What is a Plumbing Snake?
A "plumbing snake"
is a long, flexible steel coil that can be wound
into curved pipes to remove things that are
stuck or blocking the pipes. Also known as a
"plumber's snake," a plumbing snake is an
essential tool of the plumber's trade.
There are different
lengths, shapes and sizes of plumbing snakes. A
plumbing snake usually has at its core a wire
shaft with an auger-like head on the end. The
snake twists and winds through the pipes with
the help of a controlling mechanism of some
sort.
How to Use the Plumbing Snake
You can use a plumbing snake to unclog drains,
but you have to be careful while using it. You
should put something on your hands or use
non-slip gloves because the plumbing snake will
become dirty and slippery. The plumbing snake
has to be just the right size, so it is
recommended that you use the smallest snake
first, and move up to larger ones if it isn't
big enough to do the job.
The end of the snake must first be inserted to
the pipe via the drain or toilet. As you turn
the handle clockwise, it will push the snake
into the pipe. You should leave some small
quantity of water in the sink or toilet. The
water will help the stuff to break up and
lubricate the pipe when it starts to move. If it
gets difficult to keep pushing the snake
through, you should pull the end out, clean it
off and re-insert it. You may have to do this
several times until the drain is fully clear, so
don't be surprised if it keeps happening.
Plumbing Snake Safety
If you have a motorized plumbing snake, you
should take special care, especially when you
are pulling it back out of the drain. The motor
may cause the coil to whip and toss around, and
it could strike someone or something in the room
when it comes out.
When the plumbing snake comes out, shake the tip
of it off in the toilet bowl or the sink to
clean it off. It will help to flush the toilet
or open the faucets of the sink to get rid of
the stuff on the tip of the snake.
An Essential Tool for Plumbing
The plumbing snake is an important tool for
plumbing as it effectively helps to remove
blockages deep down in the pipes. Just take a
little extra care when using one.
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