How to Use a Drain Snake (And When You Shouldn’t)

When a plunger doesn’t break a clog free, I’ve been tempted to use every DIY trick in the book to get my sink, toilet, or bathtub draining again. I’ve tried everything from vinegar and baking soda, to boiling water, to dish soap – but the fact is, those methods never truly clear the obstruction. And worse yet, they can cause trouble down the road.

What does work to fix your plumbing problems fast? A drain snake. You just propel this simple yet brilliant tool through the drain to break down the blockage or pull it out.

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I’ve created this guide on how to use a drain snake and when you shouldn’t. But if you’d rather just let a professional handle your clogged drains, you can find someone we recommend below.

What is a Drain Snake?

A drain snake is an essential plumbing tool featuring a long, flexible coiled wire with a corkscrew end. To use it, you simply feed the end into your sink or bathtub drain and turn the crank to push the wire through the pipe.

The wire has enough flex to follow the drainpipe curves and even turn corners while still having the strength to push through clogs. When not in use, the coiled wire sits wrapped around an enclosed reel with a handle and crank

Drain snakes work best for sinks and bathtubs. If you have a clogged toilet, you need a closet auger instead. Also known as a toilet auger, this tool has a protective rubber coating over the coiled wire to prevent damage to the porcelain. The coiled wire feeds into a long rigid tube that helps guide the cable into the drain as you turn the crank.

How Do Drain Snakes Work?

A clogged drain occurs when an object or clump of material gets stuck far down in the pipe. In a bathtub or sink, I find that it’s usually hair.

Water backs up behind the obstruction, resulting in a slow-draining bathroom sink or overflowing toilet. Unless a plunger does the trick, you need to be able to reach the material and manually remove it.

With a reach of 25 to 50 feet, a drain snake allows you to do just that. The coiled wire rotates as you move it through the pipe, allowing the corkscrew end to drill throughthe material or grab onto the object.

As that happens, the drain snake either breaks up the material enough to flow through the pipe unhindered or drags it up to the surface where you can throw it away. In my experience, clearing the blockage often takes more than one try, but it’s well worth the effort once the water starts to drain again.

How to Use Unclog a Toilet With a Drain Snake

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A clogged toilet demands a prompt solution, especially if it’s about to overflow or is the only one in the house. When a plunger doesn’t work — or if you need to retrieve an object that got flushed — you’ll need to use a closet auger, not a drain snake. Here’s how that works.

Safety Precautions

• Always wear protective gear, like rubber gloves and safety goggles.
• Never use drain cleaners and other chemicals while snaking the drain.
• Hold the curved end of the auger firmly in the bottom of the toilet to remain in control of the coiled wire.

Tools & Materials Required

When unclogging a toilet with a closet or toilet auger, you will need:

• Toilet auger
• Rubber gloves
• Safety goggles

Steps

Step 1. Guide the toilet auger cable into position

Put on your gloves and safety goggles. Fully extend the handle to pull the corkscrew end of the cable up to the mouth of the tube. Then, insert the curved end of the tube into the drain at the bottom of the toilet bowl.

Step 2. Crank the auger to clear the blockage

While holding the tube steady, turn the crank while pushing down to work the coiled wire through the toilet drain. Work slowly to keep the wire from twisting or turning back on itself. Crank the opposite way if you feel like it’s stuck, and then go back to cranking the wire out until it’s fully extended.

Step 3. Pull the coiled wire out of the toilet

Pull the auger handle straight up to remove the coiled wire from the toilet. Check the coiled end for any objects you need to throw away. Flush to see if the blockage is gone. If not, repeat the process until it is. If the clog is further down the pipe, you may need to go through the cleanout instead to remove it.

How to Use Unclog a Sink With a Drain Snake

Sink drain clogs develop slowly, causing the water to drain at a trickle before fully backing up. As soon as you notice the issue, it’s wise to get out the drain snake and clear the obstruction. Here’s how.

Safety Precautions

• Wear your safety goggles and rubber gloves to stay clean and avoid injuries.
• Bring your patience and go slowly to avoid causing the auger cable to turn back on itself.
• Skip the drain cleaners and other chemicals if you’re going to be snaking the drain.

Tools & Materials Required

When clearing a sink blockage, you will need:

• Handheld or heavy-duty drain snake
• Tongue-and-groove pliers
• Safety goggles
• Rubber gloves
• Basin

Steps

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Step 1. Plan your approach

When clearing clogs in the sink, either go directly through the drain or work from the bottom by removing the P-trap. Although it’s an extra step, removing the P-trap eliminates the need to guide the coiled wire through its tight twists and turns. Either way, be sure to put on your gloves and safety goggles before getting started.

Step 2. Remove the sink stopper

If you’re working from above, remove the sink stopper by gently twisting it out. On some sinks, you may need to remove the horizontal rod holding the stopper in place. If that’s the case, go straight to removing the P-trap located below the sink.

Step 3. Consider disconnecting the P-trap

Before disconnecting the P-trap, put a basin underneath to catch any water that comes out. After that, turn the slip-nut joints at either side of the sink trap counterclockwise. You may be able to do this by hand, but if it’s stuck, use tongue-and-groove pliers to break the nut loose.

Step 4. Snake the sink drain

Insert the auger head into the pipe or drain opening. Firmly push the coiled wire into the pipe to get it started. While holding the wire in place, pull the reel about six inches away from the opening. Lock the wire and turn the crank while applying firm pressure to feed the cable into the pipe. Unlock the wire, pull back about six inches again, lock, and crank until you reach the end of the cable. Repeat until you’ve fully extended the wire.

Step 5. Remove the drain snake and repeat

Gently pull the plumbing snake backward out of the pipe while cranking the coiled wire back onto the reel. Remove any debris that comes up with the cable and corkscrew end. If you think the blockage remains, repeat the snaking process until it’s clear. Then, reassemble your sink and pour water down the drain to confirm you cleared the blockage.

Source: https://gardencourte.com
Categories: Kitchens