Large clogs in your drains can prove difficult to plunge, and drain cleaning chemicals can damage your pipes. Instead, they might require the use of a specialized plumbing tool like a snake. An experienced plumber in Albany, OR knows how to use snakes without causing further damage to your plumbing system, pushing clogs deeper, or causing injury from the tip of the snake. They will use the following techniques to use a snake safely to clear drain clogs in your home.
Choose the Right Plumbing Snake
The right type of plumbing snake can make all of the difference when removing tough drain clogs. These varieties include hand auger snakes for sinks and closet auger snakes for toilets. An experienced plumber will know what kind of snake to use to remove clogs.
Ensure the Snake Is in Good Condition
Make sure the plumbing snake is in good condition before placing it down the drain. Trustworthy plumbers avoid using damaged equipment. A damaged snake or one with corrosion on it can cause harm to your drains and pipes.
Turn Off the Water Supply
Before your plumber arrives, turn off your home’s water supply. This tip prevents accidental flooding. It also helps your plumber work safer and faster. Find the main water valve in your home in your utility room, crawlspace, basement or on an external wall.
Remove Drain Covers
If the plumber will work on the drains in your utility room or basement, remove the drain covers. Keep the drain covers in a safe place so that you can retrieve them easily and put them back in place once the plumber removes the clogs inside the drains.
Wear Safety Gear
An experienced plumbing professional will wear safety gear like goggles and rubber gloves while using the snake to remove clogs in your home’s drains. If you plan on watching or being near the area where the plumber is working, wear safety gear to keep debris and water out of your eyes, mouth and nose.
Take It Slow
Despite your impatience to remove drain clogs, expect the project to progress at a pace that could be slower than you anticipate. The plumber you hire will insert the snake slowly into the drain. This slow pace is necessary to avoid damage to the pipes in your home’s plumbing system.
Avoid Forcing the Snake
Likewise, when the plumbing professional encounters a particularly tough clog, do not expect them to force the snake into the drain. Forcing the snake will cause it to damage the pipes. This type of job calls for gently maneuvering the snake back and forth to work through the clog.
Use Short In-and-Out Motions
Short in-and-out motions also help remove challenging clogs. Moving the snake in and out in short motions helps the snake break up the clog and flush it out.
Rotate the Handle
The plumber working to remove the clog will also rotate the snake’s handle in a counterclockwise direction. This motion helps the snake grip the clog and allows the person working on the drain to remove it effectively.
Flush the Drains
Once the plumbing professional removes the clog, the next step is to flush the drains with hot water. Hot water helps flush out any remaining debris inside the drain and pipes. It also prevents any residue remaining inside the drain from reforming and causing another clog.
Avoid Using Chemical Drain Cleaners
As tempting as you might find it, avoid using chemical drain cleaners to clean out your drains. Plumbing chemicals that you can buy at the grocery or hardware store can damage materials like PVC. Ask the plumber to clean out the drains if you want to do more than run hot water down them.
Disinfect the Area
You also need to disinfect the sink and area where the clog removal took place. Surfaces like your counters and floor could have bacteria and fungi on them.
Use a potent cleaner like diluted bleach or ammonia to kill germs and prevent odors and stains. You may also want to air out the area by opening the window or turning on an exhaust fan.
Rely on Our Professional Clog Removal Service
At Linn Benton Plumbing, our experienced team of plumbers knows how to remove clogs safely and effectively and handle other common plumbing problems without causing further damage. We also perform sewer inspections and replace and repair drains and sewers. Contact Linn Benton Plumbing today when you need clogs removed from your home’s drains.
