It never fails. Company’s coming; you’re trying to put a meal together and the kitchen sink clogs. Worse, you go downstairs and find something disgusting bubbling out of the floor drain. A clogged drain can ruin anyone’s day. Do you call a plumber or can you handle it yourself?

John Donovan with Donovan Plumbing says it depends on where the clog is located. If it’s the floor drain, it’s coming from the sewer and you’d better call a plumber. This kind of clog is symptomatic of a larger problem. If it’s rained a lot and the water coming out of the drain is clear, you’ve probably got a broken sewer. If the water is darker, it’s sewage. Either way, it’s a job for the pros.

Localized clogs in sinks, tubs and showers are a different story. Clogged shower drains, for example, are usually caused by hair. You can take a plunger to the drain and try to dislodge the clog.

Slow drains in kitchen and bathroom sinks can be helped with a solution of baking soda and hot water…about ½ cup of baking soda to 1 gallon of water. Let it sit for about a half-hour and check the drain again.

If you prefer going the commercial product route, most plumbers recommend biological products that are bio-degradable. These products are safe for the environment and they won’t hurt pipes. Commercial brand products that use alkaline are not good for you. The fumes are caustic and in many consumer tests, they don’t perform well.

If after trying the baking soda/water solution or bio product on your drain one or two times and the drain is still slow, bite the bullet and call a plumber. In my next post, I’ll give you some maintenance tips to keep your drains flowing smoothly.