How to unblock the drain that I blocked while unblocking it?
November 12, 2015 12:31 AM Subscribe
I have the type of bathtub drain that opens and closes from a knob at the side of the tub. This morning, I fished out a lot of hair from the drain with a metal stick. I was very pleased with myself as I turned the water on, expecting it to flow at great speed down the drain. Instead, nothing!
I imagine that I've triggered some sort of mechanism deep in the bowels of the drain that has caused it to shut. I've tried turning the knob and poking around some more, but neither have worked.
I seem to remember this happening in the distant past and random poking solving the issue eventually, but I'm hoping you guys have a more reliable solution!
I imagine that I've triggered some sort of mechanism deep in the bowels of the drain that has caused it to shut. I've tried turning the knob and poking around some more, but neither have worked.
I seem to remember this happening in the distant past and random poking solving the issue eventually, but I'm hoping you guys have a more reliable solution!
Ask your local hardware/DIY store about a drum auger which you rotate by hand or by drill to catch gunk.
posted by a lungful of dragon at 1:02 AM on November 12, 2015
posted by a lungful of dragon at 1:02 AM on November 12, 2015
If water from the sink is backing up into the tub, that probably means there's a bigger blockage further down the line. If you have the time to experiment, you could try getting an auger and doing it yourself, but be aware of the time and money that would take. I would personally lean towards calling a plumber, as expensive as that can be.
posted by teponaztli at 1:10 AM on November 12, 2015
posted by teponaztli at 1:10 AM on November 12, 2015
Best answer: yeah, you've got a blockage after where the bath and sink join. you've got five options:
1 - it might fix itself with time.
2 - one of those rubber plunger things could generate enough pressure to move the blockage, but it's unlikely in this case, because if you use the plunger in the bath the water can just take a shortcut to the sink (or vice versa).
3 - i don't know what's available in the states, but you may be able to buy some kind of gloopy liquid (caustic soda, or some enzyme) to empty down the drain, which might clean it out (but often doesn't).
4 - otherwise you need to thread through one of those metal lines, like a long spring that rotates (that people seem to be calling augers above). you can buy a hand-held one and do it yourself, with patience.
5 - or you can get a plumber or handyman to do (4) for you (they should provide their own auger, possibly motorized).
last is most likely to work, but also be most expensive. if you have no other bathroom people can use tonight i guess you're forced to go with (5) and should buy (3) or (4) for future emergencies. you might have time to give (3) a chance first.
posted by andrewcooke at 3:54 AM on November 12, 2015 [1 favorite]
1 - it might fix itself with time.
2 - one of those rubber plunger things could generate enough pressure to move the blockage, but it's unlikely in this case, because if you use the plunger in the bath the water can just take a shortcut to the sink (or vice versa).
3 - i don't know what's available in the states, but you may be able to buy some kind of gloopy liquid (caustic soda, or some enzyme) to empty down the drain, which might clean it out (but often doesn't).
4 - otherwise you need to thread through one of those metal lines, like a long spring that rotates (that people seem to be calling augers above). you can buy a hand-held one and do it yourself, with patience.
5 - or you can get a plumber or handyman to do (4) for you (they should provide their own auger, possibly motorized).
last is most likely to work, but also be most expensive. if you have no other bathroom people can use tonight i guess you're forced to go with (5) and should buy (3) or (4) for future emergencies. you might have time to give (3) a chance first.
posted by andrewcooke at 3:54 AM on November 12, 2015 [1 favorite]
I would advise against putting caustic materials down a pipe you would want a plumber to service later that day -- a puddle of caustic material, on top of a clog of organic material, in a pipe is not a great experience for someone trying to service the pipes. (Drano-type pipe cleaners damage pipes anyways, so...)
Since you have a tight time deadline: plumber.
posted by flibbertigibbet at 6:04 AM on November 12, 2015
Since you have a tight time deadline: plumber.
posted by flibbertigibbet at 6:04 AM on November 12, 2015
Response by poster: Guys, thank you so much for the advice! By the time I got home, the water had slowly drained away, and the rubber plunger actually work to fully clear the blockage away! Dinner is saved!
posted by snoogles at 6:25 AM on November 12, 2015 [3 favorites]
posted by snoogles at 6:25 AM on November 12, 2015 [3 favorites]
For future readers, an option that worked for me was filing the tub completely with water + some plunging (I had read (probably somewhere here) that the added weight/pressure of the water can make a difference).
posted by mikepop at 7:09 AM on November 12, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by mikepop at 7:09 AM on November 12, 2015 [1 favorite]
Also for future readers: there are new fancy plungers that let you shoot air-bombs into the drain - the cheaper kind is a bellows plunger or there's gas-assisted versions.
With a two-opening clog, you may need someone to plug or cover the second drain for a more effective plunge and also for not accidentally spewing drain water all over your bathroom counter.
posted by Lyn Never at 7:44 AM on November 12, 2015 [1 favorite]
With a two-opening clog, you may need someone to plug or cover the second drain for a more effective plunge and also for not accidentally spewing drain water all over your bathroom counter.
posted by Lyn Never at 7:44 AM on November 12, 2015 [1 favorite]
You can also get these plastic hair snares instead of a metal stick to better clear out your drain, in the future.
posted by suedehead at 9:17 AM on November 12, 2015
posted by suedehead at 9:17 AM on November 12, 2015
You could also try some preventive cleaning with an enzyme drain cleaner. I used it on the slow-draining shower drain when I first moved here. Very easy, not messy, and the drain drained beautifully the next day.
posted by bentley at 1:36 PM on November 12, 2015
posted by bentley at 1:36 PM on November 12, 2015
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posted by snoogles at 1:00 AM on November 12, 2015