We have all been in a situation where we had to struggle against a stubborn kitchen sink, bathtub, toilet, or floor drain clog. Unclog a Shower Drain with a Coat Hanger For a really nasty clog, you’ll need to roll up your sleeves and snake the drain. Wearing rubber gloves, run the cable on a small drain snake down into the drain opening until it meets resistance. This tool, a coiled spiral snake that’s usually about 1/4-inch thick with a handle on one end, works the opposite way that a plunger does: You push the snake into the clog and crank it to drive the snake farther into the obstruction. You’re not alone in this search. The whole difference between snaking the bathtub and the shower drain is that in case of a bathtub you should never snake through the drain.. You are probably wondering why the bathtub is so special and where we should put the snake … Remember to start with the easiest ways to unclog a shower drain. The idea is that you extend and push the cable down the drain until you reach and loosen the clog in your pipe. Hold the handle of the drain snake to the side as you pour half a bottle of drain-cleaning gel down the drain, following this with the pots of boiling water. How do you unclog a drain if a snake doesn't work? The clique of, “It is better to have it and not need it, than to not have it and need it,” is so true in this situation. I have been pushing and turning as hard as I can, and it only goes maybe 2 or 2 1/2 feet down. It is the same way that it makes sense to have a toilet plunger around for emergencies. Are you looking to buy an iPhone, but you can’t justify the huge price tag? When you feel the cable move past the clog, reverse the direction of the cable rotation and slowly extract the cable from the drain opening. However, don't give up too soon. Rotation is the action that causes the drain snake to pick up the debris; pushing into the clog will not clear it. According to HomeDepot, there are a bunch of different types of drain snakes available for different situations. Crushing clogs the right way means having to get your auger down your pipes until it reaches the clog. So a small hand snake may not do anything, because it did not reach the clog. You push the corkscrew down the drain and then you turn and turn. It’s easier than you think (though every bit as disgusting as it sounds): 1:59. This will flush out any debris that was loosened but not extracted by the drain snake. As the cable extends into the drain, loosen the handle to extend more cable into the drain opening. It is a rare clog that you cannot clear if you begin with a clear horizontal path into the branch drain. Clean off this debris from the tip of the drain snake, then wipe down the drain snake with a rag to dry it and prevent rust. But drain snakes that have previously been used may still have the old clog still embedded in the corkscrew end. Continue to run water for a few minutes to flush any remaining hair and debris. … If there are fixture drains beyond the shower are also clogged or running slowly, you may be dealing with a branch drain clog or even a main sewer line clog. Let you tell you why this might happen and fixes that will get your pipes running smoothly in no time. Aaron Stickley is a licensed plumber with first-hand knowledge in solving home plumbing problems. According to Mr.Rooter, the only thing to do when you can’t get the drain snake working is to call a professional plumber. You must make sure that the thumbscrew that secures the cable inside the drum or handle is securely tightened. When you fail to tighten the thumbscrew is a common reason behind drain snakes that are not working. If I pushed the snake really hard, it would fold over itself and the tip would come back out. For general drain clogs, a small drum auger will generally do the trick. If the snake you bought has a 1/4" cable, you may not get it to go through. According to The Spruce, a drain snake, or often called a drum auger, is definitely the perfect tool when you have to clear away drain clogs in most situations. The Different Types of Drain Snakes Do not try to send the snake cable down through the openings on the shower grate. Household plungers can damage the delicate structures, piping, and drain in your RV shower. They also can cause a build-up of pressure — something your household plumbing system doesn’t experience — which can damage seals in your tanks. Troubleshooting Your Drain Snake: 3 Big Problems Drain Snake Won’t go Down Shower Drain . The grate may be difficult to get off, but unless you remove it, extracting the snake cable can be very difficult once it is entangled with lots of hair and debris. There’s nothing worse than finding yourself ankle-deep in a pool of murky, soapy, lukewarm water after taking your morning shower. If there is another shower or tub on the other side of the plumbing wall, the end of the snake cable may come up