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Want to Save $135 … Repeatedly?
Take the plunge — and make your plunger work for you
By Richard McKann
King Arthur had Excalibur to keep his enemies at bay. Thor wielded a mighty hammer. Even Harry Potter had a wand to stop his opponents cold. And you, my dear home improver, have a plunger to keep the plumber in his truck.
Don’t laugh! At least twice a month I am told, “My sink will not drain” or “My tub is stopped up!” I enter the home with a plunger in my hand to be greeted with, “I tried that already!”
“Did you?”
“Yes, for like 30 minutes,” they reply.
I ask if I might try anyway. And I will admit that by knowing the right technique, I usually walk out of the house 10 minutes later — and a service call richer.
THE MYSTERY DEMYSTIFIED
Now I’ll impart to you the mystery of the tool that mocks you in the bathroom, so you will have the upper hand on those small clogs.
First is the tool itself. Avoid any plunger that looks like anything other than a plunger. If it looks like an accordion or a piece of modern art or if the suction cup is any color other than black or red, stay away. Simple is best: black heavy rubber cup, yellow handle and a cost of no more than $10 or $20. Remember, one service call can be as much as $135.
Next you need a wet rag. This is to stop up the overflow drain of whatever you are working on. In a lavatory sink, the overflow is the small hole(s) under the lip. On a tub, you have to remove the chrome plate just under the spout. (You probably play with it with your toe when you bathe.) Cram that wet rag in there to form an airtight seal.
PULL, NOT PUSH
Now, though you think push, the point is to pull. You have to form suction. If you do not cover the overflow, you are just blowing air. Place the bell of the plunger around the drain and form a tight seal. Grabbing close to the head, push down to release air and then pull the head back. Form a suction that, instead of compacting the stoppage, pulls it back to the drain.
If done right, after a minute or two you should start to see all kinds of disgustingly horrible things come back to you. The smell will be very unpleasant, and you will realize that what goes down a drain is something you never want to see again.
Most of the time, this is all it takes to do the job.
I would remind you that drain cleaners can work, but, in my opinion, not very well. The most important ones to avoid are sulfuric acids and lye drain cleaners. These are just plain dangerous unless in the hands of a professional, and I have the chemical burns to prove it.
So take that misunderstood tool by the handle and raise it high. Vanquish your clogged pipes, and tell your plumber you will call him when you have a bigger job.
Richard McKann, a home improvement contractor, is the host of WRVA Radio’s “Home Improvement” show from 10 a.m. to noon Saturdays. Contact him at
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