DIY - Unclogging a Slow Drain

Over time, a bathroom sink will become slow to drain, you may want to unclog the u-­‐shaped pipe (called the ‘p-­‐trap’) under the sink, as well as remove the drain plug to fully clean out the pipe above the trap.

The tools you’ll need for this project are: small and large size buckets, and an old toothbrush.

To start, you’ll need to completely clean out the area under the sink. Next you’ll remove the u-­‐shaped pipe (the p-­‐trap). Place a small bucket under the p-­‐trap, to catch any water that may still be in the drain. There are 2 nuts that attach the trap to the drainpipe. These are usually tightened by hand. However if there is a lot of buildup, you may need an adjustable wrench to loosen them. Loosen the nuts and slowly pull the p-­‐trap away from the drain. Be cautious, as any water in the drain will start dripping into the bucket. Clear any visible debris from the drain. Take the clogged p-­‐trap to another sink. Clear out and dispose of any clogged pieces, and then scrub the p-­‐trap with an old toothbrush and rinse it out well.

Now remove the drain plug from the sink. Unscrew the rod attachment from the back of the drain under the sink. Pull the rod out of the attachment. The drain plug can now be pulled up and out from the sink basin. Look down through the drain. Even though you’ll probably be able to see though, it still may have a lot of hair or particles clogging the drain. With the large bucket under the drain opening, run a gentle stream of water while scrubbing the drain with a toothbrush. Do this from under the pipe as well. Replace the plunger in to the basin, carefully aligning the notched opening to the back of the sink. Insert the rod through the opening of the drain and tighten the nut. Place the cleaned p-­‐trap back onto the drain pipes and tighten the nuts. With your hardware reassembled, be sure to check for leaks as you run water into the sink. Your sink should now have no trouble draining.

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