How to Use a Plumbing Snake: When to Call the Professionals

Using a plumbing snake is simple and effective. When your toilet gets clogged, typically utilizing a plunger clears the pipe. If a plunger or trap cleaning doesn't work, you should know how to use a plumbing snake for more extreme cases.

If you’d rather the professionals assist you with plumbing clogs,appears to be an empty link with target https://www.kingsservices.com/pl King’s Services plumbing services in Winnipeg are thorough, fast, and professional. Our plumbers have years of experience snaking drains of all types. Whether your clog is from built-up food debris, building materials, dirt, or something else, we can help.

When to Use a Plumbing Snake

A plumber's snake is a long, snake-like tool that has metal bristles at the end to pick up gunk and break through clogs. It also features a rubber shield to protect fixtures, drains, and pipes from damage. Before learning how to use a plumbing snake, you should first know when you'll need one.

If your toilet, shower, or kitchen drain has a severe clog that plunging won’t fix, you’ll need to use a drain snake. You can use them for bathtub clogs, garbage disposal clogs, and outdoor drain pipe obstructions.

A plumbing snake may not resolve extreme clogs. However, it can still be worthwhile to use one to break up the hardened material, making it easier for a professional to fully clear the clog. Some parts of the clog may flush away, but a drain snake gets the remaining bit.

Steps to Use a Plumbing Snake Effectively

Using a plumbing snake takes little effort. If you still need one, you can purchase a cheap drain snake from your local hardware store or rent the equipment. You’ll need to prepare yourself and follow the next steps for a successful job.

You can apply these steps to any drain snaking job. The process is the same regardless of whether you have a clogged toilet or kitchen sink.

Prepare the Area

Snaking a drain can get messy. Before you begin, you’ll need to put on rubber gloves and prepare the area by laying down towels to keep everything clean and dry. Keep a bucket nearby for the drain snake and any obstructive material.

Consider Preliminary Attempts

Depending on the clog's location, you might not have to use a drain snake. Before using a drain snake on the kitchen sink, consider removing the p-trap. The p-trap prevents sewer gas from entering your home from the drain and connects your sink drain to the rest of the drainage system.

Removing and cleaning out the p-trap may be all you need to resolve clogs. In other cases, it can make clog removal easier. Removing and clearing the trap arm can also help if you're not confident about using a plumbing snake.

The trap arm connects the p-trap to the sewer pipe. Typically, it is removable for cleaning purposes. If you can remove clogs from the drainpipe after taking off the trap arm, snaking may no longer be necessary.

Insert the Snake

Next, you’ll insert the end of the snake into the drain. If your clog is in the kitchen, be sure to remove any drain traps and strainers and turn off power to your garbage disposal beforehand. If the problem is in the bathroom, take off the appropriate drain covers.

Turn the snake’s handle clockwise to extend the coil down the drain. The end of the snake should point downwards to follow the pipe's path. You may feel resistance as gunk catches on the snake’s metal wiring.

Locate and Break Up the Clog

Keep rotating the snake handle until you feel the blockage. It might take a while to reach the clog if you cannot resolve it with a p-trap cleaning. Most snakes have a length of over 20 feet to tackle deep clogs.

After reaching the obstruction, move the snake up and down and back and forth. Don’t stop until you feel the clog break up and the snake moves easily past its location.

The metal tines will break up sludge and catch hair, allowing water to pass through freely. The remaining bits will flush down the drain. If you feel no resistance, crank the snake back up to check if you’ve caught anything.

Put any material and debris in your bucket to throw away later.

Flush the Drain

Next, flush the drain by running cold water down it at full power. Keep the water running for a few minutes to ensure the clog is gone. Avoid using hot water as it can cause remaining debris to congeal and reclog your plumbing system.

Depending on the materials clogging your drain, clogs may either flush away or come out with the snake. Keep flushing and snaking the drain if you still can’t remove it. If that’s not enough, you may need to contact plumbing professionals such as those at King’s Services.

How to Prevent Clogs

If you’re not willing to learn how to use a plumbing snake, preventative measures are the next best thing. Following these best practices will prevent your drains from getting clogged.

Maintain Your Garbage Disposal

Keeping your garbage disposal in good condition will ensure food waste doesn’t cause clogs. Run cold water while using the disposal to flush all debris down the drain.

Try a Sink Strainer

A sink strainer covers your kitchen drain and catches more oversized items that could clog pipes.

Avoid Putting Improper Materials Down Drains

Seemingly harmless materials can lead to clogs. Prevent clogs by only putting approved materials down the drain.

Drain Cleaning Services

King’s Services in Headingley are proud to offer precise, high-quality drain cleaning services. When drain snaking doesn’t resolve clogs, we remove them quickly and effectively. Over 15 years of expertise make us the leading choice for Manitoba homeowners’ home improvement projects.

For more tips on how to use a plumbing snake or appears to be an empty link with target https://www.kingsservices.com/2-simple-ways-to-clear-your-drain-and-a-secret-that-most-people-dont-know simple ways to clear your drain, speak to the experts at King’s Services. We’re available for emergencies and more. If you have a bad drain clog, contact us for service today by calling 204-815-5886.