Address within 48–72 hours
Plumbing
How do I unclog a drain?
Slow or completely blocked drain? Here's what works, what doesn't, and when to call a plumber instead of making it worse.
Most common causes
- 01Hair and soap buildup (bathroom)
- 02Grease and food scraps (kitchen)
- 03Foreign object in drain
- 04Tree root intrusion (main line)
- 05Collapsed pipe
What to do right now
1
Try a plunger first — use a cup plunger for sinks, a flange plunger for toilets2
Remove and clean the P-trap under the sink (wear gloves, place a bucket)3
Do NOT use chemical drain cleaners — they damage pipes over time and rarely fix the root cause4
Do NOT snake aggressively without knowing your pipe materialWhen to call a professional
Call a plumber if: multiple drains are slow (main line issue), plunging didn't clear it, or the drain has been slow for weeks despite cleaning.
Browse Plumbing services