how do you make a homemade drain snake

How to Make a Snake for Unclogging a Shower Drain

• 1. Unwind a Coat Hanger Disassemble the coat hanger by unwinding the looped end of the wire from the hook part of the hanger, advises Modern Era Plumbing & Gas Solutions. ...
• 2. Create a Nub ...
• 3. Press Sticky Tape Onto the Nub ...
• 4. Place the Snake in the Drain ...
• 5. Run Hot Water ...
• 6. Clean the Shower ...

Full Answer

How to make a homemade drain snake?

Instructions

• Clear Any Standing Water. If your sink (or tub or shower) is full of backed-up water, bail out as much of the water as you can by using a cup ...
• Pour in Boiling Water. ...
• Add Baking Soda. ...
• Add Vinegar. ...
• Cover the Drain. ...
• Add More Boiling Water. ...
• Clear the Drain. ...
• Repeat as Needed. ...

Is it OK to snake my own drain?

Is it safe to snake your own drain? You may clear obstructions from your drains by snake-ing them yourself. Routine, tiny sink blockages caused by hairballs or food leftovers are often found in the u-shaped trap just below the sink or only a few feet lower in the drainpipe, depending on the situation.

What can you use to snake a drain?

⅓ cup of baking soda and ⅓ cup of vinegar combined will form an acidic compound that can dissolve different materials that block drains. Pouring boiling water down the drain can dissolve the blockage. Adding detergent as a lubricant can help this process.

How to snake a drain like a pro?

Step-by-step Guide On How to Snake a Drain

1. Insert the end of the snake into the drain. If the drain has a cover, you may need to use a screwdriver to remove the top compartment so the ...
2. Feed the snake through the drain. Do the step slowly so you do not accidentally damage any of the pipes. ...
3. Slowly begin to turn the crank of the snake to help it move farther down the pipeline. ...

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What can I use if I dont have a drain snake?

If you don't have a drain snake at your home, you can use a pipe cleaner, a straightened clothes hanger, or make this simple tool out of a plastic bottle: Start with an empty 2-liter plastic bottle.

What is the best homemade drain cleaner?

Baking Soda and Vinegar This combination of baking soda (sodium bicarbonate) and vinegar may be one of the best homemade drain cleaners around. First, if you want to unclog a tub or sink drain, pull out the stopper so that you can access the drain. Then, slowly pour a pot of boiling water down the drain.

How do you snake a drain with a cheap snake?

0:342:15How to Snake a Clogged Drain | Ask This Old House - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipIt starts by removing the strainer. And running the drain snake. Down. What you want to do isMoreIt starts by removing the strainer. And running the drain snake. Down. What you want to do is advance it a little bit at a time and then lock. It then twist it down.

How do you unclog a drain pipe without a snake?

All you need to do is take a cupful of baking soda and pour it down the drain. Consequently, pour a cupful of white vinegar down the same drain. Thereafter, wait for around 10-15 minutes for the baking soda and vinegar solution to break up and clear the clog.

Can you leave baking soda and vinegar in drain overnight?

If it's still clogged, pour one cup of baking soda and one cup of vinegar down the drain, followed by two cups of boiling water. Let it work overnight to clear the drain.

How do you unclog a slow drain?

Pour one-half cup baking soda into the drain followed by one-half cup white vinegar; the fizzing and bubbling reaction helps to break up small clogs. Block the drain using a small rag so the chemical reaction doesn't all bubble up out. Wait 15 minutes.

How do you get a snake past the bend in the pipe?

The proper way to use a snake is to insert the head into the drain and push very slowly without cranking. If you try to force it, it can bend back on itself and actually come out of the drain. Push gently and slowly, and if the auger is the right one for the job, it should slide smoothly through the pipe.

Can a drain snake break a pipe?

Drain Snakes Can Damage Pipes While billed as devices that are easy to use by anyone and everyone, drain snakes can be hard to manage, and if used improperly, can damage pipes. Old pipes in many homes are galvanized, or coated in zinc, which was done to prevent the pipe from rusting or corroding.

Can't get the snake down the drain?

Too much force – When you're trying to dislodge a blockage, it can be tempting to try and force a snake cable through the drain too fast. If you force it, sometimes the cable can bend back on itself or kink. Instead of forcing the cable, extend the snake cable a few inches at a time until you reach the clog.

Will hot water clear a drain?

Try Using Boiling Water to Fix a Clogged Sink If you have metal pipes, you can try to loosen the clog with hot water—very hot. Pouring a pot of boiling water directly down the drain into the trap may dissolve the clog, especially if it consists of soap scum or grease.

