How does plumbing snake work

As the snake uncoils, it moves further through the drainpipe, until the head breaks through the obstruction. Snaking is a surprisingly easy and accessible homeowner project. As long as you understand how to use your snake, you should be able to remove pesky clogs from your sink, bathtub or toilet. After your snake, the next step is to call Mike Diamond. You can also remove the drain trap arm.

However, this is optional. The drain trap arm refers to the pipe section between the main drain pipe passing through the wall and the sink p-trap. The arm keeps the trap well-positioned in place. It may curve through the wall as it connects to the main drain pipe. You can remove the arm by loosening the metallic or plastic nut that connects it onto the wall.

Clean the arm thoroughly to get rid of any clogs. Try to look through the drain for obstructions. In case you spot an obstruction, you can try to pull it out with a hanger wire. Thread the head of your snake through the drain pipe. In case you never removed the trap, then run some cold water through the drain while snaking.

Avoid forcing the auger through the drain. Forcing it too hard may damage the pipe. Also, observe patience and ensure the auger and snake cable are not too lengthy for your drain pipe. A drain snake also called a plumbing snake is one of the best tools to clear a drain line. Snakes can handle a small, 1. Augers are the same as drain snakes, but they deal with 1. Drain snakes and augers consist of a long cable that you insert into drain lines to clean out clogs like hair and soap scum buildup.

The cable is flexible enough to maneuver through the twists and turns of a pipe without damaging its structure. The cable head has a special tip or attachment designed for snagging or breaking through the clog. You can easily learn how to use a drain snake yourself. Compared with calling a plumber, it's affordable, efficient, and convenient.

Several varieties are available to help unclog a toilet, tub, shower, and sink drain:. A drain snake or auger is an excellent tool for removing hard-to-reach debris in a pipeline.

Snakes and augers come in different sizes to accommodate various pipe lengths. You can get one with a standard foot long cable or a foot long snake for clogs deep within the plumbing system. It's best to reserve the tool for tough clogs that a plunger can't remove in a toilet, shower, tub, or sink. Even with difficult clogs, you can move the flexible cable with a power drill or manual crank until it dislodges enough of the clog to allow water to flow down the drain freely.

Drain snakes and augers are generally safe to use on a toilet, sink, or tub clog. The primary thing to remember is to find the right snake or auger for the type of drain you need assistance with and to follow directions closely.

Otherwise, you can injure yourself. A DIY snake or auger can help with minor sink, tub, toilet bowl, and shower clogs. Many drain snakes and augers on the market are designed to perform specific tasks for various drains.

Practice learning how to use a drain snake with some of the best products available. As one of the best augers specially designed for toilets, this equipment includes a inch tube to fit inside any commode and a 3-foot metal cable with a bulbous, coiled auger head. The cable has a vinyl covering to protect the toilet from scratches and other damage. The best snake for clogs deep inside a drain is the Husky Drain Auger. Don't be tempted to choose someone because they offer a low price; there might be a good reason for that — which could translate into bad news for you.

Before you get anyone into your home, check their references and materials, make sure they're ensured and that they guarantee their work, and try to choose a company or individual registered with a trade association such as the Chartered Institute of Plumbing and Heating Engineers or the Association of Plumbing and Heating Contractors. In plumbing, trap refers to any U-shaped section of pipe. The P-trap is a large trap that connects a sink to a sewer system or home septic tank.

Under normal conditions, these traps always contain a little water. The main function of a P-trap is to contain methane and other noxious gases so that they don't enter your home. As such, they're actually a building code requirement.

As an added bonus, they're also great for catching small items that fall down drains. The size of P-traps and their close proximity to sinks' plugholes mean that they're guaranteed to become clogged. As more debris collects, the diameter narrows until it becomes completely stopped up. In other words, you're going to have to unblock a P-trap or pay someone else to do it, on at least a few occasions in your lifetime.

You can keep this to a minimum by using a sink strainer to catch the larger particles that would otherwise be drained into the trap, but you'll never be able to avoid it completely. Often, it's simpler to remove the P-trap completely and flush it out with water or thread a Plumber's Snake straight through it. If you do this, make sure you put a towel down first to catch anything that leaks out. The trap is quite easy to remove with your hands or an adjustable wrench.

If you are going the snake route, make sure you're using a Toilet Auger and consider running a drain cleaner through first to break up the debris if your pipes are metal.

If they're polyvinyl Chloride PVC , use hot water to do the same thing as the chemicals in the cleaner can damage the material. Then, rotate the cable as you feed it through the pipe, which will help it to clear corners and make its way through to the trap.

Maintain a steady pressure, and if you feel the snake is getting jammed against the wall or corners, apply a little more downward pressure and continue winding the cable.