How to Snake a Drain

Sometimes a slow-moving drain needs more than boiling water or a plunger to fix. Snaking your drain — using a drain snake, also called a drain auger, electric eel, or toilet jack — is one of the most effective DIY options before calling a plumber.

How to unclog a drain with a snake

A drain snake consists of a long coiled wire with a spiral spring, typically about an inch thick, with a handle on the other end. It works on a different mechanism than a plunger — rather than creating suction, it physically reaches the clog and breaks it apart or hooks it out.

Tools required: hand gloves, a drain auger, a pipe wrench or pliers, and towels or rags.

1. Select a small, handheld drain snake. Look for one with a round casing housing a wire 25-50 feet long.
2. Assemble your tools. You’ll need a bucket, the snake, towels or rags, a pipe wrench, and gloves.
3. Remove the P-trap (the curved pipe under your sink) using a pipe wrench — some are hand-tightened and won’t need one. Place a bucket underneath first to catch any water or debris.
4. Feed the snake into the pipe coming out of the wall until you feel resistance. If the resistance feels squishy, you’ve likely reached the clog. If it feels hard, you may have hit a bend rather than the clog itself — pull back slightly and try again at a different angle.
5. Turn the handle clockwise once you feel that squishy resistance. This breaks up some clogs directly and hooks others onto the end of the snake.
6. Retrieve the snake gently so the dislodged clog doesn’t slip back into the drain, and deposit it in your bucket. Reinstall the P-trap and tighten the fasteners.
7. Run water down the sink to confirm the clog has cleared. If it’s successful, water should flow freely within a few seconds. If not, repeat the process or call a plumber.

How to snake a shower drain

Standing in a pool of water in the shower is usually caused by hair and soap residue building up in the drain. Before calling a plumber, here’s how to clear it yourself.

1. Gather your tools: a drain snake, a screwdriver, gloves, and towels or rags.
2. Remove the drain cover with a screwdriver, then feed the snake’s end into the drain until you feel resistance.
3. Turn the handle clockwise slowly once resistance is felt — this pushes the clog further in while hooking loose material onto the snake. If resistance suddenly increases, you may have hit a bend in the pipe, or the snake may have caught more material. Pull back a few centimeters and try again turning clockwise.
4. Retrieve the snake slowly once the clog feels securely hooked, so it doesn’t fall back into the pipe. Use a towel or rag to safely remove the trapped material and dispose of it.
5. Confirm the drain is clear by running water. It should drain quickly within a few seconds. If it’s still slow, repeat the process, or call a plumber if it remains blocked. Related: How drain cleaners work.

How does a drain snake work?

A plunger creates suction to loosen or dislodge a blockage. A drain snake works differently — it’s physically pushed down the drain until it reaches the clog, where it breaks up the material or hooks it so it can be pulled back out. Snakes can be manual or electric/powered, and choosing the right auger type and length for your specific drain makes the process much easier.

How to prevent drain clogs

• Use a drain screen in the bathroom to catch hair and other debris before it goes down the drain. Clean the screen regularly so it keeps working.
• Catch loose hair and soap residue by hand before it washes down the drain, rather than relying on the screen alone.

Conclusion

Running hot water down the kitchen sink after use helps keep grease and oils from building up and causing clogs. Disposing of food waste and other debris in the trash instead of the sink also goes a long way toward keeping drains clear in the first place.