Step 3 · Flush the Vent with a Garden Hose

This is the step people usually slow down on. Go finger-tight first, then a quarter turn. No rush — replay the clip whenever it helps.

Have your partner on the ground turn on the water to the garden hose. Take the hose up to the vent stack, preferably with a spray nozzle attached and set to a jet stream. Spray a high-pressure stream of water directly down into the vent pipe. This can often dislodge and flush down lighter clogs made of leaves and dirt. Have your partner inside listen for water flowing freely through a nearby drain or listen for the cessation of gurgling sounds to confirm the clog is clearing. If water backs up out of the vent opening, stop immediately—this indicates a more solid blockage.