Five ways to unclog a drain

Key insights:

• There are several ways to remove clogs and buildup from your drains.
• Plungers and home-made drain cleaners are easy, inexpensive tools to keep on hand for when drains are slow to drain.
• Contact a professional if these methods don’t work, or if you think you’re facing a large plumbing issue.

Water pooling at your feet during a shower? Sink swirling for too long? Toilet not flushing? Besides the poor visual and wasted time that a clogged drain can cause, it can also cause drains to remain moist for longer, acting as a breeding ground for bugs and bad odors. Here’s how you can clean out your pipes and get your drains draining again.

1. Physical removal

For kitchen sinks and shower drains, large pieces or an accumulation of debris can easily stop water from draining quickly. Sometimes, the quick fix is to put on some rubber gloves and dig down for anything that might be blocking the pipes. Pieces of food in the kitchen and hair in the bathroom are common culprits. Fortunately, you can buy drain baskets and other tools to help catch these items before they can get into the drain and cause blocks.

2. Unclog with a plunger

If you can’t reach the item causing the clog (or if it’s too gross to stick your hand in, gloves or not), a plunger is a great option for forcing the blockage through.

1. Insert the plunger over the hole and add water to the basin.
2. Tilt the plunger to allow the air inside to escape and place the plunger over the drain to get a good suction.
3. Start thrusting (gently at first to get a good seal, then working up to a rapid pace) and maintain a rhythm for about 20 seconds.
4. Release the plunger and see if the problem has been resolved. If not, try adding hot water to help dissolve some sludge and gunk and help things move along.
5. Get a bucket of hot water and pour some directly down the drain. Wait a minute and pour more water. Repeat a few times then try using the plunger again. You may have to repeat this process to see results.

Note: never pour boiling water in a toilet or in a ceramic basin—it could cause a crack.

3. Make a dissolving mixture or invest in a chemical compound

Chemical drain cleaners you buy at the store can be a great option, but they can corrode pipes over time and are not always successful at removing solid obstructions. They can also strip paint from surfaces and be dangerous around young children and pets.

Instead, try a DIY pipe cleaner.

1. Pour ½ cup baking soda down the drain.
2. Follow with a ½ cup white vinegar.
3. Cover the drain with wet cloth and wait 5-10 minutes.
4. Flush with hot water for a few minutes to get mixture all the way down pipes.

4. Get an auger or get creative with a hanger

An auger is a plumbing tool made to snake into drains using a long, flexible cable that’s coated with rubber to prevent scratches. One end has a coiled tip to help push items down the drain, cut the item or grab it to take it out. The other end has a hand crank to push the cable down and up. Also referred to as a snake, this tool reaches further down the pipe and is considered the next step if a plunger can’t get the job done.

If you’re in a pinch and a panic, try straightening out a wire hanger. Create a loop at one end to prevent any scratches and help break up, push, or pull out a clog.

5. Contact a professional

Sometimes, a professional is needed.

If all else fails, you may need to get a pro out to your place. Call a professional plumber if multiple drains are clogging at the same time, you notice sewage backup or your home has old plumbing.

Another time you should contact a professional? When you are planning on listing your place or searching for your new home. Contact an expert REALTORⓇ at Edina Realty to get a pulse on the current market and find out what options and opportunities are available for you.