Do not panic if the kitchen or bathroom drain is clogged. Ben Franklin Plumbing of Durham is ready to help you day or night with all your plumbing needs. Their skilled technicians can install plumbing, take care of your furnace, perform plumbing repair and yes, unclog toilets and drains. They offer the following advice on using a snake to unclog your drain.
First, rent a snake from a tool rental supply store. DIY stores also rent them. The snakes come in 25-ft or 50-ft lengths. Since you cannot see how far into the pipes the clog is lodged in place, rent the 50-ft snake. A plumbing snake is a long strand of coiled metal wire. At the end is a place where scoop-like parts can be attached to mechanically remove a clog. Different attachments are available. One or two should be sufficient.
Open the main drain to the house. This is located under the sink that is clogged. Place towels on the floor to catch any water. Place the end of the snake in the drain and push it in. Keep pushing in more snake to go further into the pipe. If curves are encountered, it could be difficult to push through, but keep trying.
Once the clog has been located, push and pull the snake to remove the clog. Most of the time, the clog is made up of grease, hair and other debris. Just pushing a hole in the clog is not enough. The grease can build back up and clog the drain again. Attach the scoop and send the snake back in. Rotate the snake using the handle on the holder. Do this back and forth several times to clear the line. It can take several hours to perform drain cleaning with a snake if you are not experienced.
Pull the snake out and close the drain plug. Run water in the drain to ensure it is clear. If chemical drain cleaners are used, they could dislodge more debris and grease to form another clog. When the clog is removed and the drain is clear, clean the snake before returning it to the rental center.
The best way to avoid having to use a plumbing snake is to keep grease and other debris out of the drains. Let Ben Franklin Plumbing of Durham help you maintain your drains. They are happy to help educate you on the proper care of your drains. For slow-moving drains, you may have a different problem. Call 919-408-7200 any time, day or night for drain cleaning service in Durham.