How to Use a Manual Drain Snake

A drain snake gets deep into the pipe to clear clogs.

A drain snake is a tool for removing deep clogs in your plumbing pipes. A clogged toilet, for example, may resist efforts with a toilet plunger if the blockage is deeper in the pipe. The snake consists of a long coil of flexible, hollow tubing with a wire through the center. An auger attached to the end of the wire cuts through clogs when the handle is cranked on the user end of the tool.

Things You'll Need

• Work gloves
• Bucket
• Garden hose

Instructions

1. Uncoil the drain snake and insert the auger end into the drain or pipe opening while wearing work gloves.

2. Push the snake into the pipe, turning it in your hands if necessary to help guide the auger around curves in the plumbing. Push until you feel resistance.

3. Turn the crank handle on the drain snake to rotate the auger at the other end. It may be slow going at first as the auger struggles to gain traction. Continue cranking to dig through the clog.

4. Pull the drain snake from the pipe, lowering the snake into a bucket to avoid dripping on the floor as the snake will pull bits of the clog back with it.

5. Carry the bucket outdoors to rinse the drain snake with a garden hose. Let the tool air dry before storing.

References

• This Old House; Clear Any Clogged Drain; Merle Henkenius
• Home Time: Unclogging Drains