Clogged drain?

A slow sink, tub or shower drain is usually hair, soap or grease in the stopper or trap, and you can often clear it by hand. If several drains are slow or gurgling at once, the clog is in the main line, and that's a plumber's job.

Not sure which one it is? Snap your drain and we’ll narrow it down.

Is it the drain that smells rather than the water draining slowly?

That's a different problem from a clog. Drain smells

Likely causes

  1. Hair and soap buildup (bathroom)

    Most commonEasy DIY

    A tub, shower or bathroom sink drains slowly and has for a while, and gets worse over time. Hair usually collects in the drain opening or just below it.

  2. Stopper or pop-up full of hair

    CommonEasy DIY

    A sink or tub holds water even though the pipe below seems fine. Lift out the stopper, or the pop-up in a bathroom sink, and it's coated in hair and sludge.

  3. Grease and food (kitchen)

    CommonModerate DIY

    A kitchen sink drains slowly and the water may smell greasy. Never pour grease down a drain. If the sink has a disposal, see the garbage disposal guide.

  4. Clogged P-trap

    CommonModerate DIY

    One sink is slow or stopped, and the curved pipe under it feels heavy or is packed with sludge. Cleaning it means opening the trap, so wear gloves and eye protection.

  5. Main line clog

    Less commonCall a pro

    Several drains are slow or gurgling at once, or water backs up in a tub when the toilet flushes. Stop using water and call a plumber.

    Part: $100–800 (main sewer line cleaning)

Quick checks

Don't mix drain chemicals, and don't use one after another has failed. Never plunge or snake into standing chemical water, because it can splash on your skin and eyes. Wear gloves and eye protection if you open a trap. If sewage is backing up, or several drains are slow or gurgling at once, stop using water and call a plumber.

  1. Check whether just this one drain is slow, or several. If several drains are slow or gurgling, or a tub backs up when the toilet flushes, stop using water and call a plumber.
  2. Don't mix drain chemicals, and don't use one if another has already failed. Never plunge or snake into standing chemical water, because it can splash back.
  3. Remove the stopper or pop-up and pull out any hair and sludge by hand with gloves on, then run hot water.
  4. If it's still slow, try a plunger over the drain with the overflow blocked by a wet rag, or a drain snake.
  5. For a kitchen sink with a disposal, check the disposal isn't the blockage. If the toilet is the slow one, see clogged toilet.
  6. If you open the trap under the sink, put a bucket under it first, wear gloves and eye protection, and make sure it goes back together tightly.
Sharpen the read

Diagnose your drain in seconds, for free

No account, no phone number. Fixology’s AI reads your photo and tells you what’s likely wrong, how worried to be, and whether it’s a DIY fix.

Snap one of these:

  • the drain and any standing water
  • the trap under the sink
  • other drains nearby if they're also slow

Add a note or more photos next. Nobody calls you.

When to call a pro

Several drains are slow or gurgling at once, a tub backs up when the toilet flushes, sewage is coming up, a chemical cleaner was already used and failed, or a plunger and snake don't clear it. A plumber is $45–200 an hour (most $70–120), and a service call is $100–250, usually including the first hour. After-hours work adds $100–300 or more. For a toilet that won't clear, see clogged toilet. For upkeep, see the drain guide.

Typical cost: HomeAdvisor puts drain cleaning at an average of $246 ($147–352). A kitchen sink runs $110–215, a tub or shower drain about $225, and a main sewer line $100–800. Hydro jetting averages $475 ($350–600). A plumber averages $341 ($182–501) for a typical job, charges $45–200 an hour (most $70–120), and a service call is $100–250, usually including the first hour. After-hours work adds $100–300 or more. A plunger or drain snake is an inexpensive tool from a hardware store.

Sources: HomeAdvisor: How much does drain cleaning cost? (updated June 17, 2026), HomeAdvisor: How much does hydro jetting cost? (updated June 19, 2026), HomeAdvisor: How much does it cost to hire a plumber? (updated June 19, 2026)

After a scan, Fixology can also help you find pros near you.

Related problems

  • Drain smells?

    Drain

    A sewer or musty smell from a sink, tub or floor drain, often a dry trap or buildup you can fix.

  • Furnace won't heat?

    FurnaceFall

    The furnace runs but the house stays cold, which is usually a clogged filter, a thermostat setting, or an ignition fault.

  • Heat pump not heating?

    Heat pumpFall

    The heat pump runs but the house stays cold, which is usually thermostat settings, a clogged filter, or an iced-over outdoor unit.

  • Washer won't drain?

    Washer

    Water is left in the drum after the cycle, which is usually a clogged pump filter or a kinked drain hose.

Fixology helps you understand your home — it isn't a substitute for a licensed pro on serious gas, electrical, or structural work.