How to Prevent and Fix a Clogged Drain

Every Calgary household experiences clogged drains at some point.

If it’s happening often, something needs fixing.

In most cases, it’s a temporary problem that can be fixed relatively simply by following some basic plumbing advice. If it’s a more serious problem that just won’t ease, you may need to call a professional.

Below we look at the main causes and ways to prevent clogged drains – and how to fix simple problems.

The key to preventing blocked drains is to understand the main reasons they happen.

If you find yourself nodding at any of the following, watch out! A problem may be just around the corner (or the u-bend to use a plumbing term).

It’s simple. Most blocked drains happen because of what people flush down the toilet or wash down the kitchen sink. This includes:

So, the best prevention for clogged drains is to avoid doing any of the above!

Okay, we all make mistakes and we can’t be watching the children every second of the day. Things get flushed or washed down the sinks that have no place there.

What do you do?

Unclogging a drain starts with having the right tools for the job. You don’t need expensive and specialized plumbing tools but it’s a good idea to keep the following handy in your home:

If you can lay your hands on the following items, they may also come in useful for unclogging drains:

Kitchen sinks, toilets, and shower drains are the most common household fixtures to experience clogged drains.

There are slightly different fixes for each, based on the prime culprits for causing the blockage.

Most minor blockages can be cleared with a plunger.

• Partially fill the sink with water.
• Work the plunger up and down vigorously several times and then quickly pull it off the drain opening – this should clear most minor blockages.

For best effects with a bath sink, stuff a rag into the overflow hole while you plunge the drain opening. For double-bowl kitchen sinks, block one drain opening while plunging the other one.

If the sink is still clogged, it’s time to venture underneath the sink.

Firstly. remove the sink trap with a pipe wrench or, if you have a PVC plastic trap, you should be able to unscrew it by hand. Then empty the water from the trap into a bucket and make sure that the trap isn’t causing the clog.

To get to work with your cable auger inside the drain, follow these steps:

• Remove the horizontal trap arm protruding from the stub out in the wall.
• Feed the cable into the stub out until it hits resistance (this is the blockage).
• Pull out around 18 inches of cable and then tighten the lock screw.
• Crank the handle clockwise while pushing forward.
• Repeat this process until the blockage is cleared, pulling out another 18 inches of cable if necessary.
• If the cable gets stuck, go counter-clockwise with the crank and pull back on the auger to release it – and then crank and push forward again.
• Remove the cable, replace the trap arm and trap, and turn on the hot water.
• Let the water run and check whether it drains.
• If it still seems blocked, debris may have settled into a loose blockage.
• Use a plunger to clear this simple blockage and then check that it is removed by running the hot water again.

The most common location of toilet clogs is at the top of the tight, up-curving trap.

Plunging is the obvious fix for a clogged toilet. Place the plunger over the hole in the toilet and create a seal, before working it up and down vigorously. This will force water at some pressure through the toilet, hopefully unclogging the drain pipe.

However, if that doesn’t work, it may be time to use a closet auger:

• Place the end of the auger into the bowl with the bent tip aiming upwards and hold the tool shaft steady.
• Crank and push down on the handle, causing the cable to snake up through the trap.
• Keep cranking until all of the cables have been unwound.
• Retrieve the cable by pulling up while cranking.
• Flush the toilet and this should clear out the drainpipe.
• If there is still a blockage, repeat the process once or twice (up to each side of the trap to clear any lingering blockages).

For further information on this, here is an extensive guide and more tips on how to use a plunger, how to diagnose your clog and simple steps to unclog your toilet.

Some homeowners who cannot put their hands on a plunger or toilet snake may resort to other remedies to unclog a drain.

This usually involves a variety of household liquids and other substances, such as:

Sometimes, these remedies will unclog a drain but we prefer the mechanical approach because it is more certain to work.

Taking the steps to prevent blocked drains can help you avoid costly plumbing and clean-up bills.

If none of the blocked drain solutions described above work, you may have a bigger problem requiring a plumber.

Augers and plungers can probably clear 90 percent of household problems but unclogging a drain when a snake doesn’t work goes beyond the capabilities (and patience) of most homeowners.