A Homeowner's Guide to Clearing Clogged Drains: Tubs, Showers, Sinks

Clogged drains are a bummer; there's no denying it. They're one of the most common plumbing issues homeowners face, and while they aren't pleasant to deal with, we've got a few solutions for how to clear a clogged drain. We'll review how to recognize the signs of a clogged drain, methods to clear them (including some advanced DIY techniques), the proper cleaners for the job, and when to call the experts. Better yet, we'll also discuss how plumbing stoppage home warranty coverage can help you avoid the hassle of drain clogs and save money for other expenses. 

Identifying a Clog

While there are some telltale signs of a clogged drain, they're not always easy to identify. Let's start by covering some of the instances you might notice and how to determine the cause. Then, we'll go over how to clear a clogged drain in your home.

Signs of a Clogged Drain

If you spot any of the following signs in your home, it may be time to research how to clear a clogged sink drain:

Water draining slowly from your sink, bathtub, shower, dishwasher, or another drainage area is the most obvious sign of a clog. If you see water pooling in these areas, it's probably time to roll up your sleeves and get to work.

Standing water in the areas mentioned above is another sign of a clogged drain. The clog is probably more severe if the water is completely still and not draining at all.

Unpleasant odors are another indicator of clogged drains. This is especially true in kitchens, where food waste can build up in pipes and garbage disposals, creating a smelly situation.

Gurgling noises from pipes often happen when something is blocking the drain and causing water to drain more slowly. 

Gnats or flies can also appear when drains are clogged. This can happen in sewer lines or kitchen sinks, so watch out for these pests if you're looking for signs of a clogged drain.

Bathroom Clogs vs. Kitchen Clogs

There are some important differences to note when dealing with clogs in different areas of your home. The methods used in how to clear a clogged bathtub drain, how to clear a clogged shower drain, and how to clear a kitchen sink clog may be different. Oil or grease buildup, food scraps, or garbage disposal issues often cause kitchen sink clogs. Bathroom clogs are commonly due to hair, soap residue, and other personal care products like shaving cream and conditioner. In the next section, we'll cover a few methods for clearing clogs and where to use them. 

Clearing Clogged Drains

Your clogged drain's location and cause will determine which clogged drain home remedy you should use to fix it. We'll cover a few methods you can try before calling a plumber. 

Check the Garbage Disposal

Location: Kitchen 

If your kitchen sink has a clogged drain, the garbage disposal may be the culprit. Turn on the water and run your disposal — this may be all you need to do to break up a minor clog and get things flowing again. 

If the garbage disposal doesn’t run when you turn it on, turn it off and press the red reset button located on the side or bottom of the appliance. Once you've reset the disposal, try running it again. If it still doesn't work, move on to the next method. 

Quick tip: If your reset button doesn’t stay down once pressed, wait 10 minutes and try again. If it doesn’t work, your disposal may be broken and require service. NEVER put your hand inside your disposal, even when it’s turned off. If you need to access the inside, you may want to use a long, sturdy tool like tongs. 

Related: Garbage Disposal Safety Tips

Use Boiling Water

Location: Kitchen or Bathroom

Warning: If your drain is attached to PVC pipes, boiling water could damage them. Never use boiling water to clear PVC pipes.

If your home’s plumbing pipes are made of iron, galvanized steel, or copper, this method can be used on drains anywhere in the home. However, it's best for minor clogs caused by grease or oil buildup. Bring at least two quarts of water to a boil and slowly pour it into the drain. The boiling water should help break up and dissolve any grease or grime causing the clog. You may need to repeat this process several times to clear the drain entirely. If, after a few tries, the drain is still clogged, you may need to try another method or call a professional.

Warning: If you need to determine what material your pipes are made of, don’t risk pouring boiling water down them.

Try Vinegar and Baking Soda

Location: Kitchen or Bathroom

We've all seen the reaction caused by mixing vinegar and baking soda. You can use this to your advantage when clearing a clogged drain. Homemade drain cleaners like these are good alternatives to chemicals if you prefer to use more natural methods.

Start by pouring one cup of baking soda down your clogged drain, followed by a cup of white vinegar. Then, place a rubber stopper over the sink drain and wait 15 to 20 minutes for the mixture to work. Remove the stopper and run hot water to see if the clog has broken.

Use a Plunger

Location: Kitchen or Bathroom

Did you know there are multiple types of plungers? We don't recommend using your toilet plunger for a clogged drain, but it's a good idea to have a standard cup plunger around to handle sink clogs. Using the cup plunger, run some water in your sink to help create the force needed to remove clogs. Place the plunger over the clogged drain, then move the handle up and down. Make sure to maintain a good seal over the sink drain with the cup. 

