
Rotate the crank in both directions to break up the obstruction You can crank it counterclockwise or clockwise to accomplish this. Now, once you’ve manually pushed the drain snake into the pipe, you should begin using the crank handle to rotate the auger towards the obstruction. Start cranking the handle, pushing the drain snake deeper into the pipe Don’t use too much force, or you could poke right through the pipe and cause an even more serious problem than a simple blockage! 4. Damaging these sewer lines can lead to plumbing problems, plumbing leaks, and other expensive plumbing issues. You will want to be careful when threading the plumbing snake into the drain so that you don’t cause any damage to your plumbing or sewer line.

Carefully force the drain snake into the pipe If there are gaps in between tiles where grout used to sit (or anywhere else), then put something down there too so none of the mess gets through. You’ll want to make sure that nothing is getting into any part of the plumbing system while this blockage is cleared out. Make sure that they’re covering as much of your floor area as possible – especially if you’ve removed your P-Trap! This is going to get messy, so be sure that you’ve got some towels or rags underneath the plumbing snake tool before you get started. Put some towels or rags underneath your work area You can clean it later if need be – but by getting rid of this part altogether, all you need is a plumber’s drain snake! 2. It’s a good idea to remove it, because if you don’t have one in place anymore then that will cut out that middleman step from the process of using a plumbing snake for unclogging purposes. While it might not seem like a big deal, leaving your P-Trap on can make it more difficult to remove debris from the plumbing snake when clearing blocked drains and other plumbing problems. The purpose of a P-Trap is to make sure sewer gas doesn’t come back up into the plumbing system and make its way to your living space. Remove the P-Trap manuallyĪ P-Trap is a plumbing component that you’ll find in most homes. We’ll get into how you clean the plumbing snake later in this article, but make sure you’re ready for a mess ahead of time! 1. And when you crank it back up, it’s going to bring that dirt with it. The point of a plumber’s auger is to drill right through debris, meaning that it’s going to get dirty. Instructions for using a drain snake:įirst, understand that you’re probably going to get dirty in the process of using a plumber’s drain snake.

Most plumbing snakes also have a cable that you feed out as you twist the plumbing snake deeper into your drain, giving yourself extra reach if needed to get past bends in pipes and broken pieces of plumbing. How does a drain snake work?Ī drain snake works by forcing the sharp end of the plumbing snake down into your clogged drain and then turning it until it either breaks up or pushes through whatever is causing the blockage. Types of plumbing snakes include hand augers, electric drain line cable machines, and self-feeding rods/snakes.

It consists of a long flexible metal tube with the sharpened end shaped like a coiled “S” which can be twisted down into your drain, where it either breaks up the blockage or pushes it through so that you can pull out what’s left. Keep this guide handy – it might just save you an expensive maintenance call! What is a drain snake?Ī plumber’s drain snake – also commonly called a plumber’s snake, plumber’s auger, drain auger, or just auger when used in the context of plumbing – is a hand-cranked device that is used to unclog a drain when a plunger doesn’t work.Ī plumber’s drain snake is used to unblock clogged drains or pipes.
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Note: If you’re not sure where to start when looking for a plumber’s drain snake, or aren’t comfortable using one yourself, then be sure to give Western Rooter & Plumbing a call! Our plumbing professionals know how to use drain snakes and can unclog drains quickly, safely and efficiently. The clog-snagging end of the drain snake has several bendable sections and interchangeable tips that screw on – one might have an eyelet or corkscrew tip another might be straight with small teeth or claws yet another may include tiny barbs along its length. Plumbing snakes can be purchased at most home improvement stores for around $15 to $20. Usually, this is because the clog is deep within your pipes, and you’re going to need a specialized plumber’s drain snake – also called a drain auger or a plumber’s auger – to dig the clog out.Ī plumbing snake is a long, flexible metal cable with a plastic crank handle and guide. Some clogs are so stubborn that not even a plunger will help. Wondering how to snake a drain like a plumber? This article will teach you how to use a drain snake the right way to clear blockages in your pipes.
