How do I unclog a slow running drain without using chemicals?

Answer 1

Fill the drain with baking soda then add a generous amount of vinegar.

Answer 2

Slow Running Drain

Answer 3

Remove the sink strainer or plug from the drain.

Fill the sink halfway with water, if it's not already full.

Place the plunger over the drain, making sure that the plunger's rubber globe or cup is full of water. Plunge a half dozen or so times using careful but forceful strokes.

Remove the plunger and give the sink a chance to drain.
After the sink is completely unclogged, run hot water down the drain for several minutes.

Remove the P-trap or use a snake if the above steps yield no results.

***OR JUST CALL A PLUMBER.

Answer 4

There are different methods, but it would be easier if you clarified if it was a kitchen sink, bathroom sink, tub, etc...

Slow drains are typically greasy gunk that builds up in litchen drains, and hair and gunk in tub and sink drains.

Also, I don't know what your level of mechanical ability is. With that said, you can go to a hardware store and get an expandable rubber ball that you plug your garden hose into. It creates a back pressure and will expand to the width of the pipe and the pressure from the hose will typically flush the gunk through. The instructions are on the package.

I agree that chemicals are a waste because they don't know what to target and with so many homes with plastic plumbing out there the chemicals can degrade the plastic and weaken it leading to yet more and much larger problems.

If this don't help, then just talk to someone at your hardware store.

Answer 5

If the slow drain is only one drain that is good. If the whole house is slow that is very scary and will be quite expensive to clear. (So you do not want to use chemicals.) Under the drain you will see plumbing trap and it will have two places where the ABS black plastic pipe is screwed together. Unscrew these with your large pipe wrench and investigate with a flashlight and mirror the nature of the clog. If this does not solve your problem the clog is much further down and will require a plumber. If you do not have a big pipe wrench get one at the second hand tool store or pawn shop for 5.00 bucks. Tell the man what you want it for and you will get the right size.

Paul Foyster
Victoria BC Canada

Answer 6

This Site Might Help You.

RE:
How do I unclog a slow running drain without using chemicals?

Answer 7

The best way, if the drain is assessable underneath, is to remove the trap, using a pair of channel locks if needed, or a pipe wrench, if it is a real old drain, and clean it out that way. It's not as hard as it locks, just messy, One Little note , my wife lost the diamond out of her ring while taking a bath. She noticed it after draining a small amount of water out of the tub. She couldn't find it in the tub which is difficult to do anyway with the water in it, so I told her to leave the water in the tub until I get home. I took off the trap and poured out the water, and there it was. Lucky ehh !

Answer 8

You can try boiling water. Depending on what's clogging the drain, it sometimes works. Probably it's a grease clog, though, and that usually requires a drain snake to really open it up. Even chemicals won't work to clear it out much.

Answer 9

if its your sink,remove the water trap underneath it then use a wire to clean the trap out,,you'll need a big wrench or pipe wrench to do it

Answer 10

Try Coca-Cola. The phosphoric acid in it will eat through most anything.