How to Get a Drain Snake Through a P-Trap

If your sink is not draining properly, you might have a clog. The P-trap is a pipe that is half-loop-shaped underneath the sink, and you must snake this part of the drain to remove the clog. You don’t have to call a plumber to snake your drain through the P-trap. You can do it yourself, with little hassle.

Things You'll Need

• Bucket
• Pipe wrench
• Drain snake

Instructions

1. Place a bucket under the P-trap on your sink. This is necessary because when you remove the P-trap, water will leak into the bucket instead of onto your floor.

2. Look for the slip nuts on the sides of the P-trap. Use your fingers to turn the nuts counterclockwise. Turn them until you can remove the trap from the sink’s pipe. Use a pipe wrench, if needed.

3. Loosen the screw on your snake, and pull the snake out about 10 to 14 inches. Tighten the screw so the snake is properly secured at this length.

4. Insert the snake down the drain and into the P-trap, and push it through the piping. Turn the handle on your snake counterclockwise, once you encounter resistance. The resistance is the clog.

5. Pull the snake out of the piping once the clog has been cleared. Wash the snake off to remove the gunk from it.

6. Put your P-trap back together, turning the nuts clockwise

References

• The Family Handyman: How to Clear Clogged Sink Drains
• WetHead Media: How To Clear A Drain Clog