It may have simply been less a matter of the specific plunger-- both of those look big enough to do the job-- than of the technique used to plunge. Your Super's wife may just have a lot more experience in this, what with all the tenants in your building. How to use plungers isn't instinctive for most people.
But one important trick is to use suction, not pressure, to loosen a clog. Pressing the plunger down slowly, waiting a few seconds to give the rubber time to seal well against the bowl, then pulling up forcefully on the handle will often dislodge the obstruction by pulling it back from whatever it's stuck against. (Be careful not to get splashed).
If I do this, I then wait another few seconds to see if the water starts to seep out of the bowl (or sink, or bathtub, whatever), a sign you've loosened the clog. If the water drains, I then pour some more water in, see if that drains faster.
Only then do you try additional plunging or flushing.
(Yeah, been there, done that mannnnny times! Was fortunate to have worked with plumbers back in my appliance service days, who taught me those techniques).
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branchandroot
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Date: 2021-01-18 06:55 am (UTC)But one important trick is to use suction, not pressure, to loosen a clog. Pressing the plunger down slowly, waiting a few seconds to give the rubber time to seal well against the bowl, then pulling up forcefully on the handle will often dislodge the obstruction by pulling it back from whatever it's stuck against. (Be careful not to get splashed).
If I do this, I then wait another few seconds to see if the water starts to seep out of the bowl (or sink, or bathtub, whatever), a sign you've loosened the clog. If the water drains, I then pour some more water in, see if that drains faster.
Only then do you try additional plunging or flushing.
(Yeah, been there, done that mannnnny times! Was fortunate to have worked with plumbers back in my appliance service days, who taught me those techniques).