Encountering a blockage in your drainpipes is incredibly frustrating. Luckily, there are various ways to clear away food, grease, or even toilet paper from your drains. Some methods include using organic cleaners or a simple baking soda and vinegar mix. You might also give a regular plunger, drain snakes, or even a high-pressure jet blaster a go.
A plunger is ideal as the first step of clearing a blockage in your pipes. Use a drain snake when your sink, shower, or tub drain drains slowly. Plunging small items is quick and easy and can be used with a standard-sized plunger. A blocked toilet is another matter and may require more.
The downside to this approach is that some blockages, like stubborn food residues, might need more pressure to budge. In these cases, a tool that can cut through the clog might be necessary.
A high-pressure jet blaster uses water that shoots powerful water through your clogged pipe. The water pressure will break down the obstruction and push it through your pipeline.
A jetter usually is only used for major obstructions in your outside drainage.
You’ve got plenty of tools at your disposal for home use. Usually, a firm plunge can dislodge most small items. But occasionally, you’ll need something with a bit more oomph to get the job done.
A snake cable or drain auger, or a ’plumbers snake’, is an ideal instrument specifically used to deal with an obstruction in your drain pipes in a domestic capacity.
How does a plumber snake work?
A plumber snake is cleverly designed to navigate your kitchen, bathroom, or laundry sink drains. Its long, flexible metal cable comes with a drill-like auger on one end, and a handle on the other for easy gripping.
The auger rotates to break up those pesky blockages.
The flexible auger head is inserted directly into the drain opening. You can manually feed the snake cable and rotate the handle to navigate the bends of your drain pipe, allowing the head to reach deep into or past the P-trap where hair, soap scum, and organic debris typically lodge.
Once the auger hits your clogged drain opening, it will break down the food, grease, or toilet paper stuck in the line.
Can I snake my drain?
With a plumber snake, you can tackle clogs in your kitchen, bathroom, or laundry drains. Just pick one up at any trusted home improvement store. Follow these straightforward steps to clear your drains with ease. But be cautious, using a snake without care can damage pipes and lead to hefty leaks.
Step 1
Prepare your working area by laying towels or old rags around the pipework. This is to catch any water or waste that could come out of your drain.
It is best to wear old clothing to avoid getting dirty. Cleaning out your drain is messy work. Gloves are a great way to protect your hands from soil and bacteria during snaking. Lay some rags or old towels below the drain pipe you’re unclogging.
Step 2
The P-trap is the curved fitting located directly beneath the sink. Under AS/NZS 3500.2 (the national plumbing and drainage standard for sanitary fixtures), every fixture trap maintains a permanent water seal of at least 50mm to prevent toxic sewer gases and odours from escaping into living areas. Sanitary drainage also incorporates accessible inspection openings (IOs) so plumbers can clear blockages without dismantling permanent pipework.
Removing this trap is unnecessary, but you must clean it beforehand as some material can be stuck. The sink p-trap can be removed manually or using an adjustable pipe wrench.
Cleaning out the p-bend or p-trap may be sufficient to clear the obstruction in your pipes and make it easier for the drain auger to work.
Step 3
It is optional to remove the drain trap arm, which is located between the main drain pipe and the p-trap. If removing the sink trap arm is possible, you’ll be closer to the main drain pipe. This section could have a clog. If you find obstructive material, use a coat hanger wire to remove any food, toilet paper or foreign material.
Do not remove the trap arm if it is glued to the wall. However, you can remove it if a plastic or metallic nut connects it.
Step 4
Start by threading the head of your plumbing snake through the drain pipe. Whilst guiding the snake, you can run a light trickle of cold water to help carry away loosened debris if the trap remains connected.
Slowly continue to feed the auger through the drain. As the snake moves deeper consistently, rotate the handle until you feel resistance. You may have reached the obstruction.
Step 5
Once you have reached the blockage in your clogged drains, rotate the auger drill. This will break up any material. Exercising caution when feeding the auger snake is essential. Be careful to avoid scraping your pipe walls.
You will know if you have cleared the blockage if you feel no more resistance or when the plumber’s snake uncoils.
If the plumbers’ snake becomes stuck, pull out the snake as it is possible to pull the blockage.
Step 6
After that, pull out the plumber’s snake. Make sure to clean any parts you’ve disassembled, and then piece everything back together. Inspect the auger, and check your sink and drains for any lingering clogs.
If the pesky blockages persist, it might be time to call in the experts. A professional plumbing service can handle even the most stubborn of issues with ease.
Say Goodbye To Blocked Drains
When stubborn drain blockages resist basic snaking or keep returning, calling in an experienced professional is the safest choice. Fixed Today is the dependable local plumbing specialist Sydney families have trusted and returned to across decades (since 2011), licensed under NSW Fair Trading Contractor Licence 305428C with Qualified Supervisor oversight. We do not believe in hidden costs: by inspecting your drain layout and blockage depth on site first, we provide an honest upfront quote and break down the necessary tasks clearly so you know exactly what is involved from diagnostic camera inspection to complete clearing.
When you contact us, our dispatch team asks a couple of quick questions about whether the blockage affects a single sink or multiple fixtures, and whether your property has concrete slab or timber subfloor access, ensuring our truck arrives equipped with heavy-duty electric eels, 5000 PSI hydro-jetters, and CCTV drain cameras. Get in touch with Fixed Today for caring, consultative advice to get your drains flowing freely again.
