Table of Contents
How do you use a drain snake auger?
Instructions For Using A Drain Auger At Home: Step One: Insert the drain auger into the drain or toilet. Step Two: Turn the handle of the drain snake clockwise and slowly push. Step Three: When you’ve found the blockage with the drain auger, pull it out without rotating the drain.
Is a toilet auger the same as a snake?
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. When they do, it’s often from roots growing into the pipes.
What happens if a toilet auger doesn’t work?
You need to make sure that you’ve securely tightened thumbscrew(the piece that secures the cable inside the drum or handle). If the thumbscrew is loose, the cable will not rotate at all when you twist the handle. The cable rotation is how the drain snake picks up debris, so if it can’t do this, your auger won’t work.
How do you get a snake out of a drain trap?
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.
Can’t get snake past trap tub?
If you’re using a drain snake and it won’t go down the drain, don’t force it. Call a plumber near you. If this is the case, a new drain snake may be required. Too much force – When you’re trying to dislodge a blockage, it can be tempting to try and force a snake cable through the drain too fast.
How do you snake a toilet with a drum auger?
Expose the alternate drain opening that’s upstream of the toilet and then feed the auger into the drain by locking the cable, turning the drum in a clockwise direction, and then unlocking and feeding the cable as needed to pass the auger tip through elbows and obstructions.
Why is my auger not digging?
An auger that is slow to cut through soil or does not cut at all may indicate an issue with the auger itself. Damaged blades on the auger will prevent it from properly cutting through the ground and moving the dirt up and out of the hole. A local small engine shop or the factory can sharpen the blade on an auger.
How does a plumbing auger work?
A plumbing auger or plumbing snake is a long, flexible metal cable with a small, uncoiled spring on one end and a handle on the other. The auger head on the snake looks like a corkscrew. Plumber’s snakes work by entering the drain directly to physically contact and then clear away the obstruction causing the clog.
Which drain auger do I need?
Major types of sewer cables & drain snakes DRAIN TYPE PIPE SIZE RECOMMENDED CABLE SIZE SHOWERS 2″ — 3″ 5/16″, 3/8″ OR 13/32″ FLOOR DRAIN 3″ OR MORE 3/8″, 13/32″, 1/2″, 5/8″, 3/4″ OR 0.55″ FLOOR DRAIN 4″ — 5″ 1/2″, 5/8″, 3/4″, 0.55″ OR 0.66″ FLOOR DRAIN 6″ — 8″ 5/8″ (NON ROOTS), 3/4″ OR 0.66″.
Should I snake my own drain?
Leave sewer line blocks to the pros. Professional plumbing augers are more powerful, but even so, snakes don’t clean the drain. While a snake may dislodge the clog and resolve the immediate problem, accumulating sludge coating the wall of the pipe means clogging will likely recur.
How do you unclog a deep clogged kitchen sink?
Pour one cup of fresh baking soda down the drain, followed by one cup of white vinegar. Place a rubber stopper or other sink hole cover over the drain opening. Wait 15 minutes to allow the vinegar and baking soda to unclog your drain, Then take out the drain cover and run hot tap water down the drain to clear the clog.
Can a toilet auger damage pipes?
These are advertised as devices that anyone can use to unclog a drain. But if used improperly, drain augers could make the clog worse. You could jam the obstruction in there tighter, or worse, do damage to your pipes.
How do you clean an auger?
With a high-bristle wire pipe brush, poke through the plumbing snake’s crevices, dislodging any remaining particulate that the scrubbing brush was unable to reach. Then, run the plumbing snake through clean water to ensure that the coil is clean. Wipe it down with a rag and leave it out to dry completely.
