Over time, a significant amount of organic material can accumulate in a kitchen or bathroom sink drain. The same is true of tub drains as hair, soap and other materials break down and create a sticky mess. In some cases, it may be possible to snake the drain free of hair, toothpaste and other gunk that is causing issues whenever you turn on a faucet. Let’s take a closer look at how to use this tool safely and what to do if your snake isn’t enough to solve the problem.
Wear safety equipment
Ideally, you will wear gloves to cover your hands and goggles to cover your eyes. Doing so will minimize the risk of dirty water or other debris from making contact with your skin, which could result in burns or other health issues. Wearing safety equipment is especially important when attempting to snake a drain after using caustic chemicals in an effort to clear it out.
This is because those chemicals may be sitting in the pipes and can spill or splash back onto your hands or face. You may also want to consider wearing a mask to avoid inhaling the fumes that can be created by chemical cleaners. Those fumes can easily go back out a clogged pipe and into your general vicinity rather quickly.
Finally, you may want to consider wearing clothes with long sleeves or taking other measures to limit exposed skin. You may also want to tie your hair back to avoid it making contact with a cleaning solution, toilet water or other potentially contaminated liquids.
Place the Snake Tubing Into the Drain Slowly
Snakes work by inserting a thin tube into the drain that turns when you crank a handle on the handheld portion of the device. It’s important that you insert the tubing into the drain slowly to avoid breaking the snake or the pipe. Once you’re sure that the tube fits into the drain, you’ll want to turn slowly at first because getting to top speed.
This once again ensures that clog isn’t solid or otherwise too hard for your generic device to handle. If you can’t get the snake to turn after using reasonable force, the clog may be too difficult for you to get on your own. By continuing to try to get the clog out yourself, you run the risk of pulling a muscle in your shoulder or hurting your back.
When to Consider Hiring a Professional
There are a couple of reasons why you may not be able to clear a clog even with the help of a quality snake. First, it’s unlikely that you’ll be able to use a snake to clear out a solid object like a chicken bone or a toy that your child put down the toilet.
In such a scenario, a professional would need to take the drain apart, remove the object and put it back together. Another reason why you might not be able to remove a clog using a snake is that the clog is too far for your snake to reach. While you may be able to buy a product capable of helping in most situations at the store, a professional will have tools capable of reaching clogs regardless of where they are.
It’s also important to consider that trying to do the job yourself might result in a broken toilet, sink or tub. Therefore, you could actually spend more time and money on a project by doing it yourself as opposed to calling someone in to take care of your issue.
Hiring the folks at Next Level Plumbing in Sarasota, FL will ensure that you have access to those tools. You’ll also have access to the experience and expertise it takes to fix the problem in a timely and affordable manner. Whether your toilet drain is running slowly or the kitchen faucet is leaky, we can meet your needs and keep your house operating in peak condition.
If you are in need of plumbing services, don’t hesitate to call the folks at Next Level Plumbing today! In addition to assisting with clogs and slow drains, our team can also help with water filtration, garbage disposals and water heater installation. We may also be able to assist with plumbing and similar tasks related to a bathroom, kitchen or whole home remodel.
