How to Unclog Any Drain | Ask This Old House, by This Old House on YouTube. 9 min 18 s.
- Video length
- 9 min 18 s
- Time to do it
- 20 minutes
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Steps
- 10
What you need
Steps
Bail or vacuum out standing water first so you can see the drain opening and so plunging does not splash dirty water over the room.
Pull out the stopper or pop-up plug in a sink or tub. Most lift straight out or unscrew a small retaining nut behind the faucet.
Stuff a wet rag into the overflow hole. This forces the plunger pressure down the drain instead of straight out the overflow.
Set the plunger cup over the drain so the flange seals, then push down and pull back in short firm strokes. The pull is what breaks the clog apart.
On a double kitchen sink, seal the second bowl with its stopper and hold the rag over any dishwasher connection before plunging.
If water still stands, place a bucket under the trap and unscrew the slip nuts by hand. Clean out the trap and refit it.
Feed a hand snake or auger down the drain and crank it through the clog. Turn the handle steadily and do not force it past a hard stop.
For a toilet, use a closet auger. Its sleeve protects the porcelain as you crank the cable into the trap and pull the clog back.
For a stubborn line, push a drain bladder into the drain, let it expand, and hold it while water pressure scours the pipe.
Flush the drain with hot tap water for a minute and run the fixture to check it empties fast and does not gurgle.
Tips and common mistakes
Never plunge a drain you have just poured chemical cleaner into, because it can splash back onto your skin and eyes.
A plunger needs water in the bowl to work, so add a little water if the fixture is nearly empty.
Plunging a toilet is fine with a flanged plunger, but a closet auger is safer for a solid blockage.
If several drains in the house back up at once, the clog is in the main line and a plumber is the safer call.
Questions
Why is my sink still draining slowly after I unclogged it?
Soap scum and hair often cling to the pipe walls after the main plug breaks up. Run hot water for a minute, or snake the branch line again to clear the rest.
How do I know if the clog is in the trap or further down the line?
If the trap holds water but the drain gurgles and other fixtures are fine, the clog is close. Backups in a tub and toilet together point to the main line.
Can I use a plunger on a shower drain?
Yes, if the cup seals over the drain grate. Remove the grate cover first, block the overflow or nearby drain, and use short strokes.
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.
