How to Snake a Kitchen Drain

Clogged drains can be a messy ordeal and can prevent the normal use of kitchen sinks. You don't need to hire an expensive plumber to fix the pipes. An inexpensive drain snake, sometimes called a drain auger, can be purchased to clean basic clogs and gunk out of kitchen drains. Using only the snake, and a few basic supplies, you can clean your pipes and have them run like new in only a few minutes.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Rubber gloves
• Drain snake
• Bucket
• Rag

1. Put on a pair of rubber gloves, and slowly insert the snake into the drain. Twist the handle of the snake clockwise as you push.

2. Keep turning the drain snake and slowly pull backwards when you encounter the blockage. Push forward again, still twisting, to drive the end of the snake through the clog.

3. Pull the drain snake back through the drain to pull the clog out with it. If successful, you'll have a mess, so have a bucket and rags ready. Move the removed clog from the sink and into the bucket. Wipe any debris out of the sink using rags.

4. Run water into the sink to ensure the entire clog has been pulled. If not, run the drain snake further into the drain until the next blockage has been found. Repeat the twisting process to break through the clog and pull it back out.

5. If the clog is too far into the drain to reach with the snake, check the pipes under the sink for a T-shaped branch pipe. It will likely have a cap on one end.

6. Place the bucket under the pipe to catch any excess water and remove the cap. Insert the drain snake here and repeat the previous steps. Replace the cap after the clog has been removed.

Tips & Warnings

• Professional plumbers can be hired to cure any piping problems that may arise, or if the drain snake is unable to reach the clog.
• Do not remove any sections of pipe or run any water while the cap is off of the T-branch or the water will run out of the pipe.