What Is a Plumbing Snake and How Do You Use It in Marion, IN?

Learning how to use a plumbing snake to remove drain clogs is a process. The better option is usually hiring plumbing technicians who know how to operate this machine safely. An expert can also switch to clogged drain removal alternatives when a drain snake doesn’t work.

The information below can help you decide whether to use a snake yourself or to call for plumbing repair services in Marion, IN, instead. Either way, don’t leave the clogged drain pipe too long.

What Is a Plumbing Drain Snake Tool?

A plumbing snake is an auger or hook on a flexible cable. The plumber inserts it into a drain or sewer line to try to punch through a clog. Some snakes have a motor behind them that pushes the auger forward at pace, whereas others require the plumber to manually feed it through the pipe by turning a handle.

The cable for the snake consists of metal for durability, but it remains flexible to deal with the twists and turns of a drain or sewer pipe. The most common locations where people use drain snakes include:

• Sinks
• Showers
• Bathtubs
• Toilets
• Sewer service line

Many snakes are small, making them easy to carry or use in smaller drain lines, such as sinks. Other units are suitable for use inside a larger sewer service line.

What Does the Snake Do, and How Do People Use It in Marion, Indiana?

Learning how to use a plumbing snake is something that most homeowners don’t need to do. Typically, they’ll just rely on manual drain cleaning techniques. Alternatively, they’ll call licensed plumbers like Complete Comfort Heating A/C & Plumbing Repair for help.

When plumbers deploy a snake for the removal of blockages, they start by gaining plumbing trap access. Then, they feed the cable through the drain until it reaches the blockage. By continuing to push it forward, they can do blockage extraction or break up a clog into smaller chunks so that wastewater washes it away. 

What Kinds of Clogs Are Snakes Effective Against?

Snakes that use a hook might work for fishing a small object out of the drain line. Generally, however, the most common clog causes that respond to snakes include the following:

• Grease buildup
• Soap scum
• Hair
• Food particles
• Toilet paper
• Solid waste

Learning how to use a plumbing snake effectively requires some practice. Plumbers use this tool often enough that they understand the differences between drain pipes and the potential sources of each clog. For example, the plumber might operate the snake a little differently to deal with a toilet paper blockage than they would for hair in the drains.

Snakes are sometimes effective against clogs that originate from the extreme hard water issues pipes face in Marion, Indiana, and central Indiana. If you don’t have a water softener here in Marion, the scale buildup inside the pipes easily snags hair and grease. A plumbing snake may help, but in the long term, installing a water softener is also a good idea.

Problems You Might Have When Doing DIY Clog Removal With a Snake

Suspect a sewer line clog at your home in Marion, Indiana? You might wonder whether the Marion Utilities Department will clear it for you. However, while the city department takes care of clogs in the sewer line mains running under the streets, it does not handle blockages in your home or the sewer line that runs to the main. 

Clogs in the sewer service line are your responsibility. However, if you rent a plumbing snake and try to clear the clog yourself, you could damage the sewer line. This applies particularly to older sewer lines that might be in poor condition and unable to withstand the pressure of the snake. 

If a rented plumbing snake on a DIY job punches through a brittle sewer line, you’d have a very expensive repair bill on your hands to remove the cable and repair any damage. It’s safer to get a licensed plumber out to inspect the lines with a video camera.