RAKE & BENCH
REFERENCE · VOL. 1
VOL01 ISS03 REV2026-05-01 PG024
RULE 009

Unclog a drain without Drano.

EST. TIME
20-40 min
EST. COST
$0-$35
DIFFICULTY
■■□□□
PARTS / TOOLS
4 / 4

Plunge first. Then pull the P-trap. If the trap is clear, run a hand-auger 8-12 ft. If you bring back nothing, the clog is past the trap arm and into the stack - that is when you call. Skip Drano: it eats P-trap gaskets, eats your hands if it splashes, and rarely solves a real clog.


Parts & Tools

PARTS / STOCK

SKU QTY SPEC NOTE
AUG-25 1 Hand auger / drum snake, 25 ft Cobra 25 ft is the standard
BUCKET-3 1 3-gallon bucket P-trap holds ~1 cup, but the line above does not
GLOVE-NIT 1 pair Nitrile gloves, 6 mil Disposable; do not reuse
WAS-PT 1 P-trap slip-joint washer, replacement Use new washers if old ones tear

TOOLS

SKU QTY SPEC NOTE
GEN-001 1 Plunger, flange (toilet) or cup (sink) - use the right one -
GEN-002 1 Channel-lock pliers, 10 in. -
GEN-003 1 Headlamp -
GEN-004 1 Old toothbrush -

Procedure

PROCEDURE TYPE
SEQUENTIAL

SAFETY
EYE PROT.

REFER
RULE-014
1.0

Plunge first. For a sink, fill until the cup seats in water. Twenty firm strokes. Many soft clogs (hair, grease) resolve here. Toilets need a flange plunger, sinks need a cup plunger - they are not interchangeable.

Key spec
2.0

Bucket under the trap. Loosen both slip nuts by hand or with channel-locks. Drop the trap into the bucket. Wear the gloves - what comes out is not pleasant.

3.0

Inspect: if the trap is full of hair or food and the trap arm (the horizontal arm into the wall) is clear, you have found the clog. Clean and reassemble.

4.0

If the trap is clear, the clog is in the trap arm or beyond. Feed the auger into the trap arm. Crank gently. Snag, pull back 6 in., crank forward - repeat until you bring back debris.

5.0

Reassemble. Hand-tighten slip nuts plus a quarter turn. Run hot water 60 seconds. Watch for drips at every joint.

6.0

Final test: fill the basin, pull the stopper. Full-basin draining at a healthy swirl confirms the line is clear. A slow swirl means partial clog still present - auger again or call.


Gotchas


Recommended hardware

STOCK MATCHING RULE-009

SKU ITEM SPEC RETAILER LIST SALE SAVE STOCK
WAYFAIR-VA1578 LACAVA Cigno Single Hole Bathroom Faucet w/ Drain Assembly 12.125 H in gray, Ceramic in Polished Chrome | 5.25" LACAVA · Tools & Hardware WAYFAIR $660 $369 44% IN STK
WAYFAIR-MA1284 SHAMANDA Bathroom Faucet Vessel Sink Faucet Tall Bathroom Sink Faucet w/ Pop-up Drain 12.4 Inch Waterfall Faucet Single Handle Faucet For Bathroom Sink 1 Hol black SHAMANDA · Tools & Hardware WAYFAIR $95 $58 39% IN STK
WAYFAIR-GM2042 tangmaikeji 8 Inch 2 Handles 3 Holes Deck Mount Widespread Bathroom Faucet, w/ Stainless Steel Pop Up Drain in Brushed Nickel | 5.91" tangmaikeji · Tools & Hardware WAYFAIR $150 $100 34% IN STK
WAYFAIR-622308 Delta Lahara Single Hole Bathroom Faucet w/ Drain Assembly, Single Handle Bathroom Sink Faucet in Brilliance Stainless | 5.5" Delta · Tools & Hardware WAYFAIR $188 $124 34% IN STK
WAYFAIR-521609 Fine Fixtures Trip Lever Leg Tub Drain w/ Overflow gray, Steel in Polished Chrome Fine Fixtures · Tools & Hardware WAYFAIR $127 $86 32% IN STK
WAYFAIR-FN1419 Greenspring Waterfall Single Hole Single Handle Bathroom Vessel Sink Faucet w/ Pop Up Drain, Ceramic in Brushed Nickel | 4.72" Greenspring · Tools & Hardware WAYFAIR $100 $72 28% IN STK
WAYFAIR-526090 Newport Brass Victoria Widespread Bathroom Faucet w/ Drain Assembly brown, Copper in Antique Copper | 5.75" Newport Brass · Tools & Hardware WAYFAIR $1,268 $992 22% IN STK
WAYFAIR-074060 Delta Centerset Bathroom Faucet w/ Drain Assembly gray in Chrome | 5" Delta · Tools & Hardware WAYFAIR $108 $88 19% IN STK
WAYFAIR-IQ1113 ALFIQ Handmade Dark Kitchen Sink | Vessel Vanity Bathroom Sink| Farmhouse Kitchen & Bathroom Sink | Included Sink Drain brown, ALFIQ · Tools & Hardware WAYFAIR $450 $367 18% IN STK
WAYFAIR-NF2269 Kingston Brass French Country Two-Handle 3-Hole Deck Mount Widespread Bathroom Faucet w/ Brass Pop-Up Drain 9.0 H in Brushed Nickel | 8.5" Kingston Brass · Tools & Hardware WAYFAIR $228 $190 17% IN STK

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