A slow drain is usually a small problem that looks big from a phone. Your parent says the bathroom sink 'takes forever,' and the question is whether someone should go over with a plunger or whether a plumber needs to be called. The answer depends on what is slow, how many drains are slow, and who in the house is able to do the work safely.

Local option: New Plan Care gives families in the St. Louis area in-home help so a parent can stay home: companionship, help with bathing and dressing, meals, and overnight care. Call (314) 405-0887.

Start by counting the drains

Ask your parent, or a neighbor who checks in, to run the bathroom sink, the kitchen sink, the tub, and the washing machine one at a time while watching the water. If only one sink is slow, the blockage is almost always in that fixture: hair, soap, toothpaste, or food in the pipe under it. If the tub and the sink are both slow, the blockage is likely further down the line. If the toilet gurgles when the sink runs, stop using the water and call a plumber, because that pattern points to the main line.

What the household can try

For a single slow sink, a plunger with a little water in the basin works on many clogs. The stopper can be lifted out and cleaned, and the pop-up assembly can be pulled and rinsed. Putting a bucket under the trap and unscrewing the slip nuts by hand is a common step, but it is wet work and it needs a helper nearby. If your parent has trouble bending, reaching under the sink, or gripping a wrench, this is a job for someone else.

What to avoid

Do not pour a strong chemical cleaner into a slow drain and then reach for a plunger or open the trap. Cleaner that has not drained away can splash, and it can leave the pipe hot and harder to work on. If a drain is partly clogged and a cleaner is already in it, tell the plumber so they know before they open anything.

Tonight

Run each drain in the house and write down which ones drain slowly. Ask your parent to look under the slow sink for drips or water on the cabinet floor. If there is standing water, take a photo and send it to yourself or to the local helper so you can see what has changed by the next call.

What to leave with the plumber

Give the plumber the list of slow drains, whether the toilet gurgles, when the problem started, and what has already been tried. Ask whether they will check the main line or only the fixture, and ask what they will charge for each step before they start. Ask them to show you the blockage if they remove it. Keep the invoice with the house papers so the next call starts from the same record.