How to Get a Snake Drain Around the U Bend
Unclogging a bathtub drain can be a difficult operation. Bathtubs typically are connected to the wall and drain with the "U" shaped pipe known as a p-trap. These types of pipes allow water to flow from the sink up the wall to the bathtub piping while preventing any gases from packing up through the sink drain.
Supplies:
- Drain snake
- Screw driver
- Rubber gloves
- Trash bag
Instructions:
- Remove the drain cover from the bathtub with the screwdriver.
- Release the set screw on the auger housing and pull about 12 feet of cable out of the housing. Retighten the thumb screw.
- Feed the corkscrew end of the snake down into the bathtub drain.
- Slowly crank the auger in a clockwise position as it moves around and through the "U" pipe. It is very important not to get the auger coil caught in the p-trap.
- Continue advancing the snake through the drain until you feel resistance on the snake. At this point, you have reached the clog.
- Hold the auger firmly in hand and rotate the handle in a steady grinding clockwise motion at this point. Your objective is to grab the debris from the clog onto the corkscrew end and remove it from the drain, if at all possible. When working with a drain auger it is always advisable to remove the debris from a clog rather than push it deeper into the pipe where the clog could reform.
- Remove the auger and the debris once you feel the auger rotate freely.
- Put on your rubber gloves and lay an old towel on the tub.
- Slowly crank the snake in a counterclockwise direction carefully around the "U" bend and out of the pipe.
- Wipe the coils of the snake with the towel as it is removed from the drain.
- Grasp the debris from the clog off of the corkscrew end and discard it into the plastic bag.
- Rinse the bathtub with hot water to make sure the clog was removed.
- Replace the drain cover.