How to Snake a Drain

Clogged drained are common in kitchens and bathrooms, as they are two of the most frequented rooms in the home. Food, grease, and oil are typically the culprits in a kitchen sink while hair and miscellaneous toiletry products are commonly linked to bathroom sink, shower, and bathtub clogs. One of the easiest fixes is to snake the drain. Snaking a drain is simple, effective, and affordable because you can often perform the job yourself without professional assistance. In this blog, you’ll find a step-by-step on how to snake a drain, tips for preventing a clogged drain, and answers to a few frequently asked questions.

Key Takeaways

  • A drain snake is a plumbing tool with a flexible metal cable and a corkscrew-shaped auger at the end.
  • Clogged drains are common in kitchens and bathrooms, and can often be fixed by snaking the drain yourself.
  • Always wear safety goggles and gloves when you’re using a drain snake.
  • Celan and rain your drain snake after every use.
  • If your drain remains clogged after several attempts to snake it, consult a professional plumber.
  • Prevent clogs by avoiding washing food, grease, or oil down the drain and by bathing your pets outdoors.

What Is a Drain Snake?

A drain snake, also known as a drain auger, is a plumbing tool equipped with a flexible metal cable that can enter drains and pipes to snag and dislodge clogs within your drain.

This cable can be as long as 25 feet and has a corkscrew-shaped auger at the end. Snaking your drain is a great alternative to using harsh chemicals or a plunger to remove the clog.

How To Snake a Drain Step-by-Step Guide

Before you begin snaking your drain, it’s important to take appropriate safety precautions. Make sure you wear both safety goggles and gloves to prevent any contaminated water, debris, or chemicals from irritating your eyes and skin. You should also avoid flushing any chemicals down the drain before you start snaking it. If you already have a plumbing snake that fits your drain, you can use it. If not, you can typically find drain augers at a home improvement store.

Here are easy-to-follow steps outlining how to snake a drain:

When to Call a Professional

If your drain remains clogged after snaking it several times, it may be best to consult with the experts at Summit Drain. We have the experience, knowledge, and skills to identify the source of the problem and offer an effective, long-term solution. While learning how to snake a drain is very valuable, it’s also vital to know when to call in the professionals. Without a proper fix, plumbing issues can become more complex and costly to repair.

Review our drain snaking service page for more information about our plumbing services.

FAQs

Here are a few tips to preventing a clogged drain:

  • Install drain filters or strainers in all your drains.
  • Clean drain strainers into the trash rather than in the sink.
  • Maintain your drain traps by disassembling them and cleaning them at least once a year.
  • Avoid washing food, grease, or oil down our drains.
  • Regularly remove hair that falls onto or into your sink or shower drain.
  • Bathe your pets outdoors to keep hair and other debris from washing down the shower or tub drains.

No, you shouldn’t run water before using a drain snake. The water can collect in the pipes and further exacerbate the clog, making the snaking process more difficult.

Yes, there are different kinds of drain snakes you can use. Here is a list of a few kinds of drain augers:

  • Cable Drain Augers: A long flexible hose cable with a corkscrew end.
  • Flat Tape Auger: Auger tip attached to a flat cable, designed for pipes with a diameter of 2 inches or less.
  • Electronic Drain Snake: Has a motor that powers the cable’s movements, allowing for faster rotation, which is especially useful for difficult clogs.

In addition to using a snake to unclog sinks in your bathroom and kitchen, you can also use them to remove blockages in the following drains:

  • Shower drains
  • Bathtub drains
  • Floor drains
  • Toilets

Related Article: 5 Benefits of Hiring a Professional Plumber

FAQ

A main sewer line blockage can cause water to backup in random places. For instance, you run your washing machine and notice your sink overflowing – this can be a clear sign that you have a clogged drain line.

If you have ruled out a potential sewer drain clog, you can rinse your sewer drain by flushing it with water. When you flush your lines, try adding a bit of drain cleaner to the water. A great place to flush your sewer line is the toilet – a larger amount of water and drain cleaner can enter your system quickly and easily. Unfortunately, if you do this when you have a clog, it can cause backup and potential flooding – if this is the case, clear the clog first.

You should generally know if your sewer line is blocked with slow drainage. The purpose of the sewer line is to take all the water drainage away from your house via sinks, bathtubs or toilets – if you find that there is slower drainage in one drain then you can essentially clear that yourself using a drain snake or a plunger.

There is confusion regarding when you are responsible for sewer line repair. While some may believe that the homeowner is only responsible for repairing the part of the line that’s on their property, this is not the case. Sewer lines consist of multiple sections, the upper lateral, lower lateral and the main line. The city is only responsible for repairing the main sewer line.

If issues with the main sewer line cause damage to your lower lateral, which is most likely where the damage would generally first start – the city would repair this damage when they work on the main sewer line. Unfortunately, if there is backup and flooding on your property from the main sewer line, then the city would not be responsible. It is best to follow up with the city to see if they will repair any damage in these cases.

Unpleasant smells coming from your drains is indicative of sewer line issues and damage. You should always take these types of smells seriously as it could be toxic fumes slowly releasing from the sewer below into your home.

There are a number of ways to clear a slow drain using products found around the home:

Bent Wire – If you do not have a drain snake, you can try using a stiff wire – like one from a clothes hanger, leaving the hook to enter pipes and pull out any clogs. Try to make sure you don’t push debris further into the pipe.

Homemade Flush – Mixing baking soda and vinegar can dissolve any materials that are potentially clogging your drain pipes. This is a good and much safer alternative to store-bought chemical cleaners.

Toilet Plunger – Like plunging a toilet, you can try using this on your drains. Using a plunger on your drains can help get things moving by using suction. This should be enough to fix any mild blockages.

Aged drain pipes are at risk for corrosion which can lead to breaks. Summit Drain has both the technology and expertise to fix this if necessary.

Yes. Drain pipes are durable, but not meant to last forever. If you live in an older home in Ottawa, most likely the pipes are made from copper and can collapse in this day and age.

When it comes to a collapsed drain, call Summit Drain. We use trenchless technology to replace sewer pipes made from original materials without ruining your property.

Rock salt
Rock salt helps by removing moisture from the roots, which in turn kills them. Two lbs should do the trick, pour 1 down the toilet. Flush until gone. And repeat with the next. Then leave for 12 hours and don’t run any water.


Foaming root killers
Another effective way to treat roots in pipes is with foaming root killers. Pour powder into toilet and flush. It will foam upon contact with water. Not only does it help dissolve current roots, but also helps to protect against future ones.


Copper sulfate
Copper sulfate is another good option. Available at most hardware stores, pour roughly half a cup into toilet and flush until gone. Leave the home and take all pets and family members along. This is a toxic substance and banned in some places.


Should I replace old pipes?
There does come a time where it makes sense to replace your pipes. Over time they crack and corrode. It is recommended to begin routine inspections once your home reaches 50 years in age. For plumbing Services in and around the Ottawa area, nobody does it like Summit Drain.

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