Plumbing guide
Clogged drain: how to clear a sink, tub or shower
By the Home Doctor team · Reviewed
Quick answer
Most sink, tub and shower clogs are hair, soap scum or grease within a few feet of the drain. A plunger, a plastic drain stick or a hand snake clears most of them for under $50, and a plumber typically charges $125 to $350 to clear a single drain. If several drains are slow at once, toilets gurgle when other fixtures drain, or sewage comes up in a tub or floor drain, the main line is likely blocked: stop using water and call a plumber.
- How urgent
- Fix soon
One slow drain can wait a few days. Several drains backing up at once, or sewage coming up anywhere, is urgent.
- DIY or pro
- DIY
A drain stick, plunger or hand snake clears most single-drain clogs. Main line clogs need a plumber with a powered machine.
Stop and call a pro now if
- Sewage or dirty water is coming up in a tub, shower or floor drain: stop running water anywhere in the house and call a plumber. Keep kids and pets away from it.
- You've already poured in a chemical drain cleaner: don't plunge, snake, or add another product. It can splash back and burn skin and eyes, and mixing products can release toxic gas. Tell the plumber what you used.
Common causes and how to tell them apart
1. Hair and soap scum
- How to tell
- A tub, shower or bathroom sink that has drained slower and slower over weeks.
- What fixes it
- Pull the stopper and fish out the hair with a plastic drain stick or a small hand snake. Flush with hot tap water.
2. Grease and food
- How to tell
- The kitchen sink backs up, sometimes into the other bowl or the dishwasher.
- What fixes it
- Plunge with the other bowl's drain plugged. If that fails, clean the trap or snake the line past it. Wipe grease into the trash from now on.
3. Clogged trap
- How to tell
- One sink is slow or stopped and plunging doesn't help. Something may have fallen in.
- What fixes it
- Put a bucket under the U-shaped trap, unscrew the slip nuts and clean it out. Hand-tighten the nuts when you put it back.
4. Clog past the trap
- How to tell
- The trap is clear but the drain still backs up.
- What fixes it
- Feed a hand snake (drain auger) into the pipe in the wall. If it runs out of reach, call a plumber.
5. Blocked vent
- How to tell
- Gurgling, slow drains and sewer smells that come back even after the drain has been cleared.
- What fixes it
- The vent pipe on the roof may be blocked by debris or a nest. A plumber clears it. Leave the roof to a pro.
6. Main sewer line clog
- How to tell
- Several drains are slow at once, toilets gurgle when the sink or washer drains, or water comes up in the tub or a basement floor drain.
- What fixes it
- Stop using water and call a plumber. They clear it from the cleanout and may run a camera to check for roots or a broken pipe.
Not sure which one you have?
Snap a photo. Home Doctor narrows it down, tells you how urgent it is, and prices the fix.
Diagnose it from a photoFirst diagnosis free. No account needed.
What you can safely try first
- 1Check whether it's one drain or several. Several at once points to the main line: stop and call a plumber.
- 2Pull the stopper or strainer and fish out hair with a plastic drain stick.
- 3Use a cup plunger on sinks and tubs. Block the overflow hole with a wet rag, and plug the other side of a double sink.
- 4If plunging fails, clean out the sink trap over a bucket, or feed a hand snake in for a clog past it.
- 5Flush with hot tap water once it drains. Skip chemical cleaners, and never mix two of them.
When to call a pro
- More than one drain is slow or backing up.
- Sewage or dirty water comes up in a tub, shower or floor drain.
- The clog comes back within weeks, or a hand snake can't reach it.
- You've used a chemical cleaner and the drain is still full of it.
What it costs
| Job | DIY parts | Pro, installed |
|---|---|---|
| Plunger or plastic drain stick | $5–$25 | — |
| Hand snake (drain auger) | $15–$50 | — |
| Clear a sink, tub or shower drain | — | $125–$350 |
| Clear a main sewer line | Not recommended | $200–$800 |
| Sewer camera inspection | — | $150–$500 |
Ballpark US ranges as of September 27, 2026. Your region, access and the specifics of your home can move these a lot. Get two or three quotes for anything over a few hundred dollars.
What to tell the pro
My [kitchen sink / bathroom sink / tub / shower] drain is [slow / completely stopped]. It's [the only slow drain / one of several], and I [have / haven't] seen gurgling or water coming up elsewhere when [toilets flush / the washer drains]. I've tried [plunging / cleaning the trap / a hand snake]. I [haven't used / have used (product)] a chemical drain cleaner. The cleanout is [location / somewhere I haven't found].
Questions people ask
Are chemical drain cleaners safe to use?
They're harsh on skin and eyes, they often don't fully clear hair clogs, and they make any follow-up work risky because the chemical sits in the drain. Never mix two products, and never plunge after using one. A drain stick, plunger or hand snake is safer and usually faster.
How do I know if my main sewer line is clogged?
Look for more than one drain acting up at once: toilets gurgling when a sink or washer drains, water rising in the tub when you flush, or a backup in a basement floor drain. A single slow drain is almost always a local clog.
Will baking soda and vinegar unclog a drain?
Rarely. The fizz looks busy, but it doesn't have much power against a real clog of hair or grease. Pulling the clog out with a drain stick, plunger or snake works better.
How do I keep drains from clogging?
Use a hair catcher in tubs and showers, wipe grease and food scraps into the trash instead of the sink, and pull hair from bathroom stoppers every month or two.
Get an answer for your house
Every house is different. A photo gets you the likely cause, how urgent it is, and a fair price, in about 30 seconds.
Diagnose it from a photoFirst diagnosis free. No account needed.
General guidance, not a substitute for a licensed professional who can see the problem in person. If you smell gas, see sparks or smoke, or anyone is hurt, leave the area and call 911.