Michigan State University Extension
Home Maintenance And Repair - 01500371
06/24/03
Fixing Plugged Sink or Lavatory Drains
If all other sink and toilet drains are open the
blockage is probably local.
1. Check the stopper for accumulations of hair, soap and
other foreign material. If a plain rubber stopper is
used the accumulation is probably on the grate in the
drainpipe just below the stopper. Proceed as described
for slow emptying lavatories.
2. Some mechanical stoppers can just be pulled out,
others can be lifted, turned and raised, still others
require disassembling the unit. Take the stopper out and
remove all hair and foreign material.
3. If the stopper will not come out you have a more
difficult problem. Remove the trap below the sink as
described in Step 4. Also remove as much of the pipe to
the bowl as possible. Now with a wire with a short hook,
clean the hair out by working both from below and above
the sink.
4. After the bowl drain is free, remove the bottom of
the trap below the lavatory by turning the two large
nuts. The nuts are on the pipes to so turn them counter-
clockwise as you look at them from the pipes. Be sure to
put a bucket under the trap to catch the water which
accumulates in the trap. Clean out the trap with hot
soapy water. (Vis. 1)
5. Insert a plumber's "spring snake" into the drain pipe
and turn it as it goes into the pipe. There is usually a
hook on the tip which will catch on whatever is in the
pipe. If and when you feel it catch, pull it back out. Do
not try to push it through. Usually a plumbing fixture is
within 5 or 6 feet from a vertical pipe so if the snake
goes through to this pipe you can feel it on the snake
and the system should drain.
This article was written by Anne Field, Extension
Specialist, Emeritus, with references from Michigan
Extension bulletin First Aid for Plumbing.
This information is for educational purposes only. References
to commercial products or trade names does not imply
endorsement by MSU Extension or bias against those not
mentioned. This information becomes public property upon
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Issued in furtherance of MSU Extension work, acts of May 8 and June 30, 1914, in
cooperation with the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Thomas G. Coon, Director,
MSU Extension, East Lansing,MI 48824. This information is for educational
purposes only. Reference to commercial products or trade names does not imply
endorsement by MSU Extension or bias against those not mentioned.
This file was generated from data base 02 on 02/04/08.
Data base 02 was last revised on 06/24/03.
For more information about this data base or its contents please contact
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