How to clear a clogged drain

Enjoying a shower, flushing the toilet, and washing dishes are everyday activities that we take for granted. But if you have a clogged bathroom or kitchen drain, you’re facing a temporary inconvenience… or possibly an expensive plumbing emergency. 

 “About 30% of our calls are for clogged drains, with a grease-clogged kitchen sink being the biggest problem,” says Louis Natale, owner of Proven Plumbing in Austin, Texas.

But before you call a plumber to unclog your kitchen or bathroom drain, you can try doing it yourself. Many clogs can be fixed with simple, inexpensive DIY techniques and tools. Even better, the most common types of blockages can easily be prevented.

Here are the basics of how your plumbing works, and instructions for avoiding and clearing clogged bathroom and kitchen drains.

Sinks, bathtubs, showers, and toilets are all connected to your home’s drainage system, which in turn connects to the sewer or septic system. The “P-trap”—which is actually a U-shaped pipe under a sink or built into a toilet—allows water and waste to pass through, but holds a little water to prevent smelly sewer gases from coming back up.

A clog often forms when gunk and debris—such as grease, hair, soap scum, tissue, or small objects—collect and solidify. This often happens in the P-trap, due to its shape. 

Hair, grease, and soap can also get stuck in a sink or bathtub’s drain-stopper mechanism.

A clog can form anywhere gunk and debris like grease, hair, or soap scum can collect and solidify in the P-trap. Hair can get caught on the levers inside the drain pipe drain’s closing mechanism, which pushes the drain stopper up to drain the sink, or pulls it down to fill and hold water. Anything that fits through a drain opening, including hair, grease, soap scum, small objects, food, or tissue, will form a clog if it can’t pass through the closing mechanism or P-trap. These stuck items cause the drain to run slowly and eventually build up and block the drain.

Here are the most common types of drain clogs:

Unclogging a drain is a DIY project if you have the proper tools or products (all available at home-improvement stores, supermarkets, and online) and don’t mind getting your hands dirty. Here are some methods to try. 

DIY facts

Skill Level: Easy

Cost: $0–40 (or $100–200 if you hire a pro)

Repair time: 5 min.–2 hours

Tools needed:

Plunger 

Rubber gloves (to protect your hands from dirty water)

Tongue-and-groove pliers

Drain snake (plastic snake, $10; music-wire drain auger, $25; galvanized-wire toilet auger, $40)

Sink/tub hair strainer, $10

Commercial drain cleaner, $10–20

DIY drain cleaners:

Boiling water

Baking soda

White vinegar

Dish detergent

A plunger is one of the most effective tools, especially for a toilet clog. (It won’t work on hair clogs.) Buy a high-quality plunger that achieves a good seal on the drain opening; they cost $15–50. (You can use a full-size plunger on a sink, but specialty sink plungers are also available for $10–30.) 

How to fix a sink clog with a plunger:

How to fix a toilet clog with a plunger:

If the plunger doesn’t get the water flowing, a thin, flexible auger, known as a drain snake or plumber’s snake, may do the trick. (If you don’t have a snake handy, you can try straightening out a wire coat hanger and using it to loosen or remove the blockage—but keep in mind that this can easily scratch a porcelain bowl.) You may have to insert the snake several times. Small objects or hair blockages may come out a bit at a time.

Basic plumber’s snakes generally cost $15–50. More expensive versions, powered by an electric drill or built-in motor, cost $60–400 (but can sometimes be rented from home-improvement stores). Follow the instructions for the model you purchase.

In a pinch, you may be able to fix a sink clog with items already in your pantry. Here’s how: 

Liquid drain cleaners such as Drano or Liquid-Plumr contain chemicals that are heavier than water, so they flow through standing water until they reach the clog. They’re generally effective against most types of clogs, including hair. 

For all drain-cleaning solutions, follow the manufacturer’s safety instructions to the letter. Keep in mind that the caustic chemicals also react with iron or steel and, if used too often, can damage old metal pipes that may already have begun to rust. They also can damage a septic system, so check the product’s label to ensure it says specifically that it’s septic tank-safe. 

If the chemicals don’t remove the clog, you’ll have to dismantle the drain or call a plumber.

Since the P-trap isn’t a straight pipe, waste can accumulate and create a stubborn clog. Here’s how to remove it:

Removable plastic, rubber, or stainless steel hair strainers or drain covers are the most effective defense against hair entering the bathroom sink, shower, or tub drain. 

More permanent strainers fit into the drain opening and catch hair below the surface. You can check and remove them for cleaning if the drain seems slower than usual. After a couple of cleanings you’ll get an idea of how often—weekly, monthly, or longer—you should check the strainer. Drain covers and strainers typically cost less than $10.

When using the kitchen sink, keep the stopper-strainer in place to prevent food particles from entering the drain. Always use a dish detergent and hot water to break down grease. And never flush leftover grease down the drain.

How to prevent clogs from solid objects 

Use a drain cover or hair strainer. And don’t put anything in the toilet other than toilet paper—to prevent random objects from falling in, keep the lid down when not in use. If you have toddlers, installing a toilet seat lock can prevent them from tossing items where they don’t belong.

If DIY fixes don’t help—or you’d rather have the job done by a pro—it’s time to call a plumber. You’ll generally pay $75–150 for a service visit to clear the clog, and $50–200 per hour if the problem turns out to be more extensive. (Prices may be higher during evenings, weekends, or holidays.)

Need a good plumber? Read more about finding the right pro for the job:

Find a professional plumber in your area.