How To Properly Snake a Clogged Pipe

11/12/2022 (Permalink)

The main benefit of using a pipe snake is that they are much easier to use.

How to Snake a Pipe

Don't panic, even if you don't know the first thing about plumbing, it's easy to learn how to snake a pipe. A snake is just a metal coil that can be inserted into your pipes and then turned to push debris further down the line. Once any debris has been cleared out of the way, you can use your faucet again. Here's what you need.

Go to the hardware store and get a pipe snake (this is just a metal coil you can feed down your pipes).

A pipe snake is a metal coil that you can feed down your pipes, much like a snake. They're relatively inexpensive and should be available at your local hardware store, but if you don't have one on hand, it's worth going out to buy one for this situation.

If you've got yourself a pipe snake, all you need to do is feed the metal coil down the pipe until it reaches where the clog is located. Then, pull back on the handle of your tool while pushing forward on it at the same time (this will allow the clog to pass through).

The main benefit of using a pipe snake over something like drain cleaner (which can damage your plumbing) or plunging (which requires special equipment) is that they are much easier to use and require no special training or skill level whatsoever.

Put the snake into the pipe and turn its handle.

This can be done in a few different ways, but they all involve inserting the end of the snake into your drain opening until you've reached its maximum length. Then, turn its handle clockwise and feed it down as far as possible.

Once you've reached that point, turn your attention to turning off any valves or water sources nearby so that everything can drain completely. If there isn't a valve in sight and all you have is cold water coming out of your taps, try flushing them out with warm water from a bucket before draining them at full blast through all their outlets.

Insert it about a foot at first, then keep adding more as you move it down.

The first thing you need to do is insert the snake into your drain, but not too far. The idea here is that you want enough of the snake inside so that when you pull on it, it doesn't fall all the way out of your drain. The next step is to gently push down on your plunger and push as much water down your drain as possible. After this has been done, place more of the snake into your pipe until about three feet of it has gone in there. Now pull up slightly on the snake before pushing back down again with more force than before; this will cause even more water from inside where clogs occur to come out through another opening within your pipes. Repeat these steps until no more debris comes out or until it feels like nothing else could possibly be left behind (if there isn't any improvement at all after following these steps).

Keep adding more until the water runs freely.

If you're still not getting any results, it might be time to try a different type of snake. If you have a toilet drain clogged with paper towels and Kleenex, the best tool to use will be one designed for plumbing pipes. But if you're trying to clear out tree roots—the culprit behind most drain clogs in residential drains—you may want to reach for a larger diameter snake designed specifically for that purpose.

We hope we've convinced you to give snaking a go. It's easy, quick, and effective—and if you're like us, you'll be glad for another reason to avoid calling a plumber! If it still sounds intimidating, think about what happened when your toilet was clogged: You probably did some research online or asked someone who knows plumbing for advice. If so, this article fits the bill perfectly: It explains how snaking works in simple terms and provides step-by-step instructions on how to do it yourself.