The basics
Most slow drains come down to a handful of causes. Bathroom sinks and tubs collect hair and soap. Kitchen sinks collect grease and food. Floor drains collect lint and silt. And when several fixtures slow together, the main line is usually to blame.
- Hair and soap: sinks, tubs and showers
- Grease and starch: kitchen sinks and dishwashers
- Wipes and paper: toilets and the main line
- Vent problems: gurgling, slow flow and trap siphoning
- Roots or sags: repeat blockages in the main drain
Step by step
- Check which fixtures are slow. One fixture points to a local clog. Several on the lowest floor point to the main.
- Clean the stopper. Pop-up sink stoppers and tub strainers hold surprising amounts of hair.
- Try a plunger. Use a cup plunger on sinks and tubs, blocking the overflow with a wet cloth.
- Use a drain snake. A small hand auger reaches clogs just past the trap.
- Skip harsh chemicals. They rarely fix grease, can harm traps and make later work risky.
Time to bring in the shop
Call us when a plunger and hand snake do not help, when more than one fixture is slow, when water rises from a floor drain, or when the same drain blocks repeatedly. Those signs point beyond the trap. We can clear the line and, if needed, use a camera to see whether a sag, crack or root is behind it. See drain cleaning and main drain cleaning.
Prevention
Use strainers, keep grease out of the sink, and flush only toilet paper. Our wipes guide explains why that last rule matters.
Asked at the shop counter
Why does my sink gurgle?
Gurgling often means a partial blockage or a vent problem drawing air through the trap.
Are enzyme cleaners safe?
They work slowly on film inside the pipe, but a solid plug needs a tool.
Why do several drains back up at once?
That usually means a blockage in the main drain line.
Questions about this job? Call (365) 413-9125 and talk to a plumber.