How to Unclog a Drain Yourself

Clogged drains can be very annoying. So can losing valuable items down the drain. Here are some tips for unclogging a drain by yourself.

The first thing you should try is to find a liquid drain product that works with your plumbing system. Some drain cleaners are only meant to be used with certain pipes. Read the drain cleaners carefully to make sure they are compatible with your system.

If you already have a cleaner be careful with them. Don’t mix different types of chemicals when cleaning. Many cleaners won’t be compatible with each other and shouldn’t be mixed. If there are chemicals in a trap don’t unscrew it. You will want to suction that out before you try to remove it. Chemicals that have been sitting can become rather strong, and have a possibility of burning you when it spills down.

The best way to remove a sink trap is to loosen the end nuts. Some can be loosened by hand, but a lot of them will require a pipe wrench. There might be a gush of water when it comes free, so keep the bucket nearby to catch any water.

When you lose something valuable down the drain, its important to stop the water going down the sink immediately. When trying to remove something like a ring or contact ring down a sink, your best bet to find it is if it is stuck in the P or S shaped part of the drain. Remove the P or S trap and spill all the contents the bucket before putting it aside.

If you can’t find your item in the bowl, it might be stuck to something inside. Hold the trap over a new bucket or bowl, and run some water through the trap. If you’re lucky, it will come free and you’ll be able to find it. Before placing the trap back on, check the washers or nuts for any damage. If you notice any that are misshaped replace them. Its better to replace any damaged washers now so you don’t have to worry about having to deal with a leaky sink later on.