Clogged sink and bathtub drains

One fixture, or the whole house?

Start here, because it changes what you do next. If one sink or tub is slow, the clog is probably in that fixture's own drain. If several fixtures are slow, or water shows up at the basement floor drain, stop using water. That points to a blocked main drain.

What to try first

• Clean what you can reach. Lift out the strainer or stopper and clear any hair or food.
• Use a plunger. A cup plunger with some water in the fixture works best. Block the overflow opening on a tub or bathroom sink so the pressure goes down the drain.
• Stop if it gets worse. If the water keeps rising or a second fixture starts backing up, leave it and call.

Why we say skip the chemical cleaners

They rarely clear a full blockage, and when they fail the drain is left full of caustic water. That is hard on older pipes and fixtures and risky for whoever opens the drain next. If you already used one, tell us before we start.

What causes it

• Kitchen sinks: grease and soap cool inside the pipe and catch food. It builds slowly until the sink stops draining.
• Bathroom sinks: hair, soap and toothpaste collect around the stopper and in the trap.
• Tubs and showers: hair and soap, usually just below the drain. A hair catcher helps a lot.

How we clear it

Depending on where the clog is, we may open the trap, run a cable through the line or use hydro jetting for a coated kitchen line. We run water afterwards to confirm it is draining and show you what came out.

When it keeps coming back

A clog that returns often has a reason behind it: heavy buildup further down, a pipe without enough slope, a venting problem or damaged pipe that catches debris. A camera inspection can show what is going on.