Clear Any Clogged Drain

By: Merle Henkenius (Page 5 of 6)

Unclogging a Sink:
1. Unscrew the sink trap and drain the water into a bucket. Then remove the horizontal trap arm from the back wall.

Photo 2: FEED THE flexible cable directly into the drainpipe. Turn the crank clockwise to advance the cable and cut through the clog.

Unclogging a Sink:
2. Feed the flexible cable directly into the drainpipe. Turn the crank clockwise to advance the cable and cut through the clog.

Photo 3: HOLD A wet rag over the drain holes in the overflow plate to prevent the pressure built up by plunging from escaping.

Snaking a Tub Drain:
1. Hold a wet rag over the drain holes in the overflow plate to prevent the pressure built up by plunging from escaping.

Photo 4: REMOVE the overflow plate and snake the cable down the overflow tube. Retrieve it by turning the crank counterclockwise.

Snaking a Tub Drain:
2. Remove the overflow plate and snake the cable down the overflow tube. Retrieve it by turning the crank counterclockwise.

Photo 5: The angled shaft and spring head on a closet auger are specifically designed for clearing toilet clogs.

Freeing a Toilet Clog:
1. The angled shaft and spring head on a closet auger are specifically designed for clearing toilet clogs.

Freeing a Toilet Clog:
2. Turn the crank and push down simultaneously to force the auger cable through the tight curves of the toilet trap.

Photo 7: REMOVE the clean-out plug from the floor drain. Loosen old, corroded brass plugs with a hammer and cold chisel.

Clearing a Floor Drain:
1. Remove the clean-out plug from the floor drain. Loosen old, corroded brass plugs with a hammer and cold chisel.

Photo 8: A POWER auger can break up the toughest clogs. Some models come with interchangeable cutting blades.

Clearing a Floor Drain:
2. A power auger can break up the toughest clogs. Some models come with interchangeable cutting blades.

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Free a toilet clog
Toilet clogs almost always occur at the top of the tight, up-curving trap that's part of the fixture. In some cases, a plunger can provide enough power to clear the way, but more often than not, you'll have to use a closet auger.

Place the auger end into the bowl with its bent tip aiming up (photo 5). Hold the tool shaft steady as you crank and push down on the handle (photo 6). You'll feel the cable snake its way up and through the trap.

Continue cranking until you've dispensed the entire cable—about 3 ft. Retrieve the cable by simultaneously cranking and pulling up.

Flush the toilet to clear out the drainpipe. If it's still a little sluggish, run the auger through the trap twice more: once up the left side of the trap, then again up the right side. This three-pronged attack will clear any matter clinging to the sides of the trap.