As you use a plumbing snake, it uncoils down the drain, eventually reaching the obstruction that is blocking the piping and causing the backup. Plumbing snakes are often used when the clog is too big for a plunger to solve. These tools are much more powerful than plungers, but they are trickier to use.
Drain Snakes Can Damage Pipes
Old pipes in many homes are galvanized, or coated in zinc, which was done to prevent the pipe from rusting or corroding. When a drain snake is inserted into a pipe, the end may flop around, scratching the pipe.
While snaking is generally considered safe for your pipes, it can damage your pipes if they are in bad shape. Homes that have older pipes are more susceptible to this happening as hairline cracks and corrosion occur over time. Surprisingly, snaking your main line can potentially make the clog worse.
Snake Size
Using the incorrect one could cause the snake to loop back on itself and scrape the insides of the drain. This could lead to coercion, leaks, and could end up causing damage to an extent that requires replacement of the piping.
A drain snake (also called a plumbing snake) is one of the best tools to clear a drain line. Snakes can handle a small, 1.25-inch to 2-inch-wide drain. Augers are the same as drain snakes, but they deal with 1.5-inch to 3-inch-wide drains.
If your snake isn't unclogging your drains, it could be because the thumbscrew is loose, the clog is too severe, or the auger is dirty. Or maybe you just need a refresher on how to use a drain snake. A drain auger (snake) is a simple, inexpensive necessity for every homeowner.
A drain snake is usually about 15 to 25 feet long. It should be inserted into the drain as far as possible in order to reach the clog, but be careful not to damage your pipes.
If the bottom of the pipe or fittings are missing this can cause the snake to catch and break the pipe. It can also cause the equipment to get stuck. Broken PVC pipe is another issue with drains.
Note that while you will want to make sure to clear the clog, you also don't want to run the snake too far because the shower drain eventually connects up with your home's larger drains (e.g. toilet drains). Larger drains provide more opportunity for the snake to turn back on itself and get knotted and even stuck.
A manual drain snake, also known as a plumber's snake or a drain auger, is a small boring tool that rotates slowly as it's physically pushed through a stubborn clog. The terminal end of the device is a corkscrew-shaped hook that is fed into a clogged drain or toilet.
Using a snake is also more invasive and time-consuming than using a chemical cleaner is, and can often become a dirty job. When it comes to getting at and removing major clogs or clogs that are deep down in your pipes, however, a plumber's snake is your best bet.
If your snaking session yields plenty of hair and soap scum, but still leaves you with a slow drain, there's a good chance that the P-trap is still obstructed. To clear it, plug the overflow hole with a rag and fill the tub drain with hot water, which will help to soften and loosen soap scum.
Over time, the plumbing pipes get dirty and accumulate debris, slowly blocking the water flow. This buildup of slime in the drain is a notorious breeding ground for bacteria. As it grows, the biological matter creates black sludge in the drain.
You need to make sure that you've securely tightened thumbscrew(the piece that secures the cable inside the drum or handle). If the thumbscrew is loose, the cable will not rotate at all when you twist the handle. The cable rotation is how the drain snake picks up debris, so if it can't do this, your auger won't work.
As a good preventive measure you should have your sewer lines cleaned every 18-22 months. If you are experiencing problems more often than that, you may need to call a plumber and schedule a video inspection of your pipes.
Remove Hair or Debris
If the drain is still clogged, the problem may be a soapy clump of tangled hair that you can pull out of the drain with your fingers. You can pull it out even if water is standing in the shower, as long as the water is not too hot to touch.
If your drain is clogged with hair, baking soda can dissolve hair in a drain. To try this safe and easy method at home - first, pour a cup of baking soda down the drain. Then pour a cup of vinegar (white vinegar) down. Allow the mixture to sit for several minutes.
Plumbing snakes (also called drain cables) that are used to unclog sinks can actually scratch your porcelain toilet bowl. If plunging did not work, you want a toilet auger (also sometimes called a closet auger). The auger is a plumbing snake, but it has a protective sleeve that protects the bowl from damage.
First of all, a drain snake is a good item to keep handy in a home. A basic hand-crank drain snake (a.k.a. a drain auger) is a much better option for getting rid of a minor clog than resorting to chemical drain cleaners. In fact, you should never use these chemicals on your drains!
Because of its corrosive nature, Drano can cause toilet bowls to crack, PVC pipes to melt or break and the glue that holds pipes together can be eaten away. If any of these things happen, you're going to be left with an inoperable plumbing system and costly repairs.
Try a Drain Snake
After this, remove the stopper. If removing and cleaning those does not resolve your issue, a snake is the best solution. Insert the pipe snake through the overflow until you feel the blockage, then twist. As you reel the snake back in, it should bring the clog with it.
While you may need to call in a plumber for stubborn clogs, most clogs due to soft debris can be snagged and removed by a drain snake. With this simple, low-cost device that you can store in a sink cabinet, you'll save time and money by not having a plumber clear your clogged drain.
Without a drain snake, you can use tools and materials available in almost all households. For example, you can use water, commercial cleaners, plungers, baking soda and vinegar blends, and various other methods. We're sure you'll have access to at least one of these methods.
Insert the snake's head into either the drain (if you didn't remove the trap) or the access point on the wall. Avoid running hot water while you snake, and use cold water instead. If the pipe is severely clogged, it will only trap this hot water in the pipes and damage them.
Tighten the Thumbscrew
If you hit an obstacle and the cable will not rotate, the thumbscrew likely needs to be tightened. A handle on the side of the snake drum has a place for you to insert a corkscrew and tighten the drain auger. Tighten the auger as much as you can before continuing to snake.