How Do You Use a Plumber’s Snake?

A plumber’s snake is an essential tool used by emergency plumbers to unclog drains, such as those in your kitchen sink, shower or bathtub. It can also be a useful addition to the homeowner’s arsenal, giving you an extra option to remove clogs besides plungers. 

Although it takes practice to use effectively, using a plumber’s snake can help clear drain clogs in your home. Here’s everything you need to know about these useful tools and how to use them before contacting an emergency plumber near you.

How Do Plumber’s Snakes Work?

A plumber’s snake, drain snake or drain auger, is a long, flexible, metallic cable attached to a handle on one end and tipped with a corkscrew-shaped head on the other. When not in use, the cable is coiled inside a drum-shaped housing. 

The purpose of a plumber’s snake is to unclog obstructions lodged deep inside a drain, past what you can usually remove with a plunger. The handle lets you rotate the corkscrew tip so that it can hook onto objects or debris that created the obstruction.

Most plumber’s snakes are fully manual tools, meaning you must deploy the cable down the drain and rotate it manually using the handle. Many snakes have interchangeable auger heads, allowing you to hook into various clogging materials or insert the cable into different kinds of drains.

Some models are motorized, allowing you to deploy and rotate the cable automatically as needed. Emergency plumbing services commonly use these specialized tools to address the deepest and most severe clogs.

How to Use a Plumber’s Snake: A Step-by-Step Guide

A plumber’s snake can be an excellent way to clear a nasty clog in your kitchen or bathtub. It is effective at removing hair clogs, clearing food particle buildup, cooking grease or dislodging a foreign object, such as a toy or a toothpaste cap. We recommend trying a drain snake in our guide to drain cleaning, especially if a plunger isn’t enough to remove the blockage.

Before using the snake, prepare the following equipment and safety gear:

• OSHA-approved safety glasses and rubber gloves
• A bucket
• Towels or rags to catch any water spillage
• (Optional) Wrenches, screwdrivers and other tools

Once you have all your equipment, follow this step-by-step guide to find and clear drain clogs.

Step 1: Prepare the Area

Before starting, wear your safety glasses and rubber gloves. They will protect your eyes and hands from water projections and contact with waste or germs. Then, lay down towels and rags around the drain. When you pull out the clog, the debris may be wet or break apart. The towels will catch water and debris pieces, preventing damage and reducing clean-up time.

If your drain has a drain cover or a stopper that cannot be removed by hand, unscrew or wrench it out so you can insert the plumber’s snake.

Step 2: Carefully Insert the Snake

Pull out a length of the plumber’s snake and feed it into the drain. Continue pulling more length and pushing the head deeper into the drain. Avoid ramming or forcing the head down because the snake’s tip may scratch or damage your pipes’ side walls.

If you need to navigate the snake around a bend or a curved pipe, you may need to apply some pressure or gently pull the snake back, then push it back in until it clears the corner.

Step 3: Deal with the Clog

Continue feeding the snake until you feel resistance. If it becomes harder to push it any further, it likely means the tip has reached the clog or obstruction. Use the handle to start rotating the auger head. Depending on the type of clog, the head will either dislodge, break apart or entangle the materials that caused the blockage. 

Keep rotating the head until you no longer feel any resistance. If the resistance persists, the clog may be completely entangled around the auger head, meaning you’ll have to pull it out.

Step 4: Remove the Snake and Clear the Drain

Carefully retract the snake until the head is out of the drain. Depending on the type of blockage, the head may be entangled or stuck inside a clump of material. If you pull a clog out, dispose of it in the bucket. Then, turn on the water at full force for 1-2 minutes. The water flow will help dislodge any remaining clogged material, flushing it down the drain.

When Should You Not Use a Plumber’s Snake?

Although a plumber’s snake is good to have as an extra option to deal with clogs, they may not be suitable for all situations. You should avoid clearing a blockage with a drain snake if any of the following apply:

• Old, weak or damaged pipes. The head of a plumber’s snake can scratch or damage weaker pipe sections, increasing the risk of breakage or introducing a leak.

• Tree root blockages. Plumber’s snakes typically aren’t enough to clear obstructions caused by tree root intrusions. Contact a 24-hour emergency plumber near you; they have the equipment to deal with this type of issue.

• Complex plumbing systems. Some homes are equipped with complex or advanced plumbing elements, such as backflow prevention devices or specialized traps. A plumber’s snake can damage or displace their components. If your home is equipped with these devices, avoid using a snake and call a local emergency plumber instead.

Call Blue Collars for Professional Drain Cleaning Services

Blue Collars is a Charleston plumbing company you can count on for all your plumbing and HVAC emergencies. We serve the Charleston, SC, area and all surrounding communities. 

Explore our blog to get answers to some of the most common plumbing questions, such as “Why does my toilet keep clogging?” or “Why is my water heater leaking?”

Contact us today to address any plumbing emergency or issue, from clogged sinks and toilets to overhauls of your home’s plumbing.