How do plumbers unclog drains?

A plumber inserts the hose and nozzle into your pipes and blasts high-pressure water through it to scour out the drain pipes. Not only does this move out clogs, but it also helps to remove hard deposits and hard water minerals. This is one of the most popular and safe ways of unclogging and cleaning out drains.

How do I get rid of sludge in my sewer line?

Plunging a clogged drain is the safest way to dislodge the clog. If plunging doesn't do the trick, try breaking up the debris by sprinkling a half cup of baking soda followed by white vinegar into the drain. Let the mixture activate for a few minutes and then run water through the drain to see if the flow has improved.

What will dissolve hair in a drain?

Combining baking soda and vinegar is a natural way to dissolve hair clogs, without resorting to harsh chemicals. Pour a cup of baking soda down the clogged drain first, and then after a few minutes add a cup of vinegar.

What is the best liquid to unclog a drain?

These are the best drain cleaners, according to testing:Best Overall Drain Cleaner: Drano Max Gel Liquid Clog Remover.Best Drain Cleaner for Hair Clogs: Liquid Plumr Clog Destroyer + Hair Clog Eliminator.Best Single-Use Drain Cleaner: Green Gobbler Drain Opening Pacs.Best Enzymatic Drain Cleaner: Bio Clean.More items...•

Does vinegar and salt unclog drains?

The combination of salt and vinegar can help break down gunk and clogs in your drain, and it's also a good natural odor eliminator. To make a simple clog-busting solution, mix together 1 cup (273 g) of salt with 1 cup (237 mL) of vinegar. Stir the salt and vinegar mixture until it's smooth.

Does hydrogen peroxide dissolve hair in drain?

Hydrogen peroxide effectively clears clogged drains caused by hair, skin and more.

Clear Any Standing Water

If your sink (or tub or shower) is full of backed-up water, bail out as much of the water as you can by using a cup and dumping the water into a bucket. It's fine to leave a small amount of water down in the drain opening itself, but the sink, shower, or tub should be mostly empty so your drain cleaner can get as close as possible to the clog.

Pour in Boiling Water

If you're working on a sink or tub drain, first remove the sink pop-up stopper or the tub stopper to gain better access to the drain. Pour a small pot full of boiling water into the drain.

Warning

Be cautious while pouring the boiling water, as it may splash or splatter.

Cover the Drain

Cover the drain with a stopper, if available, and let the mixture work for 10 minutes. The baking soda and vinegar will fizz and bubble a lot; covering the drain forces the reaction downward instead of up and out of the drain, but it's not critical that you cover the drain.

Add More Boiling Water

Pour another pot of boiling water into the drain. This will help wash away any clogs that the baking soda and vinegar loosened up.

Clear the Drain

Flush the drain with hot water from the tap to help remove any remaining debris from the drain pipe .

Repeat as Needed

It can take a few tries with this low-cost, eco-friendly drain cleaner to completely clear your drain, particularly if your drain is especially slow or clogged. If you notice some improvement after the first attempt, try the drain cleaner again. If the drain is still slow after multiple attempts, you may need to try a more extreme solution.

When to Snake a Drain

Use a drain snake when your sink, shower, or tub drain is draining slowly or is not draining at all due to soft clogs located up to 15 to 25 feet down the line. Snaking or augering a drain can often solve water drainage problems that cannot be cured by chemicals, plunging, or by using a plastic hair snake.

How a Drain Snake Works

A drain snake, or drain auger, is a metal cable coiled into a protective drum. The cable can be up to 25 feet long. The end of the cable has a corkscrew-type spring that removes clogs in drains.

Safety Considerations

Wear safety glasses and gloves. If the drain contains drain-cleaning chemicals, flush the drain with water before snaking it, if possible. If water is not draining, be careful when pulling out the drain snake to avoid splashback.

Instructions

For sink drains, reach into the sink cabinet and remove the P-trap. The P-trap is the 1 1/4- to 2-inch-diameter curved pipe somewhat shaped like the letter P. This trap holds standing water in order to seal the drain against sewer gasses entering your home.

When to Call a Pro

Call in a plumber when the distance of the clog exceeds the length of your drain snake. For some drain augers, this may be either 15 feet or 25 feet.

Step 1 – Assess The Situation

Step 2 – Prepare The Cable

Step 3 – Using The Drain Snake

• Insert the snake into the drain opening. Begin rotating the snake into the drain as if you were rotating a crank. Go slowly until you feel resistance. Give it one good push. Now begin cranking the snake backwards slowly, pulling the clog out.

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Step 4 – Check The Drain

Step 5 – Clean Up