Tips For Clearing That Drain

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With families spending the nights over the Holidays, and constant use in the bathroom, let's hear some tips on how to clear the drains, courtesy of This Old House:

• The first tool to reach for when trouble arises is a plunger. This plumber's friend clears clogs from most fixtures, including sinks, tubs and toilets. Every homeowner should keep one handy.

• To dislodge clogs located farther down the drainpipe, use a cable auger, or plumber's snake, a long, flexible steel cable wound around a spool that's fitted with a hand crank. Cable augers are available in lengths up to 100 feet, though a 25-foot model will suffice for most any household clog.

• A closet auger is specifically made for snaking out toilets. It, too, is equipped with a hand crank, but instead of a spool, the cable is encased in a rigid shaft. The auger end is bent at a precise angle to fit through the tight curves of a toilet trap.

• For a very large clog or one that's far from the fixture, rent an electric power auger. This machine—basically a large cable auger powered by an electric motor—is very effective at cutting through virtually any clog, even tangled tree roots. Before bringing home a power auger, be sure the rental agent shows you how to safely dispense and retrieve the cable.

Read more at This Old House