Fast Plumbing Answers: Drain Not Working (Even With Drano)?

You’re here because you’re pretty fed up. You have a drain not working in your sink, toilet or tub, and you’ve tried Drano and a plunger with no success. So what’s going on? Is it just a stubborn clog, or are you dealing with a bigger blockage further down the drain line?

We’ll get you a solution in 2 minutes or less.

We’re Mother, a Dallas-Fort Worth plumbing company that provides dependable, hassle-free modern plumbing for homeowners who value quality. If you ever need us, we’re here to provide you long-term plumbing solutions that last. 

Drain Not Working? Here’s The Fast Answer

The most likely reason your drain isn’t working is a persistent clog in your drain pipe. Yes, that might be irritating to hear — but larger clogs that settle deeper in your pipe system aren’t going to clear with a plunger or one dose of Drano or Liquid Plumr.

That doesn’t mean your clog is unclearable! It just means you need a different solution — so let’s determine the specific reason your clog won’t clear.

Drano or Liquid Plumr not working

If Drano didn’t work, the blockage is simply too dense. You either have a fat, oil and grease (FOG) clog that’s attracted too much other material, or something’s in the pipe that shouldn’t be there — like a large wad of paper towels or an accidentally flushed toy.

By the way, we don’t ever recommend using Drano or Liquid Plumr. The sulfuric acid and hydrochloric acid present in many chemical drain cleaners corrodes and degrades your pipes. We prefer enzyme based drain cleaners like Endure.

{{best-drain-cleaner-for-grease-buildup="/blogs/best-drain-cleaner-for-grease-buildup"}}

‍

Plunging toilet not working

If a plunger isn't working on your toilet or tub, it usually means your clog is lodged in a way that won’t allow the plunger to form proper seal and suction. 

Sometimes, this issue indicates the clog is beyond the toilet trap. If it’s too far down the drain pipe, the blockage is beyond the reach of the plunger’s suction. 

More Fast Plumbing Answers About Drain Clogs

Bathtub and toilet clogged at the same time?

Toilet keeps overflowing after your flush?

Bathroom smells like sewage?

Toilet always clogging?

When Your Blockage Is Further Down the Drain Line

If you don’t have a surface clog in your sink drain or near your toilet trap, it may have traveled further down the pipe into your main plumbing system.

We’ve already determined plungers won’t work this far into your pipes. If it’s not an organic clog (like grease or fat), a drain cleaner may not be effective either.

Let’s fix this situation with augering (a plumbing snake)

Augering is usually a quick solution for persistent drain clogs and blockages that are out of the reach of plungers and Drano.

An auger is a flexible metal cable with a curved end that’s designed to rotate and break up tough clogs. 

Are your sewer pipes too old? Don’t DIY! Augering in older homes creates the risk of damaging or breaking the pipe. Tell your plumber about the age of your home’s pipe before augering begins, so they can proceed with the appropriate caution.

Augering didn’t work — now what?

Already tried an auger, but your drain still isn’t working? The problem likely rests further into your main sewer line. You may be dealing with a deep-seated clog, tree root intrusion or hard internal buildup.

In this case, you’ll need to call a plumber — but don’t immediately jump to sewer line repair. Instead, ask your plumbing company to conduct a non-invasive sewer camera inspection. You’ll find the blockage before any unneeded work, repairs or digging is done.

{{yard-leak-detection-fort-worth="/blogs/yard-leak-detection-fort-worth"}}

​

You Found The Issue. Here’s What to Do Next

Whether you successfully cleared your drain with augering or hired a plumber for sewer camera inspection, we’re glad the reason for your drain not working was located. Here’s what to do next:

If your drain is cleared, keep it that way. Use enzymatic drain cleaning products like Endure once per month to 

If the problem still exists, call a licensed plumber. Make sure a non-invasive drain and sewer line inspection is completed before any work is done. You’ll be fully certain of the issue, and you won’t waste any money on unnecessary repairs.

If you live in the DFW Metroplex, give Mother a call. We offer $299 drain cleaning service with a complimentary video camera inspection and free bottle of Endure, which we rated the best drain cleaner for organic clogs.

{{drain-cleaning="/services/drain-cleaning"}}

​

​