How to Clear a Clogged Drain

In this video, This Old House plumbing and heating contractor Richard Trethewey explains how to clear a clogged drain.

How to clear a clogged drain

1. Clear toilet clogs with a plunger; press plunger down tight against bottom of bowl, then yank up sharply to pull clog free.
2. For stubborn toilet clogs, use a closet auger; feed flexible cable into toilet bowl and crank handle to cut through clog.
3. Use a hand snake to clear sink clogs; push the flexible cable down into the pipe, then turn the handle.
4. Feed a little more of the cable down the pipe, and repeat until you remove the clog.
5. Use plunger to clear common sink clogs; on double-bowl kitchen sinks, be sure to seal one drain when plunging the other.
6. On lavatory sinks and bathtubs, plug overflow hole with damp rag to direct plunging power to the clog.
7. When obstruction is in a large, main pipe, use an electric drain cleaner.
8. Feed the cutting head into the pipe, then flip on the switch to start the cable turning.
9. Continue to feed the cable and cutting head into the pipe until you cut through the clog.

The closet auger’s key feature is a protective sheath at the tip that sits against the porcelain as you advance the cable. This shield prevents the metal cable from scratching the bowl’s finish — something that would absolutely happen if you used a standard hand snake. Never use a regular drain snake on a toilet; save that tool for sinks, tubs, and other fixtures.

Pro Tip: When plunging a toilet, resist the urge to push down with hydraulic force — that can actually compact the clog deeper into the narrowing trapway. Instead, get a good tight seal with the plunger and draw it back toward you. Pulling the clog back breaks it into smaller bits that can then flow through the narrower passage more easily.

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