Homeowners can’t do without plumbing and it needs maintenance and repairs quite often. You might occasionally realize that your kitchen or bathroom sink is completely clogged or drains slowly. When certain substances that shouldn’t go into the drain get into these sewers and collect in the pipes, it results in clogging of the pipes. Clogged drains are the worst since they further cause so many problems, including leakage, warping of the pipes, and flooding of your property. As a result, clearing it thoroughly should be a prime concern.
Any skilled plumber’s tool kit should include a plumbing snake as one of the vital items. Below you will find detailed information on this device, including how they function, the numerous varieties available, and proper usage.
What exactly is a plumbing snake?
You can use a plumbing snake as a tool to clear obstructions from pipes and drains. Although it looks like a hose, its function is very different. It is a long and flexible metal cable that is typically equipped with a compact uncoiled spring or an auger at one end and a handle at the opposite end. Professional plumbers rotate the auger by turning the crank. The obstacle obstructing the pipe and resulting in the backup is ultimately reached as the plumbing snake uncoils and travels down the drain.
Plumbing snakes can be turned by hand or electricity to get a stuck clog out of a sewer pipe. It can be used to clean out any minimally impacted sinks in the kitchen, bathroom, tub, or shower. Nevertheless, it is dangerous to use a standard plumbing snake to clear the stoppages in a toilet, since toilets require a specific toilet snake.
When Is It Appropriate To Use A Plumbing Snake?
Use a snake if the clog is too difficult to remove with a plunger. That is the logical thing to do. When it comes to drain cleaning, snakes are far more effective than traditional plungers. Additionally, using them poses a little bit greater risk. Before using more powerful equipment, such as a drain auger, the plumbing snake is typically the first option. You run the risk of rupturing your drain pipes if you don’t utilize your plumbing snake correctly, which could lead to leaks. Therefore, it is crucial to understand the purpose and proper techniques for using a plumbing snake.
How do you use a plumber’s snake?
Whatever is clogged in your sewer can be removed when the auger rotates due to the coil’s corkscrew-like design. The snake operator unwinds the coil or unwinds the reel and inserts the snake into the obstructed pipe by hand. The user may move the power drill up and down, around in a small circle, and to the sides within the pipe while turning the auger with the crank. All of these methods help to remove any obstructions in the system.
The cable can easily slide deeper into the pipe as the clog loosens. Then you will have to insert more of it into the pipe’s interior. Once the blockage has been dislodged, it can either be forced into the drain or lifted with the auger. In either case, the pipes must be rinsed out with new water once the plumbing snake and auger are capable of moving.
What are the steps to effectively use a plumbing snake?
Many homeowners decide to handle plumbing clog repairs on their own. It is completely safe, but it needs to be done properly to prevent damaging the pipes and creating leaks. To prevent damage from occurring when you use a plumbing snake, you should adhere to these instructions.
1. Get the pipes ready and enter the auger
Either flush the spring into the drain or take out the p-trap as the first step. The curved pipework beneath the sink known as the “p-trap” can be taken out using your hand. Lay the used towels out on the sink cabinet’s floor. Place the container beneath the P-trap. The plastic nuts should be unscrewed using old rags as a grip. Drain the container’s water collection by opening the P-trap. Snaking can be made simpler by removing the p-trap. If the p-trap has been taken out, you can begin snaking by putting the auger into the pipes without going into the drain.
2. Start uncoiling the snake
You’ll start uncoiling the spring after inserting the auger into the pipe or drain. Hand-operated snakes for domestic plumbing are operated by twisting the handle. It is preferable if you move through this at a steady yet moderate speed. Put the coil into the drain gently; otherwise, you risk damaging the pipe or the drain entry. As you turn the handle, the coil will descend the piping. The presence of pressure suggests that you have likely reached the blockage.
3. Release the snake’s coils until you touch the block
When you get to the clog, give the head a light shake to loosen the debris that’s causing the obstruction. You can try to remove the snake from the pipe if the auger is caught in the obstruction; it might take the clog with it. Continue to snake until there is no longer any pressure or resistance.
4. Remove the snake to ensure that the pipe is clear
You can take out the snake and put the sink back together if you’re confident the drain is clear. To make sure the blockage has been cleared from the sink, check it. If it looks like your sink still isn’t draining right, you should keep trying to snake it. However, you should seek out expert assistance if the issue continues.
When the obstruction is further away than your drain snake can reach, it’s time to call in the professionals. When the blockage is too large for a plunger to clear, plumbing snakes are frequently employed. Plungers are significantly less powerful than these instruments, but they are also more difficult to use. However, the plumbers may need to employ high-pressure water jets to unclog the pipes if the clog is too serious to be removed using a plumbing snake.
Drain snakes may take up impediments but not cut through them. Call a plumber or a similar service since their motorized sewer devices can pierce and remove objects that are stuck in pipes. The best thing to do is to hire a professional if you have any doubts about your ability to clear the drain because drain cleaning is quite inexpensive.