Taking Plunge on Clogged Drain : Clearing a pipe yourself can save a plumber’s costly house call.

There are not two but three sure things in life: death, taxes and clogged drains. And while there isn’t much any of us can do about the first two, there is help for unclogging drains and keeping them open.

Here are a few simple tips:

--Get a plunger. They aren’t called plumber’s helpers for nothing, and no home should be without one. Properly used, they will be successful on more than half the home drain problems.

In using a plunger, remember that you get more dislodging force pulling up on the handle than pushing down.

Position the cup over the drain and apply downward pressure to compress the plunger cup. Once positioned, pull up on the handle with a quick, jerking motion to “pop” the cup up off the drain hole. (A 1/16-inch thick coat of Vaseline on the lip of the plunger will help create a tighter seal.)

If you are working on a lavatory sink with an overflow hole at the top edge, cover the hole with a wet towel to prevent air from entering it. On a double kitchen sink, cover one of the drains with the stopper and have a helper hold it in place as you work the plunger.

Be patient, as it may take 10 to 20 strokes to clear the clog.

If you are working on a clogged toilet, get a “toilet plunger,” which looks like a regular plunger but has an extra flange of rubber around the cup.

Position the flanged portion of the cup over the bowl drain and “push” the water out of the bowl with quick, forceful strokes downward on the handle. Continue this action until all the water is gone, then flush the toilet.

If this doesn’t clear the drain, repeat the procedure. Sometimes the first time doesn’t clear the clog.

--If the plunger fails on a sink, tub or shower, don’t give up yet.

There is a plumber’s quality drain opener on the market that is well worth trying. Its generic name is “sulfuric acid drain opener” and most hardware stores sell it for about $4 a quart. One cup per drain is usually enough. Use this stuff only in sinks, tubs and showers, not in toilets and not in disposals. Follow the directions on the container very carefully. And no, it does not hurt the pipes.

--Most of the drain problems in bathroom sinks, tubs and showers are caused by accumulation of hair. There is a nifty little device called a “plastic hair trap” that keeps the hair out of the drain altogether. It looks like a little hat with a flat rim, about 6 inches across and it sits over the drain hole to catch the hair before it gets into the pipe. Most hardware stores sell it for about $2.

--When the kitchen sink clogs, it is almost always due to food particles in the drainpipe. Be sure to use a drain strainer on sink drains without disposals (also available at most hardware stores). If you have a disposal, use it sparingly. The drainpipes often constrict with age and the extra solid particles from the disposer may not be able to squeeze through.

Throw table scraps and large food particles in the trash and use the disposer only for bits of food that may fall in the sink while cooking or cleaning.

--To help prevent tree roots from clogging the main sewer line to the street, use a product called “R-D Root Destroyer” by Hercules (about $8 at plumbing supply and hardware stores). It is a crystal that is flushed down the toilet twice a year. The crystals attach themselves to the roots, killing them and preventing their re-growth. I have been using this product in my own house for years and find it extremely effective.

--Outside drains usually clog from leaves and other debris washing into them. The best way I know to keep the stuff out is to cut a piece of rustproof steel mesh to fit under the drain cover to act as a strainer to catch the debris before it gets into the drain. Look for “ 1/4-inch hardware cloth” at any lumberyard.

Drain stoppages are something that all of us will have to deal with in our homes at some time or another, but keeping hair, food and other debris out of the drains will help reduce their frequency.

It’s good to know that professional drain cleaning help is always available if you need it, but don’t call them until you give it a try yourself first. Not only do you save money and aggravation if you are successful, but it’s very satisfying to fix it yourself.