How Plumbers Newport South Wales Use a Plumbing Snake

Plumbers Newport South Wales’s snakes work by physically contacting and then clearing away the obstruction causing the clog in the drain. After manually inserting the auger head into the drain, you begin uncoiling it by rotating the handle. The snake moves deeper into the drainpipe as it uncoils, until the head breaks through the obstruction.

What is the proper way to use a Plumbers Newport South Wales’s snake?

Put on some old towels beneath the pipes you’re working on and put on some clothes you don’t mind getting dirty. Depending on the nature of the clog, your snaking procedure may become complicated. This is especially important if you are going to remove the p-trap.

Consider removing the p-trap as an option. The p-trap, also known as the p-bend, is the curved piece of pipe beneath the sink. It connects the sink to your home’s larger drainpipe system. It’s curved to keep sewer gases from rising through the sink and into the house. P-traps are commonly made of PVC pipe, but they can also be made of metal. You can remove the p-trap by hand or with the assistance of an adjustable wrench. After removing the p-trap, thoroughly inspect and clean it out. If you’ve located your impediment, you may not need to snake at all! Even if you don’t find anything, removing the trap will usually make snaking easier.

Consider removing the trap arm (optional). A trap arm is the section of pipe that connects the p-trap to the actual wall pipe. It secures the p-trap and may curve again to reach the wall. Locate a plastic or metal nut that connects the trap arm to the wall. If you can find one, loosen it to get the trap arm out. If you can’t, it’s possible that the arm is glued in place; in that case, don’t try to remove it. When you remove the trap arm, make sure to clean it out just like you did the p-trap.

Removing the trap arm allows you to gain the most access to the drainpipe. Look for any obstructions inside the drainpipe. If you can see the impediment, try to move it away from where you are. If you can’t, it’s time to break out the snake. Thread the snake’s auger head into the pipe by hand. Insert the snake’s head into the drain (if you didn’t remove the trap) or the wall access point. If you didn’t remove the trap, try snake-snaking while running cold water. ­ Don’t use too much force when inserting the auger into the drain or you’ll damage the drain entrance or pipe. Be patient, and make sure the head and cable aren’t too large for the drain you’re attempting to snake. ­
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Start uncoiling the snake with the handle. Keep the snake’s handle as close to the pipe’s entrance as possible. The more force you direct into the pipe, the less slack the auger has.

Rotate the handle at a steady pace. Try not to rush or rotate too slowly. You may have encountered the obstruction if you feel pressure at any point while the cable is moving through the pipe.

When you reach the obstruction, move or rotate your head back and forth and up and down. Break up the obstruction as thoroughly as possible, but avoid jamming the auger into the pipe’s walls. If you hear scraping noises, stop snaking and re-adjust your snaking. If you suspect the auger is stuck in the obstruction, try pulling the snake out of the pipe. The obstruction may come out with it in some cases. Continue snaking until there is no longer any resistance and the snake uncoils.

Remove the snake and reassemble the sink’s components. Examine the auger head for any remnants of the obstruction and clean it up. If you removed the trap arm and p-trap, now is the time to replace them.

Examine the sink. The snake should have been successful in removing the obstruction and resolving the clogging issue. If you still have a clog, try repeating your snaking procedure. However, just like plunging, snaking too much can damage your pipes or drains. If a thorough snaking did not resolve your issue, it may be time to call in the professionals.

Snaking is a surprisingly simple and accessible home improvement project. You should be able to remove clogs from your sink, bathtub, or toilet as long as you understand how to use your snake.

For when no matter what you try, you just can’t get that clog to go away. Don’t give up! After you’ve finished with your snake, the next step is to contact Emergency Plumber Newport. We have the tools and know-how to locate and remove any clog.