Vancouver Drain Cleaning, How to Unclog a Bathroom Drain.

If you have a clogged sink you may have discovered there is a lot of online advice. Unfortunately I would say most of it isn't worth the time and other than lucking out with a plunger, you will probably have to get in there and manually remove the clog.

I have tried a couple of the more popular methods with varying success. Here is a review of them followed by my recommendation to use the right tool for the job.

• Method #1 - Pour 1/4 cup of vinegar and let stand for 20 min: This failed me horribly. I would be shocked if it cleared the easiest blockage.

•  Method #2 - Pour 1/2 cup of baking soda, then chase it with 1/2 cup of vinegar and let stand: This failed as well. I tried this on a blocked sink and it seemed to actually make the problem worse.
  
  
• Method #3 - Pour boiling water into the sink: I didn't risk trying this one. Bathroom sinks and toilets are usually made of vitreous china which may crack under extreme temperature change. This has the potential to cause a lot of damage. 

• Method #4 - Use a coat hanger to remove the blockage: This honestly does work if the blockage is hair stuck on the drain lever of a pop up drain. If the blockage is any deeper your probably going to have to spring for the $10 dollars to buy a sink auger from Home Depot. 

 My Suggestion: A more reliable method to unclog a bathroom sink is to actually remove the plug and auger the drain, because the clog is probably hair which will need to be removed manually.

1. Firstly please put on some gloves; drains are unsanitary.
   
   
2. Remove the standing water from the sink (you could use a sponge).
   
   
3. Place a bucket under the trap in case it needs to be removed later.
   
   
4. Remove the plug. If it is a pop-up plug, reach under the sink and undo the nut on the back of the drain assemble. (If there is hair stuck on the pop-up lever, remove it)
   
   
5. Feed the auger down the drain by pulling out a short length of cable, tightening the thumb screw then turning the auger handle clockwise while gently pushing the cable downward. You may need to wiggle the auger back and forth to get it past the trap.
   
   
6. Keep working the auger into the drainage until you feel you have reached the clog and the handle resists turning. Then retract the snake while turning the handle counter clockwise trapping hair. (Sometimes it is hard to work the auger past the P-trap and you may need to remove it. Remove the trap, making sure the bucket is below to catch debris. Then work the auger into the open drainage as previously described.)

This method, admittedly, is more involved than pouring vinegar down your drain but also a lot more likely to work. It's hard to achieve effective, lasting results if using gimmicky fixes in lieu of doing the job properly. Spend the extra time to get the best results.

Watermark Plumbing - Vancouver