How do you get a drain snake past a trap?

Drain Snake Won’t Go Down Tub or Sink But many people try to do exactly that—force the cable straight down the drain opening, hoping to get through the trap and to the clog. Instead, you should take the drain trap apart beneath the sink, then insert the drain snake into the horizontal branch drain.

What is the difference between a drain snake and an auger? Drain snakes work for smaller drains like your kitchen or bathroom sink. Drain augers tackle larger pipes like your toilet or shower drain. The snake covers lines from 1-1/4″ – 2″ range, and you’ll use an auger for lines in the 1-1/2″ – 3″ range.

How far should a drain auger go? A drain snake is usually about 15 to 25 feet long. It should be inserted into the drain as far as possible in order to reach the clog, but be careful not to damage your pipes.

What do plumbers use to snake a drain? A manual drain snake, also known as a plumber’s snake or a drain auger, is a small boring tool that rotates slowly as it’s physically pushed through a stubborn clog. The terminal end of the device is a corkscrew-shaped hook that is fed into a clogged drain or toilet.

How do you use a 50 foot manual drain auger?

How do you unclog a drain if a snake doesn’t work?

How do you get a drain snake past a trap? – Related Questions

Can a drain snake break a pipe?

Drain Snakes Can Damage Pipes While billed as devices that are easy to use by anyone and everyone, drain snakes can be hard to manage, and if used improperly, can damage pipes. Old pipes in many homes are galvanized, or coated in zinc, which was done to prevent the pipe from rusting or corroding.

Is a 25 foot drain snake long enough?

For the typical property owner, a 25-foot snake is long enough. If you have an upstairs bathroom, though, you might run into a problem needing a 50-foot reach. For many obstructions, ones that take place in sinks and tubs, you need a wire that’s 1/4-inch in size.

What can I use instead of a drain snake?

If you don’t have a drain snake at your home, you can use a pipe cleaner, a straightened clothes hanger, or make this simple tool out of a plastic bottle: Start with an empty 2-liter plastic bottle.

How do you snake past a 90 degree turn?

The proper way to use a snake is to insert the head into the drain and push very slowly without cranking. If you try to force it, it can bend back on itself and actually come out of the drain. Push gently and slowly, and if the auger is the right one for the job, it should slide smoothly through the pipe.

What’s the strongest thing to unclog a drain?

Best Overall: Drano Max Gel Clog Remover This popular drain cleaner works effectively on different drains and disposals—whether in your bathroom, kitchen, laundry room, or garage. This highly concentrated formula works in about seven minutes and can remove even the toughest grime buildup from your drains.

How do you unclog a deep clogged?

Pour boiling hot water down the drain. This can dissolve mildew, slime, soap scum, and other similar clogs. Put half a cup of baking soda in the drain, then pour half a cup of vinegar down after it. Let this mixture sit for an hour, and then check the drain.

What is the best liquid to unclog a drain?

How do you use a husky half inch 50 foot drain auger?

How do you unclog a drain with an auger?

How much should a plumber charge to snake a drain?

The average plumber cost to snake a drain is $100 to $275 for a toilet, sink, tub, shower, or laundry drain. The average cost to snake a main line is $150 to $500. Roto-Rooter prices are $225 to $500 on average to snake a drain. Drain snake rental costs $30 to $80 per day.

Can plunging make a clog worse?

Attempting to force a clog through a toilet with a plunger can often make the problem worse. Instead, create a seal and slowly push down on the plunger before pulling it back sharply. The suction can help pull the clog back up toward the bowl, breaking the blockage and allowing gravity to take over.

What happens if a plumber can’t unclog a drain?

If your plumber snake isn’t clearing the clog properly, try: Cleaning the drain snake. If you haven’t cleaned it since using it last, the old clog may still be embedded on the corkscrew end. You must clean this end for it to be effective.

Is it worth buying a drain snake?

First of all, a drain snake is a good item to keep handy in a home. A basic hand-crank drain snake (a.k.a. a drain auger) is a much better option for getting rid of a minor clog than resorting to chemical drain cleaners. In fact, you should never use these chemicals on your drains!

How often should you snake your drain?

ANNUALLY. Even if you don’t notice any specific signs that your drains are having trouble with clogs, you should do your best to have them cleaned at least once every year.

Can I use a drain snake on PVC pipe?

PVC pipes are an improvement over cast-iron pipes, because they have smooth walls that don’t allow debris to cling, so if you have to clear a clogged drain deep in the pipe, you can usually do it with a plunger or drain snake.

How far can you snake a drain?

It’s a good idea to snake the drain if that’s the case. A drain snake of 25 or 50 feet should do the trick. You may have to feed the snake directly into the drain pipe if the stop occurred before the clean-out.

How big of a drain snake do I need?

What size auger Do you need to unclog a toilet?

ve invested in a 6ft toilet auger (Recommended) you can reach blockages about 5ft into the waste line. Why is a toilet auger so much better than a plunger?

Will Coke unclog drains?

Coke. Coke is a lesser-known fix you can find in your refrigerator. Pour a 2-liter bottle of cola — Pepsi, Coke, or generic brand substitutes — down the clogged drain. Coke is actually quite caustic and effective at clearing away buildup in your drains, but it’s far milder than commercial drain cleaners.

How long does baking soda and vinegar take to unclog a drain?

Cover with the drain plug and wait 5 to 10 minutes.

How do you make a homemade drain snake?

Can a drain snake get stuck?

How do I get my drain snake to turn a corner?

Bend the end of the snake about 3 or 4 inches from the end before you insert it so it will more easily go around the corner when it encounters it. You can also try pulling back on the cable just a bit when you get to a corner.

How do you recoil a drain snake?

To recoil a drain snake, you insert the new cable through the hole in the back and guide the wire around the outer perimeter of the auger’s drum. Once you establish a foundation around the edge of the container, you will retract the wire back into the machine as normal.

What is an auger used for?

Simply put, an auger is a spiral-shaped tool that is used to drill holes into the ground and other surfaces or materials. The spiraling metal shaft with a blade at the end of the device is known as a “flighting”. The flighting rotates to scrape, cut, or siphon out drilled materials.

What kind of snake do plumbers use?

A standard household drain snake, sometimes called a drum snake or top snake, is the smallest of the drain-clearing augers. It is primarily used for clogs in tubs, showers, bathroom sinks, washing machines, and sometimes kitchens sinks. Most have a 25- or 50-foot cable with a corkscrew tip for snagging debris.

What size auger Do you need to unclog a toilet?

ve invested in a 6ft toilet auger (Recommended) you can reach blockages about 5ft into the waste line. Why is a toilet auger so much better than a plunger?

Are drain snakes any good?

Light-duty drain snakes are great for quickly clearing hair clogs in the shower or grabbing items that were dropped down the drain. These drain snakes are often made of high-quality ABS plastic that is both flexible and durable. There are also heavy-duty drain snakes that are made with high-carbon steel.