How to Fix a Clogged Drain

Featured Pro: Eric Stromer
Category: Home Improvement
Time: 1:38


ERIC STROMER: Hey, I’m Eric Stromer. Here’s your GMC Trade Secret.

Why resort to liquid drain cleaners that actually destroy sometimes the very pipe you’re trying to clean out and also are terrible for the environment? Why use those products when you could just address the P-trap? Any plumber will tell you that’s generally the place where 90 percent of the blockages occur when it comes to clogs and blocked drains – very, very simple to remedy.

All you have to do is take a pair of channel locks, just like this. Undo both connectors here. Then all you do is dump that out just like that. Make sure that there’s nothing inside. Usually it’ll be clogged with hair or other stuff that may have fallen down; in my case, little tiny toys from my children, who figure this is a great place to play. So all you have to do is pull it out, dump it into that bucket, and then replace it very, very easily.

Now, if the clog in the drain is past the P-trap, you can get one of these, which is called a drain-clearing bladder. All you have to do is put a garden hose on one end, insert this into the pipe, into the wall, turn the pressure of the hose on. Usually it’ll blast the clog right out of your drain. So that’s very, very simple to do as well.

Now, for the bathtub, this snake is a very, very handy, inexpensive purchase. You can also rent them at any local hardware store. This is very easy to operate. This chain just comes out. You put it in the drain just like that and you crank away. It’ll take any clog out of any drain.

Then, for the toilet, this is a nice handy thing as well, again, available at the local hardware store around $35, a great way to unclog your drain.

So if you are looking to a plumber to come in and fix your problems for you, I say do it yourself. It’s very easy to do.

My name is Eric Stromer. That’s your GMC Trade Secret.