Removing a Clog from a Drain
Remove Hair and Soap Clogs from Your Sink or Bathtub
Clear a clogged sink or bathroom bathtub drain with a plunger or by disassembling the plumbing, cleaning it, and reassembling the down pipe and p-trap using Teflon tape.
Removing a Clog from a Drain
Drains clogged up with hair; what an irritation. It's second only to a toilet problem. It's usually something we put off fixing until one morning the water won't drain at all. Most often the cause is a build up of hair and soap scum. Over the course of time the two slowly conspire to frustrate us. This happens in two areas of a bathroom; in your sink and in the bathtub. So let’s look at the best ways of removing hair from a drain.
When the Sink Drain is Clogged with Hair
If you have a pedestal sink or it's part of the countertop, first use a plunger. The best type is a half cup plunger. Don't try a plunger on a sink that's mounted below the countertop. The downward force might break it from the countertop. The clogged drain will then be the least of your concerns.
Before you use the plunger make these preparations. Be sure that the stopper is locked in the open position. Make sure to seal your sink’s overflow opening with a wet rag. This will give you a good tight seal. Remove any debris accessible at the drain's opening.
Turn on the hot water until your sink is approximately halfway full (if it's not already). Begin plunging using slow, repeated strokes. You'll know when you're getting too aggressive; your face will be wet.
Your Drain is Still Clogged?
If plunging didn't solve the problem, you'll need to back up, regroup, and enter the surgery mode. Get under the sink. Disconnect all your pipes having a bucket handy. At a minimum there should be the drain pipe, the p-trap, and perhaps a section of pipe that connects to a drain stub coming from the wall. Use your tongue and groove pliers to disassemble everything.
Clean everything with a rag and a brush and then reassemble everything. Use Teflon tape on every threaded surface. Test the system by running hot water for several minutes while you check for leaks. Then tighten the connections if you need to and you’re finished.
Unclogging a Tub Drain
Removing a clog from a bathtub drain is similar to removing one from the sink. The basic difference is how your hardware is set up. First try plunging. As before, you will need to block your overflow using a wet rag, ensuring that the plunger works effectively. Next take out your drain stopper. It might be a built-in type and this involves rotating it counter clockwise and then pulling straight up. If your type is different, ask the local home improvement store.
Now turn on the hot water until there's about three inches of water in the tub. Next begin plunging the plunger until you see the water flowing freely down the drain. Now re-install the stopper.
