I have a sink that, though not actually clogged, drains reeeeealy slowly. What can I use to clear the pipes that isn’t Draino? I’ve tried boiling water, but that didn’t work.
Call a plumber and have him/her snake the thing. It shouldn’t cost too much.
Haj
Cheap, non-lethal choice: baking soda and vinegar.
You can buy a consumer-grade snake at any hardware store cheaper than a plumber’s visit. As long as you can get it down the drain, it always works.
I couldn’t get mine past the curvy trap once, but got up on the roof and threaded it down thru the vent. Worked great.
There’s also often a cleanout plug somewhere in the waste line where you can get to the sewer system innards.
If possible, I would just take the trap out and clean it out.
That won’t work, Herm&, if the clog is farther down than the trap. Although it’s a good start.
Actually, in my experience the trap is where most clogs are.
I’ve used a plumber’s helper on sink clogs. You have to cover the overflow hole to generate any pressure. Often the plug is caused by gobs of hair and I have to remove the stopper-lever-dingus to get the hair out (with a hook made of wire).
So I remove the stopper, have someone hold a finger over the overflow hole, and pump like crazy.
I’ve used a plumber’s helper on sink clogs. You have to cover the overflow hole to generate any pressure. Often the plug is caused by gobs of hair and I have to remove the stopper-lever-dingus to get the hair out (with a hook made of wire).
So I remove the stopper, have someone hold a finger over the overflow hole, and pump like crazy.