How to Properly Snake a Drain

How to Properly Snake a Drain

Pratt Plumbing is here to take care of all of your Amarillo plumbing needs! We also want to teach you how to take care of some plumbing problems on your own. If you have a clog in your plumbing, you’ll need to learn how to properly snake a drain. Thankfully, we’ve got just the information that you need.

Gather Your Supplies

Before you get to work on your drain, you’ll need either a closet or drain auger, rubber gloves, a bucket and some old towels in case you make a mess. Before you snake a drain, you’ll also want to remove any tub screens or hair traps that might be covering the drain.

Using the Snake Cable

As you insert the snake into the drain, you’ll want to turn the handle clockwise, gripping it tight with both hands if you need to. While you’re lowering the snake down the drain, you’ll also want to lower the grip until it’s about three inches from the opening of the drain so that you can feel the clog easier.

Once you feel resistance, you’ll know that you’ve reached the clog. Keep pushing until you feel the clog start to give way. In order to hook the clog while you snake a drain, keep turning the cable. Then, start to push at the clog to break it up. Once you’ve worked your way to the other end of the clog, keep cranking the handle.

After you’ve broken the clog up, you’ll want to slowly extract the snake. This is so that you don’t lose any of the gunk that’s hooked. Once you’ve pulled the snake and clog out, run hot water down the drain to see if it’s unclogged.

Help Is Available

If you ever run into trouble while trying to snake a drain, or if you’re unable to unclog it, contact us, Pratt Plumbing, at 806-373-7866.

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