Clean out
Your drain won’t — and the plunger you have isn’t strong enough.
The quick fix:
In an emergency, you can use a wet/dry shop vacuum to help clear a clog. Put the mouth of the vacuum hose over the drain opening and seal around it with a wet cloth (also plug up any overflow holes). Turn the vacuum on and off quickly until the clog clears.
Standing water
Soap scum and the residue of other body and hair products have packed your shower drain to capacity.
The quick fix:
If simple plunging, hot water or chemical drain cleaners don’t work, you may need a more powerful ally. Run a garden hose in through a nearby window and secure it in the opening of the drain (drying the shower floor thoroughly and duct taping the hose securely in place is a good option). Once you’re certain the hose has been sealed in the drain, turn on the spigot full force and it should blast the clog free.
Safe and sound
Dangerous additions: How NOT to unclog a toilet
The quick fix:
Trust us, nobody likes to plunge a toilet. But the frustration that comes from having a clog can lead to some inadvisable home remedies. Never put boiling water down a toilet. Although it seems like this might break up a clog, the water in your toilet is cold (in winter, it may be very cold) and the difference in temperature can lead to damage to your toilet or pipes. If for any reason you put bleach into the toilet, do not combine it with any other cleaner or chemical clog remover. The combination could create deadly chlorine gas. For most toilet clogs, the best answer is usually a mechanical one, such as a snake or — sadly — the old-time plunger.
 | Can't fix it? Find a plumber. |
Basements: Unplanned pool
A big rain has flooded your basement. And since it knocked out the power too, your usually reliable sump pump won’t pump.
The quick fix:
If you live on a slope, try making a siphon. First, fill a garden hose with water from the outside spigot. Seal one end with your thumb and have a friend seal the other. Place one end through the cellar window and into the standing water. Then, have your friend carry the other end as far downhill as possible (the outlet has to be below the intake). Release your thumbs and let gravity do the rest.
Trapped below
The water in the trap of your basement floor drain dried up, and now your cellar smells vaguely of nasty, nasty things.
The quick fix:
Pour nontoxic plumbing antifreeze down the drain to fill the trap. You can use water in a pinch, but it evaporates faster than antifreeze, so you’ll need to repeat the process more often. If you have pets in your home, make sure to block access to the area.
Excerpted from When Duct Tape Just Isn’t Enough, by the editors of Popular Mechanics.
