The water in your kitchen sink is rising, and your reliable plunger isn’t working as it once did. Some obstacles are just too difficult to overcome with a straightforward plunge, such as a clogged kitchen sink full of grease or a hair-filled bathroom tub.
In this blog, we will explore how to use a drain snake like a pro to unclog a drain without damaging your plumbing. We will cover the different types of tools, from the manual snake to the electric snake, and provide a step-by-step guide on unclogging your sink, shower, or toilet. By the end of this guide, you’ll know when to DIY and when it’s time to call a master plumber from Absolute Draining & Plumbing to protect your home’s sewer pipe.
Contact us today through our form or call +1 (416) 252-5557 for expert plumbing, drain, and related services in Toronto, Etobicoke, Mississauga, and across the GTA.
What is a Drain Snake and Why Do You Need One?
A drain snake, often referred to by professionals as a drain auger or plumbing snake, is a flexible metal cable designed to navigate the bends of your drainpipe. Unlike a chemical cleaner, which uses caustic liquids to eat away at a blockage, a drain snake physically interacts with the clog. It either breaks the obstruction apart or uses a grabber attachment at the end of the snake to pull the clog out entirely.
For many Toronto homeowners, clogged drains are an inevitable part of life. Over time, materials down the drain, like soap scum, hair, and food particles, create a slow-draining situation that eventually leads to a full clog. While a plunger is great for minor surface issues, it uses high pressure to move water. A drain auger, however, can reach up to 25 feet or more into the pipe to find the source of the problem.
The Problem with Chemical Drain Cleaners
Many people reach for a chemical clog remover at the first sign of a clog. However, at Absolute Draining & Plumbing, we often advise against these. A chemical drain cleaner is often too caustic for older residential pipes found in many Toronto neighbourhoods. These chemicals can sit in the pipe, generating heat and leading to corrosion. Clearing your plumbing without running the risk of a burst pipe is far safer and more efficient when done with a reusable cleaning instrument like a manual auger.
Choosing the Right Tool: Manual vs. Electric Snakes
Before you start unclogging, you need the right tool for the specific job. Not all clog remover cleaning tools are created equal. Using the wrong auger can actually lead to permanent damage to your fixtures.
1) Handheld Manual Snake
The manual snake or hand auger is the most common tool for kitchen and bathroom issues. It usually consists of a flexible cable stored inside a drum. You rotate a handheld crank to extend the cable into the drain. It’s easy to use and perfect for a sink, tub drain, or shower drain.
2) Closet Auger (The Tool for Toilets)
If you have a clog in your toilet, do not use a standard sink snake. You need a closet auger. This tool for toilets features a stainless steel rod with a flexible end protected by a rubber or plastic sleeve. This sleeve prevents the metal from scratching the porcelain of your toilet bowl.
3) Electric Snake or Drum Auger
An electric snake is a powered version of the drum auger. These are much more powerful and often used by a plumber to tackle sewer line backups or stubborn tree roots. Because they use a motor to rotate the cable and cutter heads, they can easily damage thin residential pipes if you aren’t careful. For most DIY drain cleaning, a manual version is sufficient.
Step-by-Step: How to Use a Drain Snake Properly
It takes patience to learn how to correctly unclog the drain. The cable may kink or puncture a delicate pipe if you force it. To clear even the most challenging drain clogs, follow these instructions.
Step 1. Prepare the Area and Remove the Water
Try to get rid of as much standing water as you can before you start. The work is less untidy as a result. To gain direct access to the drainpipe when working on a sink, you might need to remove the sink stopper or the P-trap (the U-shaped pipe beneath the sink).
Step 2. Feed the Snake into the Drain
Take the end of the snake and insert it into the drain opening. If you are using a handheld drum auger, loosen the adjustable screw to release the cable. Slowly push the flexible cable into the pipe while turning the crank handle in a clockwise direction.
Step 3. Navigate the Bends
The cable will probably encounter resistance as it bends or strikes the “trap” in the plumbing. This is not yet the clog. Keep rotating the handle while exerting consistent, solid pressure. These curves can be bent by the flexible metal.
Step 4. Hook or Break Up the Clog
When the cable stops moving forward and feels “mushy” or very solid, you have reached the blockage. Continue to rotate the auger so the attachment at the tip can bite into the clog.
- If it’s a hair clog, the snake will grab it.
- If it’s a hard obstruction, the snake will break it apart.
