When a drain can’t be unclogged with a plunger, drain snaking is usually the next best option. If you have a snake or auger at home, you can try this yourself. Otherwise, you’ll need a plumber to bring their specialized equipment to unclog your drain for you. Some greater insight into the process is helpful to understanding how to fix and avoid clogs.

A Guide to Drain Snaking

Prep the Area

Before you use the snake, it’s smart to put on some rubber gloves and clear the area. If you succeed in getting the clog out, you don’t want it to soil your dishes or bathtub toys. If you see a clogged object inside the drain, you can also try to remove it without the snake first.

Begin Snaking

For proper drain snaking, you must lower the cable into the drain. For a manual snake, you’ll turn the handle to extend the cable. The cable should keep going down the drain until you feel resistance. That’s when you’ll want to rotate the snake. You should keep turning the handle, which may require some pressure. The goal is to hook the clogged object with the snake so that it can be pulled out.

If the clog is small or breakable, snaking will reduce it enough to go down the drain. If it’s a bigger object, the snake should hook onto it to allow you to pull it out. You can check periodically by pulling on the snake to see if it has an object attached to it. After you have pulled out the clog, you can test the drain by letting the water run at full force. If it’s still clogged, you may need to use the snake drain again or call a plumbing professional to help.

Proper drain snaking can unclog a drain quickly and efficiently. If you need help with this, or if snaking doesn’t resolve the clog, John Lockwood Plumbing is ready to assist. This family-owned business has been serving Ontario, NY, and surrounding areas since 1972. They perform plumbing repairs of all kinds, and they can help you with new plumbing installations. Visit the website for more information, or call (585) 265-0736 to talk to one of their plumbers.