How to Unclog a Drain… and Prevent it From Clogging Again!

How to Unclog a Drain

Most clogs are caused by hair, food, and other debris that goes into the drain and forms a barrier that doesn't allow water and other materials to flow through. Because the water and other materials have nowhere else to go, they slow down or stop altogether if the clog is bad enough. As a result, everything backs up and often causes a mess if you don't notice it in time.

Your goal is to eliminate the barrier to allow liquids to flow through freely. The following steps apply to organic clogs, such as hair, bits of food, etc., NOT clogs caused by children's toys or jewelry.

Step 1: Start with the easiest fix, checking the drain stopper. If you find hair or other debris on your stopper, remove it and dispose of it (NOT back in your drain). There are several types of drain stoppers – spring-loaded, push-pull, twist-and-pull, etc. Here are instructions to remove every kind of drain stopper. If there's a lot of debris, that may fix the clog. 

Step 2: If cleaning out the drain stopper doesn't work, your next step is to use a plunger. Leave the stopper out, grab a couple of towels (just in case), and stuff a wet rag or sponge into the sink or tub overflow opening to help form a seal. Next, place the plunger cup over the drain opening and run enough water to cover the plunger cup. Next, begin pushing and pulling the plunger's handle up and down while trying to keep the seal formed by the plunger cup.

Depending on the size of the clog, this may take you a while. One of the biggest mistakes people make is to give up too soon. If it doesn't seem to be working, try alternating between steady plunges and a few really hard, forceful plunges.

Step 3: If the plunger doesn't clear the clog, your next step is to use a plumbing snake (Aka drain snake or drain auger). Push the end of the snake into the drain and begin to turn the handle, which will cause the snake to go down into the drain. Keep turning the handle until you feel some resistance.

When you feel a slight resistance, you've probably gotten to the curve in the trap under the sink and may need to apply a little more pressure. When you feel more resistance, you've probably reached the debris that is clogging your drain. You may need to rotate the snake to get the tip of the snake to attach to the debris so it can chop it up, push it through, or bring it back up. When it feels like the snake is moving through the drain easily, coil the snake back up and pull it out of the drain.

Remove any debris on the snake and dispose of it (NOT down the drain). Then, run water down the drain at full force to make sure the barrier has been removed.

Step 4: If the first three steps don't eliminate the clog, it's time to call in a plumbing service.

3 Tips to Prevent a Clog

1) Limit what goes into your drain

• Throw leftover food in the trash or compost bin rather than the garbage disposal.
• Pour grease into a sealable container – like an old glass mayonnaise jar – and throw it away or recycle it.
• Put dental floss, feminine hygiene products, etc., in the trash, not the toilet.

2)Remove debris from your drain stoppers at least once a week

3) Run hot water down the shower/tub drain after each shower and/or fill the tub with hot water and drain it once a week.

If You Need a Reliable Plumbing Service

If you find yourself at step 4 and still have a clogged drain (or if you would rather not deal with the mess, to begin with), give Pure Plumbing, Heating, and Cooling a call at 610-334-6043 or find us online. Our 24-hour plumbers are courteous, professional, and highly trained to handle virtually any plumbing need, including clogged drains.