then pull up sharply.
Step 4: Repeat the plunging motion several times.
Using a Closet Auger
Step 1: Insert the auger into the toilet bowl, curved end pointing toward the drain.
Step 2: Crank the handle to feed the cable into the drain.
Step 3: When you feel resistance, continue cranking to break up the clog.
Step 4: Retract the auger and flush the toilet to clear any debris.
Dealing with Main Drain Line Blockages
Using a Power Auger
Step 1: Locate the main cleanout plug — usually in the basement or outside the house.
Step 2: Remove the plug and insert the power auger cable.
Step 3: Turn on the auger and feed the cable into the pipe.
Step 4: Work the cable back and forth until encountering resistance to break up the clog.
Step 5: Retract the cable and flush the line with water.
Hydro-Jetting
For severe clogs, professional hydro-jetting may be necessary. Think of hydro-jetting as power washing away the blockage in your plumbing system. This is a high-powered house with a multi-directional nozzle that uses water pressure to remove caked-on dirt and grime stuck in pipes. A hydro-jet machine blasts water at a pressure of 1,500 to 4,000 PSI. Even obstructions like tree roots, thick grease, and other solid blockages can be removed using this technique.
Hydro-jetting is best left to professionals, as it requires specialized equipment and expertise.
Preventive Maintenance and Drain Care
The best way to handle a plumbing disaster is to prevent it from happening. Here are some tips to keep your drains flowing freely:
- Use drain strainers in sinks and showers to catch hair and debris.
- Remove hair and soap scum from bathroom pop-up stoppers and shower drains.
- Avoid pouring grease down kitchen drains.
- Run ice through the garbage disposal once a month to prevent these clogs.
- Flush only toilet paper and human waste down toilets.
- Avoid placing “flushable” wipes in the toilet, since they don’t break down like paper.
- Run hot water through drains regularly to prevent buildup.
- Employ enzymatic drain cleaners periodically to break down organic matter without the harsh effects of chemical cleaners.
Giving about five minutes a month to these low-effort habits will help prolong your plumbing system’s life and keep your emergency cash reserves right where they belong.
Essential Tools for Every Homeowner
As you are preventing clogs, it’s a good idea to remember to keep the following tools nearby to fight the soap scum, grease, and hair monster growing in your drains.
- Zip-strip or needle-nose pliers to help pull hair out of clogged sinks and drains.
- Plunger to handle simple clogs.
- Flange plunger to handle simple clogs in a toilet.
- Closet auger to safely clear blocks in a toilet.
- Drain snake to clear clogs in a sink.
- Buckets to catch the water and debris from the overflow.
- Latex gloves for handling dirty jobs
- Trash bags to eliminate the gunk pulled from sink drains.
When To Call a Professional to Fix a Clog
No matter how much of a DIY pro you are, you have to realize when a fix is far above your pay grade and call on those who can unclog your drains. What may look like a simple blockage in the shower could be linked to a house-wide plumbing problem that only licensed professionals can determine. They may need to do more than plunge or use a hydro-jet. Professional plumbers may conclude that you need an entirely new plumbing system. Therefore, when you’ve done all you can do to clear a clogged sink, the next best move is to call in the experts.