Often, the best way to deal with clogs is to prevent them from happening at all. If you are past being able to stop a clogged drain, however, several options and tools are at your disposal. While cleaning and plunging can often do the trick, sometimes, you must do more to clear your drain. This post will discuss how you can use a drain auger, or plumber’s snake, to get rid of tough clogs.
What is a Drain Auger or Plumbing Snake?
First of all, what is a drain auger or snake? A Drain auger is a quarter-inch-thick coil that has a handle. You would send the snake down the drain through the clog, sending parts of it down or pulling the obstruction out. This auger can be a powerful unclogging tool, reaching clogs far down the pipe. Where can you find this snake tool? One option is to rent a manual one that you will turn by hand, or an electrical auger.
When to Snake a Drain
Knowing when to use a snake to unclog a drain can save you from more extensive plumbing issues. If your sink, shower, bathtub, or even floor drain drains slowly—or not at all—you may be dealing with a deeper blockage in the drain line. In many cases, soft clogs made up of hair, toilet paper, grease, or soap scum form several feet into the drain pipe, well past the p-trap. Learning how to use a snake or toilet auger becomes useful when you need to clear stubborn clogs. A drum auger or standard hand snake can reach 15 to 25 feet into the pipe, allowing you to dislodge stubborn debris that plungers or chemical drain cleaners can’t touch. Unlike liquid solutions that push the clog, a snake can grab and pull the material back toward you, clearing the stoppage completely.
Use a snake when:
- Water pools in your toilet bowl, but plunging doesn’t work (indicating a clogged toilet or blockage in the sewer line)
- Your bathroom or kitchen fixtures are slow to drain despite using a drain cleaner.
- You suspect a deeper clog caused by grease buildup or tree roots infiltrating your main line.
- You want a safer, chemical-free drain cleaning method that works on nearly any type of drain.
Wear rubber gloves and run water after using the snake to ensure you completely clear the clog. If repeated snake work doesn’t solve the issue, it may be time to contact a professional plumber for further inspection of your plumbing system. In some cases, especially with recurring clogs or complex rooter jobs, professional plumbing service is the most reliable solution.
What You’ll Need :
Equipment/Tools/Material
- Drain Snake
- Bowl or shallow bucket
- Rags
- Old towels
- Paper towels (optional)
How to Use a Plumbing Snake?
Even though using this tool can be straightforward, you should still talk to the dealer about how to use the tool. Generally speaking, though, this is what you should do and how plumbing snakes work:
Step-by-Step Guide :
Even though using this tool can be straightforward, you should still talk to the dealer about how to use the tool. Generally speaking, though, this is what you should do:
- Insert the snake’s end into the drain, then crank the handle to send the snake along.
- As you crank, you should also push the snake down, giving it the force necessary to navigate that bend in the pipe (the trap) under your sink. After that point, the only thing that should slow the snake down is the clog.
- When the snake finds the clog, keep turning. Using a plumbing snake can either break up the clog or latch onto it, allowing you to pull both out at once.
- Turn the water on for several minutes. Check that the clog is really out of the way.
Safety Considerations
Wear safety glasses and rubber gloves to protect yourself during drain cleaning, especially when working on a sink drain, shower drain, or toilet bowl. If the drain pipe contains any liquid drain cleaner, run water to flush it out thoroughly before using a drum auger or toilet auger. Avoid pouring caustic chemicals into the drain before snaking, as they can cause harmful reactions when disturbed. If the water isn’t draining and you need to pull the snake back, do so slowly and carefully to prevent splashback, particularly in a clogged toilet, bathtub drain, or bathroom sink. Mishandling a snake at the end of the snake could worsen a blockage or damage your plumbing system, so take proper precautions or contact a professional plumber for severe or recurring stoppages in your drain line, main line, or sewer line.
How to Prevent Drain Clogs
The best way to unclog a drain is to ensure you avoid clogs in the first place. As a homeowner, proper drain maintenance should be a priority, and you should rarely need to clean out the drain.
- Use a strainer – Add strainers or filters to all drains in the home.
- Clean the Strainers – Consistently clean off the drain strainers in the trash; do not clean them in the Kitchen sink.
- Clean the traps – Once a year, disassemble the J or P-traps under the sinks and clean them out.
- Keep solids out of the drains – Do not send toilet paper, hair, old medicine, or solid waste materials down the drain openings.
- Bathe pets outdoors – Have a professional groom the cats or dogs, or wash them outdoors.
When to Call a Professional
At whatever point you experience trouble with your drains, you can find the friendly assistance you need at A-1 Sewer & Septic Service, Inc. We’ve been serving the Kansas City area for more than four decades. No job is too small or too significant for our expert plumbing team to handle. Don’t hesitate to check out our online specials or to schedule your estimate. Call a trusted Kansas City plumber today!