through that drain as you feed it. You must thoroughly clean this end for it to be effective. Once you’ve cleared the initial opening, insert the plumber’s snake into the drain as far as it will go. Now you can crank in reverse, bringing the snake back through the drain with the clog. I had a snake in the 90's a ridgid 380 A drum snake that was supposed to go down through showers, but I never could get it to work. Stick with shorter-length cables in the 15- to 25-foot range. If the water quickly backs up again, try running the snake cable further down the line. This fitting contains an internal, rubber diaphragm that prevents backflow of air and water into your shower. This tries to get stuck in exactly the same place but, with enough spinning around, it eventually makes it through. So, I figured I need a stronger snake that won't fold and come back out, so I bought the $55 Rigid 6 foot auger. You must make sure that the thumbscrew that secures the cable inside the drum or handle is securely tightened. In most instances, the clog will be found fairly close to the drain opening or in the drain trap immediately below the drain, but occasionally it may be in the branch drain line running horizontally to the main drain stack. Some RV toilets drop the waste straight down into the black tank below; if this opening gets clogged, it's usually easy enough to shove the blockage through into the tank. If water still won't run through the drain after you've snaked it several times, it may have been pushed further down into your pipes. After you feel the clog break up and disappear down the drain, pull the snake out of the drain. One possibility is that you're using a snake that is too hefty for the job. The shower does not have an overflow pipe, so as far as I know I have to go down the shower drain to find the clog. You will need a snake long enough to go from under your kitchen all the way to the main drain line in the house. If your snake won ' t go down bathtub (or shower) drain there could be several solutions. Retighten the cable and repeat the augering motion to force the cable further into the drain line. I've plunged the drain (pretty good suction with my plunger), and it forces the water down but fills right back up with the standing water in the shower and does not have much effect. But sometimes, your drain snake may not work as well as you thought. How to Make a Snake for Unclogging a Shower Drain. Sink and bathtub drains, on the other hand, often require that you disassemble the drain trap in order to snake out the clog. If a drain line goes 50 feet and the clogged section of the pipe is between 20 and 30 feet down the line, A 25 foot snake will not clear the clog. How to get a drain snake around a corner requires a bit of luck but mostly skill and patience. Extra-Long Drain Auger: For clogs deeply embedded down the length of your drain or sewer pipes, an extra-long auger that is 50 feet longer or more is the only way to reach the clog. After disposing of the clogged hair and soap, clean off the snake, put the stopper back down the drain and screw the overflow plate back on. If you are a homeowner, like me, you need to invest in a drum auger so you can have It on hand whenever the time comes. A cable extends from the drum portion of the auger, and at the end of the cable is a metal corkscrew designed to snag the clog. Most shower drain clogs are caused by hair, either from normal hair loss or shaving in the shower. You may even find that the cable bends completely back and comes auguring out the same drainpipe you just inserted it into. First, remove hair in the drain and then pour boiling water down the drain. This post was written with the expertise of, Common Reasons Why Water is Coming into Your Basement, Truck Driving and Your CDL: What You Need to Know. If that doesn't work, use a mixture of vinegar and baking soda. It'll get about up to the top of the 3" lip and stay there for an hour or two. Shower drains can easily be clogged with hair and other debris, but fortunately, they are among the easiest fixtures to clear using a drain snake. Use your foot to get the front end of the snake securely into the drain opening before extending it down as far as it will go. You may be able to feel the cable when it encounters the clog; rotate the cable to penetrate the blockage and break it up. Toilet is flushing fine, just had the septic tank emptied. Then, turn the handle to bring the snake back up. Instead, you should take the drain trap apart beneath the sink, then insert the drain snake into the horizontal branch drain. Remove the screws and lift away the grate from the drain opening. It is very hard to force a drain snake cable through the sharp bends of a fixture P-trap underneath a sink or tub, but many people try to do exactly that—force the cable straight down the drain opening, hoping to get through the trap and to the clog. Here’s