How to Unclog Drains With Sewer Snakes
If you have a stopped-up drain in your home, it can be unclogged with a sewer snake. Sewer snakes are also known as drain snakes or drain augers. These devices are made of flexible metal cables, with a handle for rotating on one end and a corkscrew on the other. It is time to use the snake if you have tried other methods to open a clogged drain, but have not been successful.
Supplies
- Drain snake
- Rubber gloves
- Trash bag
- Bucket
1. Obtain a drain snake from your local hardware or home improvement store. There are several styles to choose from. Drain snakes are available in both the manual and electric varieties. For most home drain clogs, a manual snake, which is 50 feet in length and 1/2 inch in diameter, will handle the job.
2. Put on your rubber gloves.
3. Remove the drain strainers or covers.
4. If there is standing water in the sink, bail it out with the bucket.
5. Loosen the thumb screw on the side of the snake's housing. Pull about 10 to 12 feet of the coil out and re-tighten the thumb screw.
6. Insert the snake corkscrew end into the pipe. Be careful not to entangle the snake on the joints within the pipe, as this can damage the snake.
7. Crank the handle in a clockwise direction to advance the snake down the drain. Wiggle the snake from side to side in the pipe as you go, until resistance is felt. If more cable is needed to reach the clog, loosen the thumb screw and release more of the cable and re-tighten the thumb screw.
8. Once you have found the clog, rotate the handle in a clockwise position vigorously to penetrate it. Try to entangle the debris clogging the drain on the corkscrew end of the snake. Do not push the clog further down the drain, as this can cause a deep clog to develop.
9. Carefully rotate the snake handle in a counter-clockwise direction, to retract it from the drain. Once successfully out of the pipe, remove the debris from the corkscrew and discard into the plastic bag.
10. Run hot water in the drain to remove any left behind particles that may have dislodged from the clog during removal. Replace the drain covers or strainers.