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Everything You Need to Know About Using a Plumbing Snake

If you’ve ever experienced a clogged drain or toilet, you know what an annoying problem it is to take care of. If you have frequent clogs that plunging doesn’t seem to help, it may be time to bring out the plumbing snake. Never used one before? Never fear, Master Plumbing and Mechanical is here! In today’s blog, we’ll tell you how to use a plumbing snake to get rid of even the peskiest plumbing clogs.

plumbing snake

Do you know how to use a plumbing snake?

Everything You Need to Know About Using a Plumbing Snake

When should I use a plumbing snake?

Always try to plunge away your problems first. Plungers are a little easier to use than plumbing snakes and they can handle most clogs, so it’s always your best first step to try the trusty plunger. When that doesn’t work, then it’s time to move on to the bigger guns: Your plumbing snake.

What is a plumbing snake anyway?

Plumbing snakes allow you to dislodge clogs that are located deeper in the plumbing pipes that plunging simply won’t help. The snake is a flexible cable that is attached to a spool which you unwind using a hand crank. You can find plumbing snakes up to 100’ long but homeowners are fine with a 25’ model.

Ok, so how do I use one?

Plumbing snakes are very easy to use. Simply insert one end of the snake into your toilet or drain and slowly feed the cable down the pipe. After you’ve fed it a few inches, you can use the crank to force the cable deeper into the pipe. You’ll notice it becomes harder to advance the cable once the clog is reached, but keep trying to feed the cable until you can’t anymore. Once you’ve gotten as far as the snake will go, gently wiggle the cable side-to-side before slowly winding it back up. The snake may grab the clog and bring it up, or you may need to repeat this motion a few times in order to push the clog down the drain. Flush the drain with fresh water periodically to encourage the clog to drain.

Got a clog you just can’t beat? Your Maryland plumber can help

Got plumbing problems? Give Master Plumbing & Mechanical a call at 301-650-9100 and let our experienced plumbers get the job done right.

We’ve received Angie’s List Super Service Awards for both plumbing and drain cleaning every year consecutively, going back to 2007, as well as the Best Plumber award from Best of Bethesda. Our company is fully licensed, bonded, and insured and we offer friendly, courteous service with fast response times.

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This entry was posted on Thursday, February 11th, 2016 at 5:43 pm. Both comments and pings are currently closed.

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