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Start by unscrewing the overflow valve, which is located on the wall of your tub between the floor drain and the tub spout. Gently insert a plumbing snake down into the pipe, move it back and forth, and pull it out. Remove any hair, debris, and soap scum that comes out with it. Repeat the process until the snake comes out clean, and then reinstall the cap on your overflow valve.

You’ll need two sizes of pipe to plumb a bathroom. You’ll use a 1/2-inch pressure pipe for your supply lines that run from the fixture to the larger 3/4-inch supply lines that run through the house. For drain lines, you’ll need a 3-inch PVC pipe for your toilet, a 2-inch PVC pipe for stand-alone showers, and a 1 1/2-inch pipe for a shower/tub combo and the bathroom sink. Each fixture’s drain will run to the 3-inch main drain that runs through the house.

The type of valve that’s best for water shut-off is the ball valve. These are considered by many plumbers to be the most reliable type of valve, and they’re the type most used for main water shut-offs. These valves only require a quarter turn of a handle to open or close fully.

The cost to unclog a drain varies based on the location and severity of the clog. For simple clogs within your home, such as in a sink, toilet, or shower, hiring a plumber typically costs between $110 and $350, with an average of around $200. Snaking a toilet or sink usually costs between $110 and $275, while a bathtub or shower clog costs about $225.

For a more serious clog in the main sewer line, the cost is higher. Clearing a main line clog generally costs between $200 and $600, with an average of about $380. However, prices can range from as low as $100 for snaking a minor clog to over $1,600, particularly if advanced methods like video inspection and hydrojetting are needed for a large or hard-to-reach blockage. Some severe main line clogs can cost upwards of $1,000 to clear depending on factors like the cause of the clog, its distance from an accessible cleanout, and whether the pipe is located beneath an occupied space (e.g., in an apartment building). You may be able to save money on minor clogs by using a drain snake or bladder yourself.