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Once you’ve poured the baking soda and vinegar into a drain, you should wait about 10 minutes for the mixture to break down the clog. If you try the baking soda and vinegar method and it doesn't work, you can do it again or try the baking soda and salt trick.

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.

Yes, frozen pipes can cause a toilet to stop working correctly. If the pipes are frozen, water cannot flow, which can lead to two main problems. First, the supply line to the toilet tank may be frozen, which prevents the tank from refilling with water after you flush. Second, the drain pipe itself can freeze, blocking water from flushing away. As a temporary solution for a non-refilling tank, you can manually add water, but this is not a long-term fix. To clear a frozen drain pipe, you can try pouring warm water into the toilet bowl or tank and then flushing, as the warm water may help thaw the ice blockage. Ultimately, the best course of action is to unfreeze the affected pipes to restore your toilet to full functionality.

The first rule of plumbing is nothing but water, toilet paper, number one, and number two go down the drain. 

To prevent clogs, get yourself:

• A compast pail where you can clean plates, drain grease, and toss scraps and paper towels. 

• Drain screens for the shower, tub, and bathroom sink to stop hair, jewelry, toys, etc. from going down the drain.

• Trash cans for everything that shouldn’t go down the drain, like dental floss, hygiene products, and cat litter.

P.S.: If you do drop your priceless ring down the drain, take a deep breath, and then follow these steps to retrieve jewelry from your drain.