how you do it: Use a screwdriver to remove the show drain … As a truck driver, you require a special type of driver's license in order to legally meet the requirements to drive a truck on the road. Puls Will Stop Your Shower or … If your drain snake won't make a turn, it could be for a number of reasons. A clogged shower drain, on the other hand, can be cleared in no time with the right right tool and instructions. Bend the coat hanger so there's a small hook at the end and then feed it into the drain. Do not force it too vigorously or the cable may double back on itself. Use the hook to pull up whatever is clogging the drain. If the drain is still obstructed, snake the drain one more time. It will not go all the way down. Drain snakes are not that expensive and will save you a lot of money when compared to the cost of having a professional plumber come to clear the clogs. Now it pretty much does not drain at all. Unclogging a shower drain can be a DIY project. The cable should begin to auger itself down further into the drain. What's the problem? Run water for a minute or two to test the drain before putting the shower grate back on. Cooking fat and other soft substances will not catch the corkscrew unless that debris also happens to have hair embedded in it. Run a small flow of water for a minute or so to see if it runs past the snake cable. And then you keep turning for what seems like forever, but nothing is happening. If you are using a new drain snake, this will not apply since the end is presumably clean. Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0 If you use Instagram, you know just how well it works on your smartphone—flawlessly. Extend the snake cable into the drain a few inches at a time, gradually extending it. I know I have probably used almost every technique from the hot water and baking soda to the drain snake. This can also happen to the seal in your toilet if you use a plunger there. It's rare that you will need to go more than a few feet since most drain clogs will be located in the drain trap immediately below the drain opening. Do not use any other type of auger with toilets. Hair clogs are easily snagged by drain snakes. If there are fixture drains beyond the shower are also clogged or running slowly, you may be dealing with a branch drain clog or even a. You depend on your dishwasher running efficiently to keep your kitchen running smoothly—but sometimes, it just doesn’t. Keep an eye on nearby drains. My drain snake won t go down the how to snake a tub drain not what you how to unclog a bathtub drain bleach how to snake a shower drain 10 s unclog a bathtub drain using snake How To Clear A Clogged Shower Drain With SnakeHow To Snake Out Clogged Bathtub Super Brothers Plumbing… Read More » A drain or plumber’s snake is a tool that has a long metal cable that is wound inside a compartment. In this case, you have little choice but to rent a power auger or call a plumber to do the job. Wait 10 minutes, then turn the snake on, first in forward then reverse, to remove it from the softened blockage, which should disperse as the snake … Free standing shower that is in a single level house, it used to drain pretty well. It is the rotation of the cable that will loosen the clog. Another possibility is that it's catching on a snag caused by pipe corrosion. How to unclog a bathtub drain bleach drain snake won t go down bathtub unclog blocked drains manual snake instructions ridgid why won t my bathtub drain aaa service My Drain Snake Won T Go Down The Bathtub Atlanta Ga PlumbersDrain Snake Won T Go Down Bathtub WhyDrain Snake Won T Go Down Bathtub Why… Read More » So just take your time and don’t get too frustrated. Most clogs happen at the P trap or other bends in the pipes. Some newer RVs have a HepVo Waterless Valve in place of the traditional P-trap. Making a turn in a shower p-trap can be difficult. Step 5: Pour Water Down Drain. Rotation is the action that causes the drain snake to pick up the debris; pushing into the clog will not clear it. You must make sure that the thumbscrew that secures the cable inside the drum or handle is securely tightened. Method 2: Drain snake. i have tried liquid plumber and it wont unclogg my tub drain, so i went and bought a tub snake and i cant get it to go down more than a few inches in the drain itself. The 3/8" goes through but with a fair amount of difficulty. Insert the wire into the pipe once again and spend more time trying to hook the clog to remove it. It may … Now, here’s why your drain snake likely won’t go down the bathtub drain: Wrong size drain snake – If the drain snake you’re using won't fit down the drain, then you may be using the wrong kind of drain snake. Some clogs are just so dense that an ordinary hand drain snake cannot force its way through it. These more serious clogs will require work with a larger drain snake, inserted from a main clean-out