A drain snake, often called a drum auger, is the perfect tool for clearing out a clogged kitchen in most situations. It is inexpensive and will save you a considerable amount of money compared to the cost of having a professional plumber visit to clear minor clogs every time, although using a drain snake can be hard work. It would help if you had a drum auger handy at all times, in the same way that it makes sense to have a plunger for emergencies.
However, sometimes, your drain snake doesn’t work as well as expected. The auger cable may not go down the pipe, or if it goes down the pipe, it may not pick up clogging debris. Learn the top reasons your drain snake isn’t fixing your clogged kitchen in Bel Air.
- Drain Snake doesn’t go far enough or spin around turns.
You may not be using the correct type of drain snake. Your local hardware or home improvement center may carry only one type of drain snake. But there are several types of drain snakes available, and using the right one for the job is essential.
For most common kitchen or bathroom sink drain clogs, the best option is the small drum auger, in which the wire is contained within a rotating bowl. Stick with shorter cable lengths in the 15 to 25 foot range.
- Drain Snake Wire Does Not Rotate
When the cable won’t turn, the problem is likely that you aren’t tightening the thumb screw on the drain auger.
Not tightening the thumb screw is a common reason behind non-functioning drain snakes. You need to make sure that the thumb screw that secures the cable inside the drum or handle is tight. Otherwise the cable will not turn at all when you turn the handle. Rotation is the action that causes the drain snake to collect debris; pushing the obstruction will not clear it.
- The drain snake does not grab the debris.
The reason is that you are attempting to drill through an obstruction that cannot be hooked or lifted.
Clogs that respond best to the metal end of the drain snake’s corkscrew are clogs that can snag easily. Hair plugs quickly snag on drain snakes. Cooking grease and other soft substances will not catch the corkscrew unless the remains are also encrusted with hair.
Some clogs are so dense that a common hand drain snake cannot break through. In this case, you have no choice but to rent a power auger or call a plumber to do the job. However, don’t give up too soon. Being patient and not forcing the auger cable may be enough.
- The drain snake does not kick up debris.
If you can’t get debris out of the drain, it may be because you’re using a dirty or clogged drain snake.
This does not apply if you are using a new drain snake, as the end is probably clean. But drain snakes that have been used previously may still have the old clog embedded in the corkscrew end. It would help if you cleaned this end thoroughly for it to be effective.
- Drain Snake will not go into the bathtub or sink.
It is a family condition. Even if you think you’re doing the right thing, you’re forcing the drain snake.
It’s hard to force a drain snake wire through the sharp bends of a P-trap under a sink. But many people try to do just that: force the line directly into the drain opening, hoping to get through the trap and to the clog. Instead, it would help to disassemble the drain trap under the sink, then insert the drain snake into the drain on the horizontal branch. It’s an occasional clog that you can’t clear if you start with a flat, clear path to the branch drain.
If you try to force the snakewire through the drain too quickly, it will sometimes bend or fold back on itself. You may even find that the wire bends all the way back and exits through the same drain tube you just inserted it into. Extend the snakewire into the drain a few inches at a time, extending it gradually. Once you feel it reach the obstruction, move even slower. It is the rotation of the cable that will loosen the obstruction.
When you have plumbing problems, contact Angelino’s Plumbing Emergency Services Pacific Palisades. It has the best plumbers in the city, they have the experience and knowledge to solve all your plumbing problems.
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