Drain Guides
A slow sink, a gurgling tub, a floor drain that backs up after the laundry runs. These guides explain what each symptom points to and which fixes hold.
Drains Guides
Can Pop-Up Emitters Cause Frozen Pipes?
Outdoor drainage can freeze when water remains in it. Identify the affected system before blaming a yard outlet for an indoor plumbing problem.
Read the GuideDrain Grates: Match the Cover to the Drain and Traffic
Drain grates admit runoff and cover drainage openings. Match dimensions, material and load rating before replacing a damaged cover.
Drain Jetting Versus Snaking: How the Right Method Is Chosen
The best method depends on the line and the problem. Clearing an obstruction and cleaning the pipe are different jobs.
How to Get Rid of Drain Flies by Clearing the Slime They Breed In
Spraying adult drain flies won't stop them. They lay their eggs in the slime that lines slow and rarely used drains, so the fix is to find the drain they're using, clear it and keep it clean.
The P-Trap Under Your Sink: How It Blocks Sewer Gas and What to Do When It Fails
Two to four inches of water in the bend under your sink is all that keeps sewer gas out of the house. Code requires that trap, and it gives trouble in three ways: clogged, dry or leaking.
How P Traps and S Traps Work, and How to Tell Which One Is Under Your Sink
Both traps hold water to block sewer gas, but only the P trap holds it reliably. Here's how each design works, what code requires and how to identify yours.
Garbage Disposal Clogged? Four Warning Signs, What Causes Them and What to Check First
Standing water, a hum with no grinding, a sour smell or a unit that won't start at all: each one points to a different problem. Some checks are safe to do yourself. Others mean it's time to call.
Kitchen Sink Clogged? Three Quick Checks, Then Three Fixes in the Right Order
Grease, food scraps and soap settle in the trap and the line behind the wall. Run three quick checks first. Then plunge, clean the trap and snake the drain, in that order.
How to Clear a Bathtub Drain, Starting With the Hair Under the Stopper
Most bathtub clogs are hair and soap scum caught within a few inches of the drain. Start with the stopper, then work through a plunger, a plastic snake and a wet/dry vacuum before anything harsher.
S Trap vs P Trap: Why Code Moved on From the S Trap and When to Replace Yours
An S trap can siphon its own water seal dry and let sewer gas into the room. A vented P trap keeps the seal. Check which one sits under your sink before deciding whether to switch.
Shower Drain Size: Why 2 Inches Is the Standard and When a 1½-Inch Drain Won't Pass
Most modern showers need a 2-inch drain, and the International Plumbing Code that Virginia follows requires it for most showers. Older homes often have 1½-inch drains that struggle with today's shower heads.
Low Water Pressure at the Kitchen Sink? Check the Aerator First, Then These Seven Things
When only the kitchen faucet runs weak, the cause is usually within a few feet of it. Start at the aerator, then work back through the cartridge, the shutoff valves and the supply lines.
Five Types of Bathtub Drains: How Each One Works and Which Fits Your Tub
Toe-touch, lift-and-turn, trip lever, flip-it and pop-up drains each seal the tub a different way. Each has pros and cons, and they share a handful of common problems.