How To Use A Flat Drain Snake
A flat drain snake is a long metal pipe with a metal wire coil on one end. Its extended length and coiled design make it ideal for clearing clogged drains that have been impossible to unclog with conventional methods.
A flat drain snake is used by feeding the extended metal pipe into the clogged drain, then turning the handle to create tension on the wire coil. The coil snaps back when it hits an obstruction such as hair or other debris, and you simply keep repeating this process until everything is cleared.
With that in mind, learning how to use a flat drain snake is simple once you understand its mechanics. Keep reading for detailed instructions on how to use a flat drain snake correctly and safely!
How To Use A Flat Drain Snake
Step 1: Clear the area around the drain
Before you attempt to clear a clogged drain, you need to ensure you have the proper safety gear and that you have cleared the area around the drain so you can safely work in the area. To do this, you may need to turn off the water to the house, shut off the shut-off valve, and lay down protective sheets or towels around the area. Additionally, have your gloves and eye protection ready. You don’t want to get anything in your eyes, and gloves will help protect against bites, cuts, and grazes that may occur.
Step 2: Feed the snake into the drain
The first step in using a drain snake is to feed the snake into the drain. The best way to do this is to hold the snake in one hand, and feed it into the drain. You can also feed it in by attaching it to a metal rod. If you feed it in by hand, you can simply use the snake like a fishing rod where you gently lower the snake into the drain, and then slowly reel it back out again. When feeding a snake into a clogged drain by hand, you may want to apply some downward pressure to the tip of the pipe to increase the speed at which it feeds into the drain.
Step 3: Turn and reel in the wire coil
After feeding the wire coil into the drain, you can use the handle to rotate it. When the coil hits an obstruction, it snaps back and you simply reel it back into the snake. Reel the coil out of the snake until you have cleared the entire length of the snake. You may need to keep rotating the snake so you can reel the coil back into the snake. When the snake is completely cleared of debris, you can simply pull it out of the drain and replace it with the auger to clear any larger obstructions.
Step 4: Repeat until clear
Repeat the process outlined above until the drain is completely clear. You can tell when the drain is totally clear when the snake feeds into the drain without any resistance. If it’s still experiencing some resistance, you can try feeding the snake back out of the drain, rotating the snake, and then feeding the snake back into the drain again.
Tip – Find the clog before feeding in the snake
When using a drain snake, you want to make sure the snake finds the clog before you feed it into the drain. To do this, simply feed the snake into the clog and rotate it. When the snake hits the clog, it will be stopped by it and you’ll feel increased resistance. Once you have found the clog, you can then switch back to the regular method above and feed the snake into the drain. This will ensure you don’t feed the snake into a clean section of pipe and waste time reaving the entire length of the snake.
Conclusion
A flat drain snake is a cheap and easy to use tool that can easily be stored in your home and used to clear clogged drains. Unfortunately, not all drains can be cleared with a drain snake. If you have a stopped up toilet, clogged bathtub, or other large drain, a flat drain snake will not be enough. In those cases, you will need a larger drain auger.
With that being said, a flat drain snake is a great tool to have in your home. It’s easy to use, and can easily clear clogged drains that have been impossible to unclog with conventional methods such as a plunger!
Additionally, drain snakes are available in many different sizes to cater to all drain types. So, no matter what you’re cleaning, a flat drain snake is a great tool to have on hand.
