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A clogged drain is one of the most common plumbing issues in any home — and one of the most commonly made worse by well-intentioned DIY attempts. Our plumber Treylin, who handles drain calls across the Spartanburg and Arcadia area, has a saying: “By the time they call us, they’ve usually tried Drano, a coat hanger, and a YouTube video. Then I show up and fix it in 10 minutes with the right tool.” Before you reach for a chemical drain cleaner or start improvising, here’s how our plumbing team recommends handling it — safely and effectively.
Start with a Plunger (The Right One)
Most homeowners own a plunger but use the wrong type. There are two kinds:
Cup plunger (flat bottom): Designed for flat surfaces – sinks, tubs, and shower drains. The flat rubber cup creates a seal against the flat drain surface.
Flange plunger (extended rubber lip): Designed for toilets. The extra flange fits into the toilet drain opening to create a proper seal.
Using a cup plunger on a toilet or a flange plunger on a sink creates a poor seal and wastes your effort.
Technique matters: For sinks, block the overflow opening with a wet rag to maintain suction. Place the plunger over the drain, push down slowly to expel air, then plunge vigorously with short, sharp strokes. The pulling action (suction) is what dislodges the clog, not the pushing.
Remove and Clean the P-Trap
For bathroom and kitchen sink clogs, the blockage is often in the P-trap – the curved pipe section directly under the sink. Place a bucket underneath, loosen the slip nuts by hand or with channel-lock pliers, and remove the trap. Clean out any debris, rinse, and reinstall.
This takes 5 minutes and solves the problem more often than people expect.
Use a Drain Snake (Cable Auger)
A hand-crank drain snake (available at any hardware store for $20-$40) reaches 15-25 feet into the drain line. Feed the cable into the drain opening, crank it forward until you feel resistance, then work the cable back and forth to break through or hook the clog. Pull the cable out slowly – the clog material should come with it.
For toilet clogs, use a closet auger (toilet auger) – it has a protective rubber boot that won’t scratch the porcelain.
What NOT to Do
Don’t use chemical drain cleaners. We’ve covered this before, but it’s worth repeating here. Caustic chemicals damage pipes, dissolve gaskets, and create toxic fumes – especially if mixed with other products. They also don’t work well on grease clogs, which are the most common type.
Don’t use a garden hose in the drain. Forcing water pressure into a clogged drain line can blow apart pipe joints, especially on older PVC or ABS connections.
Don’t use wire coat hangers. A straightened coat hanger can scratch porcelain fixtures and can puncture thin-wall PVC pipe. It also doesn’t reach far enough to be effective on most clogs.
Don’t pour boiling water into a toilet. Boiling water can crack porcelain. For toilets, use hot (not boiling) water if you want to try dissolving a partial clog.
The Baking Soda and Vinegar Method
Pour 1/2 cup baking soda followed by 1/2 cup white vinegar into the drain. Cover the opening and wait 15-30 minutes, then flush with hot water. This can help with minor buildup and odors, but it’s not powerful enough for a solid clog. Think of it as maintenance, not a rescue tool.
When to Call a Plumber
- The clog won’t clear with plunging or snaking
- Multiple drains are slow or clogged simultaneously (main line issue)
- Water backs up in one fixture when you use another (drain or vent problem)
- You hear gurgling sounds from drains
- The clog keeps coming back in the same drain (recurring = underlying issue)
- There’s a sewage odor
For main line clogs, we use professional-grade drain cables and hydro jetting equipment that homeowner tools simply can’t match. A camera inspection after clearing tells us whether there’s a structural issue (root intrusion, bellied pipe, offset joint) that’s causing recurring problems.
YOUTUBE EMBED: Got High Water Pressure? This One Valve Fixes It FAST — @YallCallWally
Call Waldrop Plumbing Air Electric at (864) 536-0887 for same-day drain service.
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