Clogged drain: when to plunge, snake, or call a pro

What to do, in order

1. One slow fixture: plunge it (block the overflow first on bathroom sinks/tubs — tape works).
2. Kitchen sink: run very hot water + dish detergent for grease sludge; avoid chemical drain cleaners (they eat older pipes and rarely fix real clogs).
3. Still slow: hand-crank a 15–25 ft drum auger through the trap or cleanout.
4. Hair clogs in tubs: a $3 plastic zip-strip beats every liquid product.
5. Multiple fixtures gurgle/back up together (toilet bubbles when the washer drains): main line issue — stop DIY, don't run water, call for a main-line snake.
6. Sewage at floor drains or yard smell: stop using water entirely and call now.

Red flags — stop and call a pro

• Sewage backing up into tubs or floor drains — health hazard, main-line blockage
• Gurgling toilets + slow house-wide drains — main line, not fixtures
• Clog returns within weeks — structural problem (roots, bellied pipe) needs camera inspection

Prevention

Hair catchers on every drain, no grease down the kitchen sink, and enzyme treatment monthly in slow-draining older homes. Root-prone main lines benefit from annual preventative jetting.

This guide is maintained by the ee.ltd editorial team — reviewed for 2026. Browse all home repair guides or compare plumbing costs.

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What this repair typically costs

• Water heater replacement cost guide
• Water heater repair cost guide
• Toilet installation cost guide
• Faucet replacement cost guide