HOW TO UNCLOG A DRAIN

By Dan Stocke

A clogged drain, although a relatively simple problem, can be a real nuisance; it can put your entire bathroom out of commission, force you to stand ankle deep in scummy water in the shower, and, not dealt with soon enough, cause unsightly soap-scum build-up that requires extra time and money to clean.

Clogs usually don't suddenly happen (unless someone loses a sock down there). They build up over time. Hair and scum are the usual culprits. They catch on the stopper mechanism and grow. Water may begin to slow and over time the wad of goop will fall off and cause a clog.

Routine maintenance of your drains can prevent serious problems in the future. In this article, we will show you some simple techniques for clearing a clogged drain.

ZIP-IT: THE SIMPLEST SOLUTION FIRST - 30 seconds

Before dismantling the entire drain unit, try the Zip-It. Most clogs, both in a sink and tub or shower, occur at the stopper mechanism. Hair and scum will catch on the pivot rod that supports the stopper. The patented Zip-It is a long, thin piece of flexible and durable plastic with barbs on either side of its length. The Zip-It slips easily into a drain without having to remove the stopper mechanism and is long enough to reach past the stopper and into to the trap. When you pull the Zip-It back out, the barbs will grab onto the clog and remove it.

Because hair and scum will start to accumulate before the drain even begins to slow, it is a good idea to use the Zip-It on each of your drains on a routine basis. After a certain amount of time, that accumulation of hair and scum will break off, falling further in to the drain line and cause a clog. The Zip-It can save you many headaches (not to mention money) in the future.

TAKING THE PLUNGE - 10 minutes

WARNING: don't use chemical drain cleaners before plunging. The chemicals are toxic and can splash out while you're plunging. If you have already used a chemical drain cleaner, let it sit over night, and wear safety glasses and rubber gloves before plunging.

If a clog has moved its way further down the drain than the Zip-It can reach, grab the trusty plunger. Using a plunger is the next easiest way to clear a clog. The idea here is to break up the clog and force it down the drain. (This should be your second method of attack, as the Zip-It pulls the clog out, the plunger pushes it in.)

To insure a good seal, fill the sink or tub with enough water to cover the plunger. Cover the overflow drain with a damp cloth, sponge or duct tape, so the pressure won't come out there, but gets directed to the clog. If it is a double sink you need to keep the stopper in the opposite side for the same reason.

Push the plunger down lightly first, to blow air out of the bell. Now plunge vigorously in and out. This will force water back and forth in the drain and break up the clog. Add water as needed to keep the bell covered. This insures a proper seal. Keep going until you feel the pressure release.

If the drain remains clogged, reach for the snake.

THE SNAKE CHARMER - 30 minutes

Snakes are 15 to 20 foot lengths of tightly wound wire that are flexible enough to make it around 90 degree bends in a drain line. The corkscrew tip on the snake will grab onto a clog so you can pull them out. Prepare yourself; this could get messy.

Go under the sink and remove the P-trap. You will want to have a pail or bucket under the trap when you do this as water is going to come out. (It won't hurt to have a few old towels around either!) Push the snake into the drain and twist at the same time to get around tight corners. Take your drain snake and push it into the opening until you feel resistance. Pull out another foot and a half of cable, tighten the locking screw down and crank the handle clockwise so the snake winds into the clog. Then pull back slightly. If you feel resistance, you've hooked into something. Pull it out.

If the snake continues to make progress, keep feeding all the way into the drain. It will slowly eat through the clog. After pushing it all the way in, pull it back out. Make sure to wipe off the goop with a rag as you do (I told you this could get messy). Put the trap back together and run hot water down the drain. If it backs up it means that parts of the original clog may have become lodged again further down the drain, but this can usually be pushed out with a plunger. Go back to running some water into the sink, plunging the overflow if needed, and plunging to clear the loose secondary clog.

If you need to snake a bathtub, you will have to push the snake in through the overflow drain. Remove the overflow plate. Two screws usually hold this in place, and when you pull it out, the mechanism to open and close the drain will come out with it. You can now feed the snake down the drain in the same way that was described above.

STAY VIGILANTE

As soon as you notice water slowing - Zip-It. Using the Zip-It routinely keeps major clogs from forming. And keeps you from standing in puddle of water.