How to Unclog a Drain

Don't surrender yet!

Introduction

If the plunger and the snake neglect, you probably have a big clog somewhere in the drainpipe. Hither's how to locate the clog and grind your way through information technology.

Tools Required

Materials Required

  • Expansion plug
  • Hand cleaner
  • Plastic cleanout plug
  • Teflon tape

Tough clogs

Clogged drains are e'er a hassle, simply some, like a plugged P-trap nether the sink or a stopped-up toilet, requires only a wrench, a plunger and a little elbow grease to unclog.

But sometimes the clog is deep in the drainpipe and requires more work and extra-powerful tools to root out. We'll show you how to detect and clear out these clogs, which are oft hidden in the drain system nether your floor.

Video: How to Unclog a Drain

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Salve money by doing simple plumbing repairs yourself. These fixes are completely DIY with basic tools and skills.

Projection pace-by-stride (14)

Pace ane

Figure A: Under-Floor Bleed Arrangement

Figure A: Under-Floor Drain System

The task of clearing clogs in the larger bleed lines constitute under the floor isn't for anybody.
In the first place, you'll spend about $50 a day or more to rent the large bleed-cleaning auger required, and you lot have to be strong plenty to heft the machine and to wrench loose those old, corroded cleanout plugs. Then there's the mess, and the half-solar day you'll spend running for rental equipment and miscellaneous plumbing parts.
So why would anyone in their right mind try to articulate out nether-floor drains?

Well, some of us thrive on challenge and beloved the satisfaction of solving a problem on our own. If this isn't motivation enough, consider that professional bleed cleaners will charge quite a bit more, depending on the problem, and yous may have to miss work or waste time waiting around for them to show up. Go along in mind, however, that some clogs require the services of a pro. Don't hesitate to call a pro if you suspect that the main drain to the street is chock-full past tree roots or caved-in pipes.

For a large, printable version of Figure A, meet Additional Information, beneath.

Stride 2

How to Clean Drain Pipes: Observe the Clog

The starting time step in clearing a clog is locating information technology. This frequently takes some trial and error, but here are a few pointers to get yous started. If only i fixture is chock-full, the problem is either in the trap or bleed line leading from that fixture. If a grouping of fixtures is affected, await for the clog in a location downstream from where their drains join.

Fig. A shows the drain organisation nether the floor of a typical house. Find that a clog in the location shown would touch on the kitchen and laundry drains, but not the upstairs bathroom that drains into the main stack. A clog in the larger principal drain would crusade all the drains to stop working.

As many of u.s. take discovered the hard manner, a clog in the under-flooring drain arrangement often results in wastewater backing upwards onto the flooring through the floor drain. To prevent this backup, many floor drains are fitted with an insertable backflow preventer that allows water down simply non up.

The photos beneath show one method of removing the ball-type backflow preventer to gain admission to the floor bleed trap for cleaning.

Never attempt to remove a cleanout plug from, or run a cable into, a bleed that contains chemical drain cleaner. Call a pro.

Step iii

Clear a floor drain trap

Clear a floor drain trap

Remove the backflow preventer to gain access to the floor drain trap for cleaning. Drive a chisel against i of the notches in the retaining ring, turning information technology counterclockwise to unscrew information technology.

Step 4

Clean out the trap

Clean out the trap

Vacuum out sand and dirt with a wet/dry out vacuum. Loosen stubborn clay or snag and retrieve other yucky stuff with a coat hanger or small, hand-powered drain serpent.

Step 5

Remove the cleanout plug

remove cleanout plug

Unscrew the cleanout plug in the side of the flooring drain with a pipe wrench, slip-joint pliers, or as a concluding resort, past chiseling it out with a cold chisel.

Step 6

Clear the drainpipe

clear the drain pipe

If cleaning the fixture trap doesn't solve the problem, and you've determined that the clog is in 1 of the under-floor drains, then y'all'll accept to rent a drain-cleaning automobile. With it, you can punch through the clog, snag and retrieve an obstruction, or cut through roots or stubborn clogs.

Unplug the drainpipe leading from the floor drain by using a one/2-in. cable inserted through the cleanout opening. Start with a general-purpose drilling or retrieving tool attached to the cable, and complete the job with a finishing tool.

Pace vii

Opening stubborn plugs

Opening stubborn plugs

The first thing you lot have to do to work on an under-floor bleed is to remove the cleanout plug. Removing a plug from corroded steel or cast atomic number 26 fitting is a real job. Try using a pipage wrench with a steel pipe slipped over the handle to increase leverage. If this doesn't work, you'll have to resort to chiseling.

Drive corroded cleanout plugs counterclockwise using a common cold chisel and heavy hammer afterwards squirting them with penetrating oil. If this doesn't piece of work, intermission out the plug with the hammer and chisel, being careful not to allow whatever pieces fall into the drain. Habiliment gloves and safety glasses, and be prepared for a possible flood of wastewater (yikes!).

