How to Use a Plunger Like a Pro: The Ultimate Drain-Clearing Guide

We’ve all been there: you flush the toilet or drain the sink, and instead of the water disappearing, it starts to rise. Panic sets in, and you reach for the most trusted tool in your utility closet. But do you actually know how to use a plunger correctly?

While it seems simple, there is a specific technique to plunging that makes the difference between a quick fix and a messy disaster. At Robillard Plumbing, we want to help you handle the small stuff safely. Here is your master class in effective plunging.

Step 1: Choose the Right Plunger

Believe it or not, different plungers are designed for different tasks. Using the wrong one is the most common reason homeowners fail to clear a clog.

• The Cup Plunger: This is the classic “red rubber” plunger with a flat bottom. It is designed for flat surfaces, like sinks, bathtubs, and showers. It does not work well on toilets because it cannot create a proper seal.
• The Flange (Toilet) Plunger: This plunger has a fold-out rubber flap (the flange) at the bottom. This flap is designed to fit perfectly into the curved drain of a toilet bowl to create a powerful vacuum.

Step 2: Prepare the Area

Before you start, make sure you aren’t about to make a mess.

1. Check the Water Level: For a plunger to work, the rubber cup needs to be submerged in water. If the sink or toilet is empty, add enough water to cover the plunger head. If it’s overflowing, bail some out into a bucket.
2. Protect the Floor: Lay down some towels or newspaper around the base of the fixture to catch any splashes.

Step 3: Create the Seal

This is the most important part of learning how to use a plunger.

1. Place the plunger into the drain at an angle to allow air to escape from the cup (trapping air inside compresses it, which weakens the pressure).
2. Press down firmly but slowly to ensure the rubber is sealed tight against the drain opening. If you’re plunging a sink, use a wet rag to plug the “overflow” hole—otherwise, the air pressure will just escape out of that hole instead of pushing against the clog.

Step 4: The Plunging Motion

Many people think the “push” is what clears the clog, but it’s actually the pull.

1. Push down to get the air out, then pull up sharply.
2. Maintain the seal and continue a vigorous “push-and-pull” rhythm for about 15 to 20 seconds.
3. The goal is to move the water back and forth, which loosens the obstruction until it breaks apart or moves down the line.

Step 5: Test the Result

After several cycles of plunging, pull the plunger away. If the water rushes down the drain, you’ve succeeded! If you’re clearing a toilet, give it one more flush to ensure everything is moving freely.

When the Plunger Isn’t Enough

If you’ve tried the steps above three or four times and the water still won’t budge, you likely have a more serious issue than a simple surface clog.

Stop plunging if:

• Water is backing up into other fixtures (like the shower when you flush).
• The water has a foul, sewage-like odor.
• You’ve used chemical drain cleaners (plunging can splash these dangerous chemicals onto your skin or eyes).

In these cases, you might be dealing with a main line blockage or a stubborn object that requires a professional drain snake.

Don’t let a stubborn drain ruin your day! If your DIY efforts aren’t working, contact the experts at Robillard Plumbing at (763) 424-5514. We have the professional tools to clear any clog, guaranteed.

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Slow Drain vs. Main Line Sewer Clog: How to Tell When You Need a Plumber

Every homeowner has dealt with a slow drain. It starts with the shower water pooling slightly around your feet, or the kitchen sink taking just a little too long to empty. Most of the time, this is an easy fix: a quick application of a plunger or a basic drain snake clears out a hairball or a small food clog, and life goes on.

But sometimes, a drain issue is a sign of a much bigger, much messier problem lurking in your home’s main sewer line. Knowing the difference between a minor blockage and a main line sewer clog is crucial—it can save you from severe water damage and costly emergency repairs.

Here’s your guide from Robillard Plumbing on how to diagnose the issue and when to drop the plunger and call a professional.

The Clues: Is It a Local Problem or a Main Line Sewer Clog?

The key to diagnosing a plumbing issue is looking at how many fixtures are affected and where the water is backing up.

Signs of a Minor, Local Clog (DIY Potential)

A local clog affects only one drain and is usually caused by buildup close to the fixture. You may be able to address local clogs yourself.

• Only the bathtub or shower is draining slowly. This could mean that hair, soap scum, or another foreign object is in the P-trap or drain near the bathtub or shower. You can try using a plunger, a small drain snake, or boiling water to clear the blockage. Avoid chemical drain cleaners though, as they can damage your pipes.
• Only the kitchen sink is slow. Grease, oil, and food particles are likely stuck between the sink drain and the main sewer line. Try a plunger or a professional-grade enzymatic cleaner in this situation. The latter is eco-friendly, non-toxic, and much safer than chemical cleaners.
• Water bubbles slightly when another nearby fixture is used (e.g., the toilet bubbles when the sink is draining). This could mean that a partial blockage is restricting airflow and water near the bubbling fixture. A plunger or snake can work here too, but if the gurgling continues or occurs in multiple fixtures, there may be a larger issue in your plumbing.

Signs of a Major, Main Line Sewer Clog (Call Robillard Immediately)

The main sewer line is the single pipe that carries all wastewater out of your house to the city sewer or septic tank. If it’s blocked, everything backs up, and you’re better off calling us for professional drain cleaning.

• Multiple fixtures are backing up simultaneously. This likely means there is a clog in your main line, located downstream of the affected fixtures.This indicates a widespread blockage, often caused by tree roots, broken pipes, or excessive buildup.
• Toilet gurgles when you use the sink/shower. Here, you probably have a severe blockage causing wastewater from one line to seek the path of least resistance (the empty toilet bowl). This is a classic symptom of a main line issue.
• Sewage backs up into low-level drains. When wastewater can’t escape the house, it flows back up into the lowest point, usually a basement floor drain. This is an emergency, as raw sewage is a health hazard and requires immediate professional intervention to protect your household.
• Foul sewer odors are coming from drains. Persistent, strong odors coming from multiple drains, especially basement drains, likely mean that gases are escaping the sewer because the main line is severely obstructed. This also requires professional attention.

Stop! Why You Should Never Use Chemical Drain Cleaners

While store-bought chemical drain cleaners are easy to find, they can be highly damaging to your plumbing system.

• They don’t work completely: They often only melt a small path through the center of a clog, leaving the rest of the buildup to solidify again quickly.
• They are corrosive: The caustic chemicals can erode older pipes, especially metal or cast iron, leading to leaks and costly replacements.
• They create a safety hazard: If the cleaner doesn’t work and you call a plumber, that corrosive liquid remains in the pipe, posing a danger to the technician.

A plunger or a manual snake is always safer for minor clogs. For anything else, you need a professional.

The Robillard Plumbing Solution: Precision Diagnosis

When you call Robillard Plumbing for a suspected main line sewer clog, we don’t just guess—we use precision tools to find the exact problem:

• Video camera inspection: We insert a high-resolution camera into your main line. This allows us to see exactly what’s causing the blockage, whether it’s invasive tree roots, a break in the pipe, or a major build-up of sludge. This step eliminates guesswork and targets the repair accurately.
• Hydro-jetting: For serious grease, scale, or sediment buildup, we use high-pressure water streams to scour the interior walls of your pipes. This is far more effective than snaking and actually cleans the pipe, not just poking a hole through the clog.

We proudly serve the Twin Cities’ Northwest Metro area, including Maple Grove, Plymouth, and Champlin, and we are prepared for any emergency, big or small.

If your home is showing the signs of a main line sewer clog, don’t wait for a basement flood. Contact Robillard Plumbing today to schedule a professional inspection and get your system flowing freely and reliably again.

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