Plungers work through a combination of pressure and suction. When a plunger is sealed over a clogged drain, and you apply up-and-down pressure, the water trapped in the plunger creates a force to dislodge the clog.

For a toilet, it’s best to use a flange plunger with a soft rubber cup within an outer cup. The soft inner cup can neatly cover a toilet drain opening, making it ideal for applications with angled smaller openings.

Note: If you have a double sink, seal the second drain with a stopper before using the plunger. Otherwise, you'll send the water out of the second sink instead of down the drainpipe. 

Snake the Drain

Location: Bathroom

In bathrooms, clogged drains are often caused by hair or buildup of personal care products like soap, shaving cream, or lotion. These sinks or tubs typically have pop-up stoppers, so the first step is to remove the stopper. Remove any debris stuck to the stopper. This may solve the problem, but if not, you can use a drain snake (also called a plumbing snake or drain auger). 

Related: How to Fix a Sink Stopper

Snakes can be used on any sink and are simple to operate. A snake is a long, thin plastic strip with barbs lining its edges. You can find them at most home improvement stores. Insert the snake into the drain until it reaches the clog, and wiggle it around in small up-and-down motions, slightly twisting it as you go. When you pull out the snake, it will likely come up with clumps of hair or debris. While an unpleasant task, cleanup is as easy as tossing the snake and debris into the trash. 

Preventing Future Clogs

Once you've completed the messy job of clearing a clogged drain, you'll want to know how to prevent it in the future. Let's go over how to avoid clogs in kitchen and bathroom sinks to keep you from getting your hands dirty when you don't have to. 

Preventing Kitchen Clogs

The first key to preventing clogged kitchen sinks is taking good care of your garbage disposal. The following tips will help keep your disposal running at its best: 

• Don't overload the disposal: Use your garbage disposal for scraps from plates, but never put large amounts of food waste down at once. 
• Never pour fat down the drain: Fats, oils, and grease can become solid when cool, obstructing the pipes. Store a few cans or jars under the sink and use them to collect leftover grease and oil from pots and pans. Once they're full, toss them in the trash. 
• Toss starchy foods in the trash: Sticky items like pasta, rice, potatoes, and fibrous corn husks can easily clump and cause drain clogs. These items should be scraped into the trash or compost. 
• Always run the water: Continue running your faucet for around 15 seconds after turning the disposal off. This helps clear any food particles from the pipes and keeps them clear. 
• Keep the disposal clean: You can use a few methods to keep your disposal running and smelling fresh. First, make ice cubes with one part vinegar and one part water. Drop these into the disposal once a month to clear buildup. Run a few lemon peels through the disposal occasionally to remove odors, and leave baking soda in the drain overnight as needed to remove any smells.

Preventing Bathroom Clogs

Bathroom drain clogs are a bit easier to prevent than kitchen clogs, but there are some crucial steps to prevent them from forming. 

• Use a hair filter: These are an inexpensive way to keep hair out of the drain, and you can find different types to fit just about any drain size and type. 
• Don't wash things down the sink: Your bathroom sink cannot handle anything but water. Whenever possible, avoid washing hair and other products down the drain. Instead, wipe them into the trash. 
• Clean the drain regularly: Occasionally use the boiling water method (though not for pvc pipes) to break down soap scum and debris. 

Protect Your Plumbing With a Home Warranty

You've learned how to spot and remove drain clogs — but what happens when the problem is too big for a DIY fix? Luckily, with a home warranty plan from First American, you have coverage for garbage disposal and plumbing stoppages. Don’t have a warranty? Learn more about plumbing coverage and get a personalized home warranty quote today to start your protection. 

FAQs About Clogged Drains

What is the fastest way to clear a clogged drain? 

Quickly clearing a clogged drain depends on the cause of the blockage. We recommend following the steps in this article, but if you still can’t clear the drain, it's time to call a professional.

What will dissolve a blocked drain? 

Homemade drain cleaners like baking soda or vinegar can work together to break up drain clogs, but if you aren't having luck with natural cleaners, you can try purchasing a store-bought drain cleaner. Just be sure it's safe for the type of pipes you have in your home. 

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The contents of this article are provided for general guidance only. First American Home Warranty does not assume any responsibility for losses or damages as a result of using this information.

Please be aware that if you disassemble a covered system or item, it can invalidate your home warranty or manufacturer's warranty.