How to Use a Snake Drain Cleaner

When you have a clogged sink or bathtub drain, it is typically because of a buildup of hair and soap. A lot of times, you may decide to pour chemicals down the drain to break up the clog, but that does not always work. What you really want to do is remove the clog or the clump. Using a snake drain cleaner is one of the easiest and most reliable tools to accomplish this task.

Things You'll Need

• Plumber's auger (sewer snake cleaner)

Instructions

1. Run the hot water until the sink or tub fills about 2 inches with water.

2. Insert the drain snake until it reaches the clog and you cannot push it in any further. The "snake" looks like a long metal, bendable rod with a hook on one end. That is the end you need to insert into the drain.

3. Twist the snake so that the hook latches onto the clog. This twisting action will wrap the clump of hair and anything else in the clog tightly around the end of the snake.

4. Pull the snake upward and then push it downward to break up the clump. Keep doing this until you feel your pushing and pulling become lighter and lighter.

5. Turn the water on high and let the natural flushing of the clog remove it from your drain. Once you no longer see water filling up in the sink, you know the clog is gone.

References

• Lowes: Clearing Clogged Drains
• AceHardware: Unclogging Drains