| One common plumbing problem that often occurs | | | | correct the problem, not cause bigger problems. |
| at the most inconvenient of times is a clogged | | | | The correct tool for the job at this time is usually |
| drain. Many home owners are tempted to reach | | | | a plumbers auger (also called a snake). This is a |
| for a bottle of their favorite drain cleaner - they | | | | long, flexible, spring like contraption that is |
| are easy to use, supposed to be quick, and you | | | | "snaked" down into the pipe. You can purchase a |
| don't have to get your hands dirty. The problem | | | | small, basic plumbers snake at any home |
| with quick fixes - as with many things in life - is | | | | superstore or plumbing supply store and they are |
| that the quick fix may not be the best.Most drain | | | | fairly inexpensive (another example of a tool that |
| cleaners these days will not damage your | | | | pays for itself the first time you can use it |
| plumbing when properly used. The key is to make | | | | instead of calling a plumber).Push the auger into |
| sure that you use them properly. If your home | | | | the pipe until you encounter a blockage. If you are |
| has a septic system, make sure that any cleaner | | | | using a manual auger, you may need to twist it |
| specifies it is safe for use in septic systems. | | | | (they usually have set screw and handle to help) |
| Different types of drain clog removers may | | | | to get around turns in the pipe. Once it reaches |
| target different types of problems and have | | | | the clog, you twist it to "auger into" the blocking |
| different instructions, make sure you follow them | | | | substance. If you have a fibrous clog, you will pull |
| to get the maximum effectiveness.Sometimes a | | | | the auger back along with a portion of the clog - |
| liquid cleaner will not be enough to take care of | | | | repeating as many times as necessary to |
| the problem. A number of years ago we received | | | | remove it. For softer clogs (like grease) you may |
| a lesson in what not to put down your food | | | | just force the auger through the clog and rely on |
| disposal - cantaloupe rinds. The disposal had no | | | | water pressure later to help continue to remove |
| problem grinding them up, but a few feet down | | | | the loosened clog.If you are unsure that you have |
| the drain they re-assembled into am impassable | | | | cleared the clog completely and you want to |
| clog.The first attempt was the faithful old plunger. | | | | check before you re-assemble everything use a |
| A plunger works on the concept of hydraulic | | | | hose to run some water down the pipe. Run the |
| pressure (simply put, you cannot compress a | | | | water SLOWLY - you don't want to find out the |
| liquid) to move the blockage. The problem with | | | | hard way that the clog is still there. Keep your |
| this approach in a kitchen or bathroom sink is that | | | | bucket underneath the pipe while testing. If it is |
| the drain may not be the only outlet - there are | | | | cleared, re-assemble your sink/trap and run your |
| often multiple drains and/or overflow connections | | | | water for a while - make sure that your drain is |
| which make a plunger useless in these casesThe | | | | working normally - if it is slow, you may still have |
| next step was to try and remove the sink trap. | | | | a partial blockage.One other potential solution is |
| Once you get to this phase, you need to make | | | | the "as seen on tv" water blaster variety of drain |
| sure you have a bucket and a few towels handy. | | | | cleaners. These gadgets are usually very |
| If you had previously attempted to clear the clog | | | | inexpensive and typically consist of a small rubber |
| using a chemical drain cleaner you need to be | | | | nozzle with a hose fitting on one end. The |
| careful here as there may still be residue in the | | | | concept is simple, you stick the nozzle into the |
| sink, pipes, or trap. Before removing the trap, | | | | drain, hook it up to a hose, and turn on the water. |
| make sure to drain as much of the sink water as | | | | The water pressure first makes the nozzle swell |
| you can.Place the bucket under the trap and | | | | to fill the drain or pipe opening and seal/hold it in |
| loosen the connection to the portion of the pipe | | | | place. Then the nozzle forces water into the pipe |
| leading down from the sink to the trap. By | | | | hopefully clearing the block by building up pressure |
| opening the down facing segment of the pipe first | | | | behind it. If you listen, you will hear the clog clear |
| you should be able to confine the draining water | | | | and water flow rapidly down the pipes.A couple |
| to the bucket - if you remove the horizontal | | | | problems to be aware of with these systems: If |
| portion first you are likely to make quite a mess | | | | you have PVC drain fittings (as many sinks do), |
| as the water drains in that direction. If the | | | | you better make sure you connections are good |
| remainder of the water drains from the sink, you | | | | - if there are any minor leaks or loose fittings you |
| know your clog if further down the line. If the | | | | are likely to end up with a sprinkler system under |
| water does not drain, then you need to check | | | | your sink. From personal experience there is one |
| the segment between the trap and the sink for | | | | other problem you may run into. When you turn |
| obstruction. Usually a screwdriver or length of | | | | off the hose, the pressure that previously swelled |
| bent clothes hanger is sufficient to check and | | | | the nozzle to hold it in place is gone - however |
| clear any blockages found.Next check to see if | | | | there is still water and pressure in both the line |
| there are any obstructions in the removed trap. | | | | and the nozzle. The results similar to shaking up a |
| Either take it to another sink and see if water | | | | soda bottle and removing the cap - it makes a |
| flows through it unobstructed or use a length of | | | | great funny story to tell you friends in hindsight, |
| clothes hanger to probe for (and remove) any | | | | but it's not quite so funny when you are mopping |
| blockage. If you found something blocking the | | | | up the kitchen.Finally, if none of the above have |
| trap, you should be all set. Re-install the trap and | | | | worked, it is time to call in the professionals. As I |
| run the water. If you found no obstruction, it is | | | | have noted in previous articles, a good contractor |
| time to search further.So the sink and the trap | | | | is worth every penny they charge you. Most will |
| are clear, what next?This is where you may need | | | | not only help you out with your problem but will |
| tools that you might not have handy but it is | | | | also suggest how you can prevent it in the future |
| definitely a job for the correct tool. Don't try to | | | | and if necessary point out problems that need to |
| explore the pipe with anything that might | | | | be addressed.Ray Breitenbach writes for Simple |
| potentially be dropped, break, or otherwise | | | | Home Repairs. Please visit for more information |
| become lodged in your plumbing - the idea is to | | | | on how to perform you own basic home repairs. |