Drain snake

What It Means

A drain snake, also called an auger, is a stiff but bendable cable with a cutting blade or a wire coil on its tip. Roto-Rooter explains that as you turn it, the tip works its way through the bends in a pipe and into the blockage, then either pulls the debris out or pushes it on through. It relies on mechanical force, so it reaches clogs deeper in the pipe than a plunger can.

How It Sounds at Home

• "Plunger didn't touch it, get the snake."
• "We need a toilet auger, not the sink one."
• "I snaked the tub and pulled out a clump of hair."

The Breakdown

How to snake a drain

1. Try the easy steps first. Roto-Rooter's order is debris you can see, then a plunger, then a snake.
2. Pick the right tool. For a toilet, Roto-Rooter points to a toilet auger, which is shorter and has a protective plastic sleeve so the cable doesn't scratch the bowl. Sinks, tubs and showers take a regular drain snake.
3. Buhata's own suggestion: put on rubber gloves and lay an old towel under the work area.
4. Feed the cable into the drain and turn it, so the tip works through the bends in the pipe.
5. When you feel the clog, keep turning to break it up or hook it, then draw the cable back out.
6. Buhata's own suggestion: run water to check the drain flows, and wipe the cable clean before you store it.

Short version to try today. Buhata's own suggestion: check whether you own a plunger and a hand snake, and store them where anyone in the house can find them.

Good to Know

Buhata's own advice: don't snake a drain that has chemical drain cleaner sitting in it, because the cable can splash it back at you; call a plumber and tell them what you poured in. Stop and call a licensed plumber if several drains back up at once, the cable won't pass the clog, or water comes up somewhere else when you run it. Roto-Rooter's guidance treats the snake as the step after a plunger, so if both fail, that's the point to bring in a professional.

Related Terms and Categories

• Clogged drain

  A drain blocked by debris built up inside the pipe, so water drains slowly or stops draining altogether.

• P-trap

  The curved section of drainpipe under a sink or tub that holds a little water to seal sewer gas out of the house.

• Garbage disposal cleaning

  Keeping a sink garbage disposal clean and odor-free by using it often, scrubbing under the rubber baffle, and grinding only food.

• Licensed contractor

  A contractor who holds the license your state or local government requires for the kind of work being done, which you can check before you hire.

Home maintenance and repairs