Step 5. Pull the Clog Out
Slowly flush the cable back into the drum by winding the handle. The clog-removing tool will probably be covered in hair, oil, or debris when the snake’s end emerges. To clean up this mess right away, use a paper towel.
Contact us today through our form or call +1 (416) 252-5557 for expert plumbing, drain, and related services in Toronto, Etobicoke, Mississauga, and across the GTA.
Specific Tips for Different Drains
Every drain in your house has a slightly different configuration. Using a pack snake technique effectively means knowing these nuances.
Tip #1: Unclogging a Kitchen Sink
Clogged kitchen sinks are usually the result of grease and food scraps. In many cases, the clog is located in the P-trap. If the manual snake doesn’t reach the obstruction from above, try taking the P-trap apart and inserting the snake directly into the pipe going into the wall. This gives you a 25-foot advantage deeper into the sewer pipe.
Tip #2: Clearing a Shower or Tub Drain
The shower drain and tub drain are notorious for hair blockages. Before you use a drain snake, check if a hair catcher or a clog remover cleaning tool (like a small plastic clog remover) can reach it. If not, you may need to remove the overflow plate on a tub to reach the main drainpipe.
Tip #3: Dealing with a Toilet Clog
As mentioned, always use a closet auger for a toilet. Never flush the toilet repeatedly if it is backed up; this will cause an overflow. Insert the auger until you feel the obstruction, rotate, and pull the clog back.
When a Drain Snake Isn’t Enough
While a manual drain snake is a fantastic clog removal tool for kitchen and bathroom use, it has its limits. Some issues require the expertise of a Toronto plumber.
Deep Sewer Line Blockages
Your main sewer line is probably clogged if all of your home’s drains are backing up or draining slowly at the same time. This is beyond the reach of a typical 25-foot manual cable. To find and resolve these deep problems, Absolute Draining & Plumbing uses video examinations and professional-grade electric snake equipment.
Tree Root Intrusions
In older parts of Toronto and the GTA, tree roots often find their way into clay pipes. A standard handheld auger won’t be able to remove roots. You need a heavy-duty drum auger with a sharp cutter attachment to clear the line.
Recurring Clogs
If you find yourself unclogging the same sink every two weeks, there is an underlying issue. It could be a collapsed pipe, improper plumbing alignment, or a heavy buildup of grease that requires high-pressure drain cleaning (hydro-jetting).
Maintenance: How to Prevent Future Clogged Drains
Once you have managed to unclog the drain, the goal is to keep it that way. Preventive maintenance is much cheaper than emergency 24/7 services.
- Install a Hair Catcher: This is the easiest way to protect your shower and tub.
- Watch What You Flush: The only things that should go down the toilet are toilet paper and human feces. In Toronto, “flushable” wipes are a major contributor to clogged drains.
- Avoid Grease: Never pour cooking oil or grease down the kitchen sink. It solidifies in the pipe and acts like glue for other debris.
- Hot Water Flush: Once a week, pour a kettle of boiling water down your sink to help melt away soap scum and minor grease buildup.
Why Choose Absolute Draining & Plumbing?
You need a staff with the necessary skills when a do-it-yourself drain snake isn’t working. We at Absolute Draining & Plumbing have been providing services to the Greater Toronto Area for more than 20 years.
Our plumbing crew specializes in water damage repair, flood avoidance, and drainage. We understand how stressful plumbing issues may be. For this reason, we strive to offer these special advantages:
- Flat-Rate Pricing: No hourly surprises. You’ll know the cost before we start.
- 24/7 Emergency Services: Because floods and blockages don’t wait for business hours.
- No-Dig Technology: We can often perform a drain repair without tearing up your lawn or driveway.
- Rebate Assistance: We help you navigate the City of Toronto rebates for backwater valve and sump pump installations.
Whether you are in Etobicoke, Mississauga, North York, or downtown Toronto, our licensed and insured team is ready to help you clear the way.
Get Your Drains Flowing Again Today
A hard clog shouldn’t ruin your day or harm the foundation of your house. It’s time for a professional drain cleaning if you’ve tried using a drain snake and the water is still not clearing. We promise the lowest pricing and provide a free consultation. We will beat a licensed competitor’s written quote by ten percent if you bring it to us.
Contact us today through our form or call +1 (416) 252-5557 for expert plumbing, drain, and related services in Toronto, Etobicoke, Mississauga, and across the GTA.