Notation: Removing the cleanout may release a flood of backed-up wastewater, so be prepared with buckets and rags, and stay articulate.

Footstep viii

Rent a bleed-cleaning automobile

Before you head to the rental shop, try to determine the location of the clog, or exist able to describe the symptoms. Smaller drain lines, from ane-1/two in. to 3 in. in diameter, require a one/2-in. cable. Larger main drains require a 3/4-in. cable.

Ask the rental agent to recommend the correct car and show you exactly how to utilize it. Also, inquire for safety instructions. Audit the automobile to brand sure the motor and pulley are covered with a guard. Ask the rental agent to exam the congenital-in footing fault excursion interrupter (GFCI), cheque the cord for fraying or clothing, and make sure the cable is not bent, kinked or tangled. Ask for an assortment of cleaning tools and a description of their employ.

These machines are very heavy; a large machine with 100 ft. of 3/4-in. the cable can weigh 215 lbs. You'll need help getting information technology in and out of your motorcar and into the house.

Some rental machines use a cable that's dual-wound and has a self-feeding characteristic. Since we aren't demonstrating the use of this particular car, ask your rental dealer for safety and operating instructions.

Step ix

Drain-cleaning tools

drain cleaning tools

Connect a cleaning tool to the cablevision. Utilize the starting drill to bore through a clog, the retriever to snag rags or other items, the grease tool to cut through grease and soap and make clean up the sides of the pipe, and the root saw to cutting through roots.

Stride ten

Operating a drain-cleaning car

These machines are powerful, and dangerous if safety precautions aren't followed. Read and follow the instructions provided with the equipment.

Position the motorcar 2 to 3 ft. from the cleanout opening, plug it into a grounded outlet or 12- or 14-gauge grounded extension cord, and make sure the switch on the motor is in the "Forward" position. Put on heavy leather gloves and safety glasses and make certain you aren't wearing any loose apparel, belts or jewelry that could get entangled in the cablevision.

Position the foot-operated switch where you lot can stride on it while y'all're feeding cable into the drain. Practice starting and stopping the auto with the foot switch to get the hang of it.

Step 11

Feed-in the cable

feed in the drain cleaning cable

Keep both hands firmly on the cable and slowly feed it into the pipe as you stop and start the motor with the foot switch until yous tin't push button information technology whatsoever further. Experience for an increase in cable tension and listen for the motor to slow or the built-in rubber clutch to slip. All of these indicate you've reached a clog. Stop immediately when y'all sense a change.

Step 12

Contrary to relieve tension

Reverse drain cleaner

Flip the switch on the motor to "Reverse." Then utilise the foot switch to run the motor in contrary for a few revolutions of the cable cage. This will relieve tension that may have built upwardly in the cablevision when it hit the clog. Switch the motor back to "Forward."

NOTE: The only other time you lot should opposite the motor is when the cable gets stuck and will non turn in the forward position.

Stride 13

Have your time

Operating a drain-cleaning machine

Chew slowly through a clog by post-obit these steps:

  1. Tighten the lock bolt that secures the cable.
  2. Depress the foot switch, running the motorcar in "Forward" while y'all hold the cable.
  3. Loosen the lock commodities, feed a little more cable into the bleed and retighten the bolt.
  4. Repeat this procedure until you cut through the clog.

Exercise non allow tension to build up in the cable. This will happen if the cutting head hits a snag and stops turning, simply the motor and its muzzle continue to rotate. Torque builds until the cable suddenly twists, potentially wrapping around your hand or arm like a steel boa constrictor! This can happen quickly and without alarm, so proceed slowly and advisedly every bit yous feed the cable into the drain.

Step 14

Supercede the cleanout plug

Replace the cleanout plug

Afterward you lot've conquered the clog and it's time to replace the cleanout plug, employ a plastic rather than a metal plug, and don't forget to employ Teflon plumbing tape to seal the threads.

If the cleanout fitting is too damaged or corroded to use a threaded expansion plug as shown. Install the expansion plug. Push the plug into the cleanout fitting, and tighten the thumbscrew or Allen bolt in the heart of the encompass to consummate the seal.  Plumbing suppliers as well bear a diverseness of plugs and couplings that volition solve the trouble.

If yous have the time and free energy after boring through the clog, clean the sides of the pipe past attaching a finishing tool to the cable and running the full length of the cable down the drain. Then use a hose to run water down the drain as you retrieve the cablevision. The h2o volition affluent the debris down the drain and rinse gunk off the cable as y'all
reel it in.

Check out these 28 tips for becoming a master plumber.

Boosted Data

  • Effigy A: Under-floor bleed organization