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The Basics of the Plumbing Snake

Mar 12, 2021

The Basics of the Plumbing Snake

When you think about plumbing tools a lot of images come to mind. Maybe you think of a plunger or a plumber’s wrench. Maybe it’s a bottle of drain cleaner. One of the most popular plumbing tools is the legendary plumbing snake. It’s also one of the most misunderstood tools in a plumber’s toolbox with many questions and misconceptions about is use. With that in mind, here are the basics of the plumbing snake to better help you understand this helpful guy.

 What is a Plumbing Snake?
Commonly referred to as a drain auger or drain snake, the plumbing snake is a length of flexible metal cable that has a rotating cone-shaped bit on the end of it. Both the do-it-yourselfer and professional plumbers looking to get into pipes and remove clogs or blockages use this incredible tool. Basically it’s the next step after the plunger because of its flexibility and the ease with which it let’s you navigate pipes.

 How Do You Use a Plumbing Snake?
Using a plumbing snake is a matter of feeding the snake through the pipe until you reach the clog and pulling it out. It’s important to turn the snake as you push, creating a push and twist motion as your feed it into the pipe. The snake should stop when you find the clog, at which point you should pull it out gently, repeating as necessary, and finishing up by running water through the cleared pipe.

 When Should You Use a Plumbing Snake?
If you have a clog that the plunger won’t clear then it’s time to turn to the plumbing snake. Whether the clog is in the toilet, sink, or other source like an AC drainage pipe, the snake presents a great middle ground option before turning to a professional drain cleaning. That said, sometimes the clogs you’re dealing with are just too much for you to handle. In the event you are having doubts about your ability to deal with the clog with a plumbing snake, don’t hesitate to call in the pros. Professional plumbers are highly skilled and experienced, enabling them to get that snake to fix clogs that may seem impossible to you.

 Your Plumbing Problems Don’t Stop
We know that this is a time of great uncertainty. We also know that plumbing problems never really stop, so our team is doing everything we can to respond to your needs while keeping everyone well and safe. If you have plumbing problems or questions, contact us today

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