How to Clear a Clogged Sink or Tub

Clogs usually build slowly, so if you act fast you'll find the clog just inches away. If you let it build up, however, you might need a plumber to clear whatever is clogging your pipes and keeping the water from draining.

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Bottle Brush
• Plunger
• Rag
• Old Toothbrush Or Soft Wire Brush
• Dishpan
• Large Cooking Pot
• Heatproof Grease
• Hand Auger
• Replacement Trap
• Channel-type Pliers
• Screwdriver

Clearing a tub clog

1. Take out the screws that secure the drain assembly's cover plate and lift out the assembly. Remove any hair clogs and clean the mechanism with an old toothbrush or a soft wire brush, then lubricate it with heatproof grease.

2. If the clog is in the drain line, use a hand auger, which is better than a plunger because it pulls the clog out rather than pushing it down the drain. Push the cable into the overflow drain's opening, past the bend at the top of the pipe, until you feel soft resistance. Then screw the auger into the clog and try to pull it out.

3. If you must use a plunger, plug the overflow opening with a wet rag so the force of the plunger is directed at the clog. Put some water in the tub and plunge away. Flush the cleared line with boiling water.

Clearing a sink clog

4. 

   Place a dishpan under the trap to catch spilled water. If the trap is the removable type, loosen the two couplings with channeltype pliers (see A). Slide the trap off, dumping the water into the dishpan. Clean it with a bottle brush (see B).

5. If the trap is welded or glued and has a clean-out plug at the bottom, remove the plug with pliers and pull out the clog.

6. If a nonremovable trap doesn't have clean-outs, insert an auger through the drain and draw out the clog. To access the drain, remove the stopper. Lift it out, or turn it 90 degrees and then lift. With other models, remove the drain stopper's pivot rod, which screws into the back of the tailpipe drain just below the sink.

7. 

   If the clog appears to extend into the drain line, insert the auger into the drain line or trap clean-out. Push it past any pipe bends until you feel soft resistance. Screw the auger into the clog and keep turning as you pull it out.

8. Flush the line with boiling water.

Using a plunger

9. To plunge a sink, remove the stopper as directed in step 3, above.

10. If the sink has an overflow opening, stuff a wet rag into the opening so the force of the plunger is directed at the clog.

11. Position the plunger over the opening. Add a few inches of water, then plunge up and down vigorously, but with short strokes so you maintain contact with the basin.

12. To plunge a shower drain, remove the strainer and any visible clogs. Then cover the opening, add water and plug as for a sink.

13. 

    To clear a tub clog, lift out the stopper, if there is one, and stuff a wet rag into the overflow opening in the bottom of the drain assembly's cover plate. Then position the plunger, add water and plunge as described in step 3.

Tips & Warnings

• Wear rubber gloves when handling clog materials.
• If possible, try to remove the clog rather than force it down the drain, where it will be more difficult to access. Remove accessible clogs before plunging, and screw out resistant clogs with an auger.
• If all else fails, try using drain-clearing chemicals according to the manufacturer's instructions.
• Lay a towel down in the tub to protect it from dropped tools and metal parts, and to prevent anything from going down the drain.
• Do not try to auger a drain line through the drain hole.
• If the foam gasket between the back side of the tub and the fitting at the top of the drain assembly is dry or disintegrating, replace it. Remove the two screws that secure the drain to the tub so you can pull out the old gasket and slip in the new one.
• Wear rubber gloves when handling clog materials.
• If possible, try to remove the clog rather than force it down the drain, where it will be more difficult to access. Remove accessible clogs before plunging, and screw out resistant clogs with an auger.
• If all else fails, try using drain-clearing chemicals according to the manufacturer's instructions.
• Lay a towel down in the tub to protect it from dropped tools and metal parts, and to prevent anything from going down the drain.
• Do not try to auger a drain line through the drain hole.
• If the foam gasket between the back side of the tub and the fitting at the top of the drain assembly is dry or disintegrating, replace it. Remove the two screws that secure the drain to the tub so you can pull out the old gasket and slip in the new one.
• Wear rubber gloves when handling clog materials.
• If possible, try to remove the clog rather than force it down the drain, where it will be more difficult to access. Remove accessible clogs before plunging, and screw out resistant clogs with an auger.
• If all else fails, try using drain-clearing chemicals according to the manufacturer's instructions.
• Lay a towel down in the tub to protect it from dropped tools and metal parts, and to prevent anything from going down the drain.
• Do not try to auger a drain line through the drain hole.
• If the foam gasket between the back side of the tub and the fitting at the top of the drain assembly is dry or disintegrating, replace it. Remove the two screws that secure the drain to the tub so you can pull out the old gasket and slip in the new one.
• Wear rubber gloves when handling clog materials.
• If possible, try to remove the clog rather than force it down the drain, where it will be more difficult to access. Remove accessible clogs before plunging, and screw out resistant clogs with an auger.
• If all else fails, try using drain-clearing chemicals according to the manufacturer's instructions.
• Lay a towel down in the tub to protect it from dropped tools and metal parts, and to prevent anything from going down the drain.
• Do not try to auger a drain line through the drain hole.
• If the foam gasket between the back side of the tub and the fitting at the top of the drain assembly is dry or disintegrating, replace it. Remove the two screws that secure the drain to the tub so you can pull out the old gasket and slip in the new one.

[gustable]

on 3/4/2007 Since the clog is obviously after the junction between the shower and toilet drains, try using the vent on the roof as an access point to the drain pipe. Be careful though that you have someone in the bathroom to tell you if the snake goes out the toilet. You don't want a wild snake in your bathroom!

Alternately, some old houses have an access point somewhere along the drainage line. If you look around the outside of the house you may see one. If you can find an access point before any other drains you may be all set.

Good luck.

[paulmyers]

on 2/16/2007 When the toilet is flushed the adjoining shower backs up. The shower doesn't have an overflow and I can't seem to figure out how to get the drain cap removed (45 year old house). We've tried several attempts with chemicals, however no luck. How can I auger out the pipe?