How Does Snaking Pipes Work?
If you’re looking for information on snaking pipes, it’s likely you’re facing a clogged pipe somewhere in your home. Many people are familiar with using a plunger or liquid drain cleaner, but for tougher clogs, you may need to turn to a plumber’s snake. These thin flexible snakes come in different forms and can be used on just about any pipes in your home that need to be unclogged. There are certain snakes made for toilets so the porcelain doesn’t get damaged, some for water pipes, some for cutting through tree roots in sewer lines - the list goes on and on.
Start By Any Removing Visible Obstructions
You’ll want to start by removing visible obstructions first. Some drains come with removable stoppers or filters, that can collect hair, food, or soap scum, which can stop water from being able to drain down the pipe. Once any stopper or filter is removed, you’ll want to check for any other visible blockages.This is especially important in the shower or tub and kitchen drains. Hairball clogs are common in the bathroom and food clogs are common in the kitchen. Make sure to check for any pet or children’s toys too. You never know what you may find blocking your drain.
Determine What Level of Drain Cleaning Is Needed
Depending on what type of issue you’re dealing with, you may have a clog that requires a snake or an issue that requires a proper drain cleaning, you may even find yourself asking whether you need hydrojetting or snaking. Professional drain cleanings involve a plumber inserting a high-pressured hose all the way into your pipes.
The water blasts off debris that could cause drainage problems. Snaking pipes is not a replacement for a good drain cleaning. Professional drain cleaning should be performed every 2 years on household drains, and more frequently on sewer and basement drains. It’s important to pay close attention to older pipework or any lines near large tree roots as well.
For serious clogs that are blocking drainage, a snake is required. The long, metal, flexible part of the snake is inserted into the drain. As the operator turns the crank, the coil weaves into the clog in a corkscrew motion, either breaking up the debris causing the clog or catching it in its coils, which allows for the clog to be removed. As the snake moves in the pipe, it rubs against the inside of the pipe, removing buildup.
Protect Your Pipes By Hiring A Professional Plumber
Unless you have proper training, it’s best to hire a professional plumber to snake your pipes. Re-piping a home isn’t cheap, and if you make a mistake while snaking your pipes it can cause a big disaster.For example, if you use the wrong type of snake on a porcelain toilet it can damage the toilet bowl, or you can damage plastic or copper pipes by using a motorized snake unskillfully, leading you to require broken pipe repairs.
You could also do some serious damage by trying to snake tree roots out of a sewer line yourself. The last thing you want to do is have to buy a brand new toilet bowl or even worse, replace an entire sewer line. Since a fair amount of details go into selecting the proper snake for the job and performing the unclogging itself, it’s best to leave it to a professional plumber.
Trust Green Hills Plumbing
Serving Nashville and the surrounding communities since 1971, Green Hills Plumbing is locally owned and operated, offering upfront pricing and hassle-free personalized service for total peace of mind. From plumbing emergencies to bathroom remodeling projects, trustworthy and friendly technicians will arrive at your door in uniform, on time, ready to work carefully with the least amount of disruption possible.
