Drain Clog—How to Find It

Drawing of a house’s drain-waste-vent system including blue-colored vent pipes.

If your toilet won’t flush, shower backs up, or sink won’t drain, the problem is likely a clogged drain. In this troubleshooting article, we’ll show you how to figure out where the clog or problem is located and give you expert advice on how to clear it. Understanding a typical house’s drain system is an […]

How to Snake a Drain Clog In a Sink

snake sink drain

Expert, step-by-step, illustrated instructions for how to clear a stoppage using a drain auger. When you have a clog in a drain, sometimes the only way to get it out is to drive it out with a plumbing “snake” (also called an “auger”).  In this article, we show you how to use a drain auger […]

How Drain-Waste-Vent Plumbing Systems Work

diagram of drain waste vent system

In This Article: How Drain-Waste-Vent Plumbing Works Drain Waste Vent (DWV) Pipe Sizes Understand how your home’s  drain-waste-vent (DWV) plumbing systems work with this expert illustrated explanation. Hidden behind the walls and floors of a house, a system of large pipes carries drain water and waste to the sewer or septic system. The DWV system […]

Home Plumbing Systems

home plumbing system

An expert overview of home plumbing systems—with diagrams—including water supply, drain-waste-vent, and more. In This Article: Water Supply System Drain-Waste-Vent System Kitchen Plumbing System Bathroom Plumbing System Overview System Description Water Supply System Routes municipal water from the street to the house, distributing it to faucets, showers, toilets, bathtubs, and appliances. Drain-Waste-Vent System Carries wastewater […]