How to Unclog My Sink & Bath

Sinks and bathtubs can develop clogs due to the oils and hair that flow down the drain.

Bathroom sinks and tubs can get clogged due to the lotions, skin particles, moisturizing soaps and hair that end up in the drain. You can tell the drain is becoming clogged when the water stays in the sink or bath a little longer before making its way down the pipe. Unclogging the drain can be done using several methods.

Things You'll Need

• Drain unclogging chemical
• Sponge or cloth
• Plunger
• Wrench
• Cable auger

Instructions

1. Pour a drain unclogging chemical down the pipe. Follow the directions on the bottle to determine how much of the chemical to pour. Wait the allotted amount of time. This could be half an hour, up to several hours depending on how bad the clog is and the type of chemical you are use. Once time is up, run hot water through the tap to break up the clog. Repeat if the drain is still slow.

2. Stop up the overflow hole with a sponge or cloth. Run hot water to fill the sink or tub with a small layer of liquid. Place a plunger over the sink or bath drain and push it in forcefully. Pull up on the plunger and force it down again. Repeat until the clog comes loose.

3. Remove the sink trap with a plumbing wrench. Loosen it by twisting the connector to the left. Put the trap in an operational sink and clean it out with a bottle brush. Throw the clog away.

4. Run a cable auger into the pipe that goes from the sink into the house wall. The cable is bendable so that it can snake through the piping, and it has a tool on the end to grab hold of clogs. Push the cable in until you feel a resistance.

5. Turn the auger handle to twist the cable and work it into the clog. Push it in further and continue to twist it in. Once you feel it break through, pull the cable out slowly.

References

• Easy 2 DYI: Clogged Drains
• This Old House: Clogged Drains