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How To Unclog A Drain

Drains clog up. It is just a fact of washing, rinsing, showering, and bathing. All of the things that go down the drain, hair, soap scum, diamond rings (just kidding, hopefully) accumulate to narrow the drain and eventually clog it up. The trick is how to safely unclog a drain and how to keep it from clogging up again.

The first job of a drain is to drain; to empty the sink or shower of water and all of the soapy residue we rinse off and then direct it into the sanitary sewer or septic tank. The second job is to keep the odors on the other side from paying us a visit.

The second part, keeping the odors where they belong, is accomplished by the trap, that S bend of pipe below the drain. The lower bend of the trap, traps water and that water traps the odor. Magic. The rub comes because the trap also traps some of the hair and soap scum we send through it. Over time, this tends to build up until, busy little beaver that it is, it dams up the drain.

Here Is How I Unclog a Drain

First I use a small hook I fashion out of a wire coat hanger. This usually works for shower drain clogs, but is only a start for sinks.

I bend a little hook at one end and fish out as much of the hairball or whatever is clogging up the drain as I can. If it is the sink that is clogged up, I take out the stopper and/or the screen. If it is the shower, I unscrew the floor plate, (being careful that I do not add to the clog by dropping the screws down), and go fishing with my trusty hook. The stuff I snag is very, very yucky, but hauling it up generally does the trick and unclogs the drain without further ado. Do not forget to replace whatever it was you removed to gain access. That shower floor plate is important to prevent little children from going down the drain and the screen in your kitchen sink keeps the silverware in the family and out of the filtration facility.

If the clog is mightier than the coat hanger hook, I get out my trusty plunger. I use a ball type, since I can never get the other kind to work anywhere except the basement floor drain. I plug up the overflow with a wet rag, fill the sink about halfway with warm water and plunge away. I use a firm stroke, making sure the ball of the plunger is filled with water. I said firm, not feisty, (no need to damage the pipes or sink), with the stopper or screen still out.

The plunger method usually works much better if I loosen the clog first with a commercial drain cleaner or a mixture of baking soda, hot water and possibly vinegar before taking the plunge. Try 1 cup of baking soda to 3 or 4 cups of hot water. Repeat if you need to and add some vinegar as a chaser after 1 or 2 cups of hot water. Then rinse with more hot water.

Unless someone has been using the sink to mix plaster or cement (ask me how I know), you should then be able to clear the clog with the plunger, if the clog has not already been scared away. Obviously, if you use a commercial drain cleaner/opener, follow the directions closely. That stuff can do mean things to your eyes, nose and throat.

Once the clog is cleared, use the baking soda or commercial drain cleaner several times a month to keep your drains open and clog-free.

© 2007 Complete Books Publishing, Inc.

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