You can print this part out, laminate it, stick it in your oh-so-functional toolbox, and use it as a handy reference when those pesky household dilemmas pop up.
Stopped-Up Drains
If more than one of your drains is backed up at once, that means there’s a problem in the main line, for which you’ll have to call a plumber. But if one kitchen or bathroom drain is clogged:
First, try the plunger. Plug all water outlets, such as overflow drains, with a damp cloth in order to confine the water to the drainpipe. Run enough water in the sink or tub to cover the bell part of the plunger. Hold the plunger at a slight angle as you put it in the water to avoid trapping air bubbles, and then place it firmly over the drain (make sure your plunger fits completely over the drain or it’s useless). Hold the plunger upright and push it down hard, then pull up, restoring the rubber bell to its original shape and position. This vigorous push-and-pull motion should be repeated anywhere from ten to twenty times. You may have to repeat the sequence a few times until the water drains normally. The pushing-down motion causes water to surge through the pipe against the blockage, and the pulling motion tugs at the clog.
If the plunger doesn’t work, try the trap. Every drainpipe, located beneath the sink, has a U-shaped bend in it; this is called the trap. At the bottom of the trap is an entryway into the pipe called a clean-out. It’s corked with a round or pentagonal-shaped clean-out plug that screws into it. Put a container under the trap that’s plenty big enough to catch the water, and using a wrench, unscrew the clean-out plug. (Tip: loosening the plug will cause water to spurt, so be prepared and try not to get too close, lest you get squirted in the face!) Allow the water to run out into the container, then using your fingers (this is where those gloves will come in handy!) or a coat hanger, attempt to find and clear the blockage in the pipe.
Last resort: the drain auger. If you can’t get to the blockage with your fingers or coat hanger, run the auger through the clean-out and alternately push and pull, turning the handle clockwise. If this technique doesn’t work, it’s time to call a plumber. When he comes, you can impress him by blithely mentioning that you’ve already tried to unclog the drain, peppering your speech with fancy plumbing terms such as “auger” and “trap.”
If you’re attempting to unclog a kitchen drain, make sure you first plug or disable any other drains that may be connected to the sink (double sinks or appliances, for example), before using the plunger. If you have a garbage disposal, the plunger won’t even work, so in that case start with step two (the trap).