Home > Do-It-Yourself Help > Try These Tips for Clogged Drains

Don’t use drain chemicals to fix a clog. Chemicals are hard on pipes and never are as effective as a plunger or a snake. But if you’ve already attempted to unclog a drain with chemicals, dilute the chemicals thoroughly with water or let them drain overnight before you try these methods.

First try a plunger, which works best when you block all openings other than the one you need to unclog. So, stop up the other side of a double kitchen sink and clamp the hose from the dishwasher to the garbage disposal.

Keep a few inches of water in the sink or toilet to ensure a good seal. If your toilet is clogged, you’ll get the best results with a flange-type plunger. Plunge steadily and persistently. Clogs often loosen with repeated effort.

If plunging doesn’t work, rent a snake. Push the snake into the pipe until it reaches the clog. Then screw the spiral tip in the obstruction and pull. To use a snake in sinks and tubs, first remove the trap—the bent section of pipe. If your tub has a drum-shaped trap, you won’t need a snake. A coat hanger probably will work.

Reaching sink traps is easy, but getting to tub traps can be tricky. If your tub is on the first floor, you can reach the trap from the basement. Or, the trap may be in a removable panel in a wall behind the tub. If you can’t reach it, call a plumber--don’t try to snake from inside the tub. Before you replace the trap, you’ll need a new slip nut gasket. Old gaskets usually don’t seal as tightly the second time.

If your toilet is the problem, rent a closet auger. This tool features a rubber sleeve at the end, which won’t scratch the porcelain.

To prevent clogs, never pour materials that harden, like wax, paint or glues, down the drain. And run hot water in your kitchen sink for several minutes every few days. The hot water loosens grease and flushes it down.

Home > Do-It-Yourself Help > Try These Tips for Clogged Drains