A stubborn clog can be incredibly frustrating, especially when you are not having any luck with a plunger. If you have ever been in this scenario, a snake may be your best bet. A plumber’s snake, or drain snake, is a tool that reaches down to remove clogs. Snakes are a ‘meet in the middle’ of the household plunger and a more extreme solution such as a rooter.

While snakes are more powerful than a plunger, they are also more difficult to use. If you use one improperly, you risk tearing up your pipes or creating leaks. Here’s what you need to know about using a plumbing snake:

1. Dress appropriately: wear clothes you don’t mind getting dirty. Depending on how extreme the clog is, this process may get messy. 
2. Consider removing the p-trap: the p-trap, or p-bend, is thee curving piece of pipe beneath the sink. It connects the sink to the greater drainpipe system in your home. The reason it’s curved it to help prevent sewer gasses from rising through the sink and into your home. You can remove this manually with your hands or with an adjustable wrench.
3. Manually thread the snake into the pipe: insert the head of the snake into the drain. 
4. Begin uncoiling the snake using the handle: Keep the handle close to the entrance of the pipe. The less slack the snake has, the more force you’re directing into the pipe. Rotate the handle. Don’t try to rush or rotate too quickly. If you feel pressure, you may have encountered the obstruction. 
5. Once you reach the obstruction, move, or rotate the head back and forth: try to break up the obstruction as thoroughly as possible, but don’t jam the snake into the walls of the pipe. 
6. Pull the snake out and re-assemble the sink components: check the snake for any remains and clean it off. 
7. Check the sink: the snake should have successfully removed the obstruction and solve the clogging issue. If you still have a clog, consider trying the snake process again. 

 If you understand how to use the snake, always consider this as an option. If you continue to have issues and need professional help, don’t hesitate to give us a call!