In general, the best plunger for a sink will have a flat-bottomed rubber cup and a short handle, but your needs may vary. If possible, keep different types of plungers on hand for different uses.
Sink plungers have a straight handle with a simple rubber cup at the end. They are sometimes referred to as a “cup plunger.” This is a good plunger for a sink in your bathroom, kitchen or basement and also works well on bathtub and shower drains.
Taze Plunger: Taze plungers are specialty devices, almost exclusively used by professional plumbers.
Toilet plungers are similar to sink plungers. “It has a similar cup to a sink plunger,” Stamper says, “But a toilet plunger also has a rubber flap called a flange, which folds out from the cup, making it easier to create the suction needed to clear a clog.”
The best method to unstop a bathroom sink may depend on what's clogging it. You can flush soap scum clogs with vinegar and baking soda or for bigger clogs, a plunger or drain snake work best.
If the drain won't open with normal plunging pressure, you need a professional's help. Forceful plunging can damage the drain line and cause leaks. Along with clogs that require extra force, avoid plunging obvious major obstructions.
A plunger, force cup, plumber's friend or plumber's helper is a tool used to clear blockages in drains and pipes. It consists of a rubber suction cup attached to a stick (shaft) usually made of wood or plastic.
Can I use a plunger with Liquid-Plumr® Clog Destroyer Plus+ Hair Clog Eliminator™? We do not recommend using a plunger when this clog remover is in the drain. Plunging may cause the clog remover to splash onto you or your clothing.
A drain auger is a better choice, but the wire hanger will work in a pinch.
Submerge the plunger (the top of the bell should be covered with water) and make sure the rubber ring is inserted directly into the drain opening. Push and pull on the handle with quick, concentrated thrusts for 20 seconds without lifting the plunger out of the drain and breaking the seal.
A plumbing snake is a long metal cable with an auger (or coil) on one end and a crank on the other end. To use this device, you insert the auger into the drain, and use the crank to uncoil it until it reaches the clog.
Drain Auger
A tool that is similar to the drain snake is the drain auger. Drain snakes are primarily used to tackle clogged sinks and smaller drains. Drain augers are designed for larger pipes, like ones in the toilet or shower. Like drain snakes, drain augers are available in manual or motorized designs.
Plunge away the blockage
Fill the sink with hot water until it's about halfway full and creates a seal around the drain. Position the plunger over the drain and begin pumping up and down quickly several times. Remove the plunger and wait to see if the water drains. Repeat the process until the water drains freely.
Take note that if you plan to use a chemical for unclogging drains that you don't use a plunger (as noted on the warnings on the bottle). A plunger could splash around the toxic chemical and cause harm to you. If you unclog a sink drain, tub, or shower, make sure to cover the overflow drain if one is present.
Hydrochloric acid, also known as muriatic acid, is a strong acid that is commonly used to dissolve clogs in drains. This acid works by breaking down organic materials such as hair, grease, and soap scum that can accumulate in pipes and cause blockages.
Now that you understand a plunger's features, you might be wondering which plunger to buy. Expensive plungers are more consistent, and offer easy, repeatable adjustments. Less expensive plungers also work well, and are better than using no plunger.
As we've learned, the cup plunger works better on a sink, and the flange and accordion plungers are better suited for toilets. Another reason to keep these plumbing tools separate is cross-contamination. Say you use your trusty plunger to unclog a toilet one day and then later use the same plunger on a sink.
Is it bad to plunge a shower drain? While it won't necessarily cause damage, you should not plunge a shower drain. It will only cause the clog to travel further down your plumbing.
Surprisingly, snaking your main line can potentially make the clog worse. The snake could pack the clog in even tighter, meaning your plumber may have to remove that section of the pipe.
Attempting to force a clog through a toilet with a plunger can often make the problem worse. Instead, create a seal and slowly push down on the plunger before pulling it back sharply. The suction can help pull the clog back up toward the bowl, breaking the blockage and allowing gravity to take over.