Is this your problem?
- One sink, tub, or shower draining slowly or standing full
- Gurgling sounds from the drain when water runs elsewhere
- Water backing up into a nearby fixture (tub fills when toilet flushes)
- Bad odors rising from a specific drain
Clogged Drain? Get a licensed pro on the line now.
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What to do right now
Plunge it properly
Seal the overflow opening with a wet rag, cover the drain with water, and plunge vigorously 15–20 times. Cup plungers for sinks, flange plungers for toilets.
Clear the stopper and trap
Pop-up stoppers and P-traps collect hair and gunk. A bent wire or removing and cleaning the trap solves a huge share of bathroom clogs.
Try hot water + dish soap (grease clogs)
For kitchen sinks: squirt dish soap down the drain, follow with very hot (not boiling) water. Never use boiling water in PVC pipes or porcelain fixtures.
Skip the chemicals
Caustic drain cleaners can damage pipes, burn skin, and create a hazard for any plumber who works on the drain later. If the clog resists mechanical methods, stop.
Call for pro clearing
Call (844) 699-1165. Pros clear drains with augers and hydro-jetting — fast, and safe for your pipes.
Stay safe
- Never mix chemical drain cleaners with other products — toxic fumes can result.
- Don't use chemical cleaners in a drain with standing water you might splash.
- Wear gloves; drain gunk is genuinely unpleasant and can carry bacteria.
- If sewage is involved at any point, stop DIY and call — it's a health hazard.
Mistakes to avoid
- Pouring chemical cleaner after chemical cleaner — it rarely works on real clogs and damages pipes.
- Using a wire coat hanger aggressively — it scratches fixtures and can puncture traps.
- Ignoring a drain that keeps re-clogging — recurring clogs signal a deeper line problem.
- Treating multiple slow drains as separate problems instead of one main-line issue.
What to tell the plumber when you call
Have these answers ready — it gets you the right pro faster and a more accurate quote.
- Which fixture is affected and for how long
- Whether other drains are slow too (points to main line)
- What you've already tried
- Any gurgling, odors, or backups in nearby fixtures
- The age of your home — older lines clog differently than new PVC
Not quite your problem?
| Several fixtures backing up at once | Main drain clog → |
| Sewage coming up through drains | Sewer backup — urgent → |
| Toilet specifically won't flush | Clogged toilet → |
Clogged Drain — FAQs
Why does my drain keep clogging in the same spot?
Are chemical drain cleaners safe?
How much does professional drain cleaning cost?
Can tree roots clog my drains?
Clogged Drain Guides by Metro
Same problem, local context — climate, housing, and water conditions that change the advice.