PROJECTS ONLINE: CLEARING CLOGGED SINK AND TUB TRAPS
Project Difficulty:
Moderate Estimated
Project Time: 45 minutes (plunger); up to 30 minutes (auger)
Tools and Materials:
For plunger:
Plunger
Ammonia
Boiling water
Bucket
Rags
For auger:
Bucket
Pipe wrench, as needed
Cloth
New trap, as needed
Plumber's auger
When water or waste won’t run out of a sink or tub, debris is often caught in the trap. The purpose of the trap is to stop the backflow of sewer gas into the house. The trap (some called a P trap because they resemble an upside down P) is part of the network of drainpipes that are supposed to move waste out of your house and into a sewer or septic system. But when grease, hair, soap, and food scraps go down the drain, they collect and build up over time in the trap. This collection of solids eventually blocks the flow of waste until it has no where else to go but up--right back into your sink, tub, or bowl.
Tip: The best way to deal with clogs is to prevent them. Watch what you let go down the drain. Traps and drainpipes are intended to handle liquids not solids. Pouring hot water down the drain for a minute every day will help.
1.
Are You Ready to Take the Plunge?
A plunger is one of the tools of choice for removing clogs. Believe it or not, there’s a little technique involved with using a plunger to get optimum results.
1) First, loosen the clog by pouring a quart of boiling water mixed with a cup of ammonia into the drain. Let this sit for 30 minutes.
2) Stuff wet rags in any overflow holes or in the drain of the second sink in a double-bowl configuration.
3) Position the suction cup directly over the drain opening and fill the basin with water 2 inches deep.
4) Apply steady, rhythmic, and forceful downward and upward strokes (up to 50 strokes, 10 at a time to test the water flow).
5) If clear, run hot water for a few minutes to flush any clog residue.
2.
When Suction Doesn?t Work
Another way to handle an obstruction is by removing the trap and clearing it. Don't try this with a tub trap, however; use an auger instead.
Safety tip: Wear goggles or safety glasses when you use an auger on a blocked drainpipe that may contain chemicals.
1) Shut off the water.
2) Have a bucket nearby to catch water that’s in the trap.
3) If your trap has a clean-out plug--a square- or hex-shaped plug in the base of the bend--unscrew it to clear debris from the trap with a bent-out wire coat hanger (Fig. 1).
4) If there is no clean-out plug, you'll need to remove the trap. Loosen the trap’s couplings by hand, if possible. (If not, loosen the threads gently with a pipe wrench wrapped in cloth, and then complete the rest of the removal by hand.)
5) Clear the trap, or replace it if worn.
6) If the trap is clear and the drain is still plugged, insert a plumber’s auger into the pipe until you hit the clog. Push the auger back and forth in a twisting motion to break up the clog.
