It’s never an ideal situation: A quick trip to the bathroom followed by a single flush and, boom, you’re dealing with a clogged drain or—much worse—a nearly overflowing toilet. If you find yourself ...

Ana has 20+ years of experience covering home improvement and business topics for U.S. and international media. She’s been published in U.S. News & World Report, The American Scholar Magazine, ...

I’ve been a master plumber since 1981. I’ve always loved doing plumbing because it’s a very interesting three-dimensional challenge to install drain, waste and vent (DWV) piping in a new home or a ...

A plunger is an easy-to-use tool for unclogging sinks, drains, and toilets. A standard cup plunger is best for sinks and drains, while a flange plunger is best for toilets. Avoid chemical drain ...

Open the toilet tank, lift the flapper, allow a cup or two of water to drain into the bowl and watch what happens. If it stays put, chances are the clog is in the toilet’s internal trap or the waste ...

Straighten out the wire coat hanger by hand or using pliers. If you are removing some stuck toilet paper, you can try bending a hook at the end of the hanger so you can pull it out or push it through.

There’s nothing worse than taking a shower and having the water pool at your ankles because of a blocked drain. While a plunger may be an effective cleaning gadget for your toilet, it doesn’t tend to ...