fitting. If you try to force the snake cable through the drain too fast, it sometimes will kink or bend back on itself. Being patient and not forcing the auger cable may do the trick. Thanks! It is very important that you are using the correct one for the job. Small Drum Auger: For most routine kitchen or bathroom sink drain clogs, the best choice is the drum style auger, in which the cable is contained inside a rotating canister. What should you do next? Hair, soap, shampoo and cleaning products all go down the drain… Get daily tips and tricks for making your best home. You likely will see hair and debris entangled at the end of the cable as it emerges from the drain opening. The bathroom sink next to the shower hasn't drained for maybe three months before the shower started not draining. When you fail to tighten the thumbscrew is a common reason behind drain snakes that are not working. The metal or plastic grate that covers the drain opening in the shower is usually secured with simple screws. One of these 2 cables will free up the clog. Introducing "One Thing": A New Video Series, Drain snake with 1/4-inch or 5/16-inch cable, Check to make sure that it is only the shower drain that is clogged. On the drum side is a handle. Clogs that respond best to the metal corkscrew end of the drain snake are clogs that can easily be snagged. If it is not, the cable will not rotate at all when you twist the handle. Drain snakes and augers are the next line of defense against clogs that won't quit. If neither cleaning the trap nor plunging clears a plumbing clog, your final weapon is a drain auger (also known as a snake). You could be using the wrong kind of auger for the job; toilet augers are not for sink or tub drains, only for toilets. For general drain clogs, a small drum auger will generally do the trick. The clog holds water, which dilutes the Drano and lessens its potency. It is easier with a 3/8" cable and best with a 5/8" loose wound cable, in my opinion. Never mind that hair is hard to dissolve. How to Snake a Tub Drain Do not snake through the drain! So the 1/4" goes through no problem. Once you feel it reach the clog, move even slower. If it is not, the cable will not rotate at all when you twist the handle. Toilet Auger: This special auger with a long rod and short cable will not scratch delicate porcelain surfaces. While a normal bathtub drain is usually 1 1/2 inches in diameter, a shower drain is often 2 inches in diameter, making it easier to insert a small drain snake directly into the drain opening and down through the trap, where most clogs are found. The auger cable might not be able to go down the pipe completely or if it does go down the pipe, it could fail to bring up the debris. I broke down and bought a 5/8" inch snake that is powered by a drill. If it is not, the cable will not rotate at all when you twist the handle. If the clog persists, use a plunger, plumber's snake or chemical drain opener. Clean off any hair or debris that may be clinging to the grate. then removed the overflow and tried that and it will only go down like a foot or 2? A third scenario could be that it's contacting the clog at the point at which you think it should be turning a corner. A clogged tub drain can get pretty messy, so have some paper towels and cleaning supplies nearby. Shower drains are prone to clogging from normal shower usage. If you're worried about damaging your pipe with a snake, try using a metal coat hanger to unclog the drain instead. The answer may be that you are either using the wrong kind of drain snake, or you are trying to force it through a P-trap, or you are forcing the snake cable through the pipe too quickly or the clog is just too darn big. Tighten the cable-clamp on the handle on the tool and rotate the handle slowly to spin the cable in the drain opening. Have a helper keep an eye on the other drain as you feed the snake. If the smaller snake is not doing the trick, remove it and insert the bigger snake into the drain. The 1/2" won't go through no matter what I do. The Spruce uses cookies to provide you with a great user experience and for our, 5 Fixes for a Drain Snake That Is Not Working, How to Make Your Own Homemade Drain Cleaner, Diagnosing Washing Machine Drain Problems, How to Fix a Sticky Trip-Lever Bathtub Drain Stopper, How to Use a Plunger to Unclog a Sink Drain. Our bathroom sink clogs up every few months, and I have a hard time getting it to drain again. But like anything, it usually takes some time to get the clog out. It is a simple hand-operated tool that should get the job done. Now, here’s why your drain snake likely won’t go down the bathtub drain: Wrong size drain snake – If the drain snake you’re using won't fit down the drain, then you may be using the wrong kind of drain snake. Turn the handle to break up the clog just like the smaller snake. 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