How To Unclog Drain 4 Ways, by StatUpBox on YouTube. 4 min 11 s.
- Video length
- 4 min 11 s
- Time to do it
- 30 minutes
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Steps
- 8
What you need
Steps
Put on gloves and place a bucket and old towels under the sink trap to catch any water. Clear the sink basin of dishes and standing water.
Pull out the stopper or lift the pop-up plug. Many pop-up plugs release by turning the knob behind the faucet or lifting the rod under the sink.
Remove hair and debris from the drain opening with your fingers or a bent wire. This alone often clears a slow bathroom sink.
Pour a sink-safe unclogging liquid down the drain and wait the time printed on the bottle, usually 15 to 30 minutes. Flush with hot tap water.
Seal the overflow hole with a wet cloth. Place the plunger over the drain and push down firmly, then pull up sharply. Repeat 10 to 15 times.
If the drain is still slow, feed a drain snake into the opening. Crank it forward until you feel resistance, then pull it back to hook the clog.
For a stubborn clog, loosen the P-trap with pliers or a plumber's wrench. Empty it into the bucket, rinse it, and wrap the threads with plumber's tape before refitting.
Run hot water for a minute to check the flow. If it drains freely, tighten all connections and wipe up any spills.
Tips and common mistakes
Never mix two drain cleaners or use one after a plunger without flushing first, as the chemicals can react and splash.
Do not use a plunger on a sink full of chemical cleaner, since it can splash into your eyes.
Hot water and a little dish soap once a week help keep grease from building up in kitchen drains.
If water backs up in other fixtures too, the main line may be blocked and you should call a plumber.
Questions
Can I use a plunger on a bathroom sink?
Yes, but block the overflow hole with a wet cloth first or the plunger will just push air through it.
What if the drain cleaner does not work?
Wait the full time on the label, flush with hot water, then try a plunger or drain snake before using the P-trap.
Is a drain snake safe for plastic pipes?
A hand snake is fine for most plastic traps if you feed it gently and stop when you feel resistance.
This guide was drafted from the video's details and general task knowledge. It has not been checked against the full video. Check the video and relevant product instructions before following a procedure. Report a correction.
