 A stopped sink drain isn't just an inconvenience; it can sometimes be an emergency. It's always best to prevent clogs before they happen. Be alert to the warning signs of a sluggish drain. It's easier to open a drain that's slowing down than one that's stopped completely.
- Run or pour scalding water down the drain to break up grease buildups.
- If hot water doesn't unclog the drain, there could be some object in the drain.
- To check, remove and thoroughly clean the sink pop-up stopper or strainer.
- Determine if the clog is close to the sink by checking the other drains in your home. If more than one won't clear, something is blocking the main sewer.
- The most effective way to clear a clog is with a snake.
- You can try using a plunger or a chemical drain.
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 The plunger is a good drain-clearing tool, but it often fails to work because it's incorrectly used. Don't make the typical mistake of pumping up and down two or three times, expecting the water to whoosh down the drain. Though no great expertise is needed to use this simple tool, here are a few tips to guide you:
- Choose a plunger with a suction cup large enough to cover the drain opening completely.
- Fill the clogged fixture with enough water to cover the plunger cup.
- Coat the rim of the plunger cup with petroleum jelly to ensure a tight seal.
- Block off all other outlets (the overflow, second drain in a double sink, adjacent fixtures) with wet rags.
- Insert the plunger into the water at an angle so no air remains trapped under it.
- Use 15 to 20 forceful strokes, holding the plunger upright and pumping vigorously.
- Repeat the plunging two or three times before giving up.
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Though routine use of chemical drain cleaners to prevent clogs may eventually damage your pipes, these cleaners can be helpful in opening clogged drains. If water is draining somewhat, but plunging has failed to open the drain completely, you may want to try using a drain cleaner. Whenever you use chemicals, do so with caution and in a well-ventilated room. Be sure to take these precautions:
- Never use a plunger if a chemical cleaner is present in the drain; you risk splashing caustic water on yourself.
- Wear rubber gloves to prevent the chemical from burning your skin.
- Don't use a chemical cleaner if the blockage is total, especially if the fixture is filled with water. It won't clear the blockage and you'll face another problem-how to get rid of the caustic water.
- Never use a chemical cleaner in a garbage disposal.
- Read labels and match cleaners with clogs. Alkalis cut grease; acids dissolve soap and hair.
Safety Tip
- Don't mix chemicals. Mixing an acid and an alkali cleaner can cause an explosion.
- Don't look down the drain after pouring a chemical. The solution often boils up and gives off toxic fumes.
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- Kitchen sink drains clog most often because of a buildup of grease that traps food particles.
- Hair and soap are often at fault in bathroom drains.
Drains can usually be cleared easily and inexpensively, but taking some simple precautions will help you avoid stop-ups. Proper disposal of kitchen waste will keep sink drain clogs to a minimum.
- Don't pour grease down the kitchen sink.
- Don't wash coffee grounds down the sink. Throw them out.
- Be sparing with chemical cleaners, particularly if you have brass, steel, or cast-iron traps and drainpipes; some caustic chemicals can corrode metal pipes.
- If used no more than once every few months, cleaners containing sodium hydroxide or sodium nitrate can be safe and effective.
- Clean floor drain strainers. Some tubs, showers, and basement floor drains have strainers that are screwed into the drain opening. You can easily remove these strainers and reach down into the drain with a bent wire to clear out accumulated debris. And be sure to scrub the strainer.
- Clean pop-up stoppers in the bathroom sink and the tub regularly. Lift out sink pop-ups once a week and rinse them off.
- Every few months, remove the overflow plate on a tub and pull up the pop-up assembly to reach the spring or rocker arm. Remove accumulated hair and rinse thoroughly.
- Keep the sewer pipes from the house free of tree roots that may invade them. If roots are a particular problem in your yard, you may need to call in professionals once a year or so to clear the pipes. They'll use an electric auger to cut out the roots.
- Flush the drain-waste and vent systems whenever you go up onto your house roof to clean out downspouts or gutters. Run water from a garden hose into all vents, giving them a minute or two of full flow.
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REPAIR 
