LOCK, LOAD AND PLUNGE.

Byline: Steven Rosenberg  Staff Writer

It was my first time, and I was a little nervous. A bit apprehensive. Would I do it right? Then, BOOM! It all happened so fast. I was covered in water, as was the room around me.

Such was my introduction to Kleer Drain, a new product that looks somewhat like a plunger but in fact punches through clogged drain pipes with what the manufacturer calls ``instant super powerful compressed air.''

It's super powerful, all right. It's not toxic, like chemical drain cleaners (Drano, Liquid-Plumr), and that's a good thing, because it takes practice.

When I unpacked Kleer Drain, I felt like I was assembling the Daisy air rifle I saw in the back of comic books but never had as a youth. I inserted the plastic ``power disk,'' meant to maximize the pressure from the CO2 cartridge, which I then screwed into the top.

With the rubber drain-covering cup on the bottom, I removed the stopper from the clogged sink, duct-taped the overflow hole, filled the sink with water, positioned Kleer Drain over the drain and pushed down. And for those who skipped the beginning, BOOM!

But I needed the voice of experience. Someone who had mastered Zen and the art of Kleer Drain. I called attorney Mel Brown, 63, of Granada Hills. No, he's not my attorney, just a man who uses Kleer Drain to unclog his shower.

Mel put my mind at ease. Everybody's first time is the same. Many pounds of compressed (but harmless) carbon dioxide, and the water above it, go everywhere. You have to be firm with Kleer Drain, hold it down tightly over the drain, and then engage the CO2. Then it works - better than any plunger or bottle of chemicals. And at about $30 from Home Depot and True Value hardware stores, it's way cheaper than calling a plumber. Information: www.kleerdrain.com.

CAPTION(S):

photo

Photo:

Firm, airtight placement in the drain, plus a steady hand, are keys to success with the Kleer Drain CO2-powered drain cleaner.