H Mag - The Handy Mag for Home, Hardware and Home DIY Jun. 2014 | Page 37

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1. Take the plunge

3. Through the drain

The first step in unclogging a sink is with
a plunger. To do this, partially fill the sink
with water to cover the plunger head,
then plunge up and down vigorously,
keeping the plunger sealed against the
bottom of the sink. If you do not feel the
water swishing back and forth or enough
resistance, then air may be escaping
through the second drain or overflow
opening. To stop this air intake simply
hold the wet rag firmly in place over the
opening. Once you have broken the clog
loose, run hot water or a drain cleaner
through the drain to flush out the debris.

If the clog is in the sink trap, use the
auger (also known as a snake) to
carefully drill down the trap to remove
the clog. You may need to remove the
drainer basket. The most suitable auger
is a coiled cable that is wrapped inside
a housing. The housing should have a
handle and a crank on it for spinning
the cable inside the drain. With limited
force, feed the cable into the drain and
when you feel some resistance, you are
probably up against your clog. Make sure
you flush the drain with boiling water to
loosen and flush any remaining debris.
NOTE: Replace top seals if worn

2. Drain auger
If the clog is too stubborn for the
plunger, it is time to try the drain auger.
With an auger you can go down the
drain or you can remove the trap and go
into the horizontal drain line. Use your
judgment based on where you think the
clog is located.
NOTE: Chemical treatments can be
used to unclog a sink drain. It is very
important to read the instructions on the
product before using.

TIP

4. Remove the trap
If the clog is beyond the trap and you
cannot get at it from above, remove
the trap using channel locks or a pipe
wrench to access the horizontal stretch
of pipe. Simply wrap a rag around the
area you are clamping onto ‐ this
can prevent the teeth of the tool from
marring the pipe surface ‐ remove
the two nuts that hold the trap. Be
sure to put a bucket under the trap to
catch the water contained in the trap.
Follow the in