Does this story sound familiar? You’ve spent the morning cleaning house in preparation for tonight’s dinner party. The only task left is to spruce up the guest bathroom. You turn on the faucet to rinse away the scouring powder, and with exasperation watch the basin fill up even though the drain stopper is open.
Oh no, the drain is clogged. Should you call a plumber? Try to fix it yourself?
If you decide to tackle the problem yourself, the first thing to try is plunging it. With luck, the clog will be dislodged. Use an ordinary cup plunger, first removing the drain stopper and covering the overflow outlet near the top of the sink with duct tape.
You can try using a plumber’s snake, also called an auger, if plunging doesn’t work. A plumber’s snake is a long, thin metal coil with a crank handle that spirals the coil along the inside of the pipe and bores through the clog. If you’ve never used one, this may not be a job you want to attempt if time is a factor. It’s a messy, sometimes tricky job that may require taking apart pipes under the sink. A professional plumber’s motorized auger can produce results quickly.
Avoid the temptation to use a commercial drain clearing liquid. Chemical ingredients in some brands can damage pipes, particularly in older homes. In addition, if the liquid chemical treatment is unsuccessful, the result is a sink full of dangerous chemicals.
Sometimes the best bet is simply to call a professional plumber to clear clogged drains. Many plumbing businesses offer same day and emergency services, which will have your troubles resolved in short order.
