Most drain blockages can be cleared with the traditional Plunger a standard DIY tool found in most homes, and if you haven’t got one, you should get one. Sometimes the Plunger won’t do the job the blockage is too stubborn. Next you can call a Plumber or try a drain cleaning coil.
The drain cleaning coil, also known as a plumbers snake or drain snake is a thin, flexible cable that you push down the drain the flexibility allows you to reach the blockage.
The drain end features an Auger (resembles a corkscrew) while the other end has a turnable handle. The flexible cable allows you to reach the blockage by bending around the pipes while the turning motion combined with the auger breaks up the blockage.
When attempting to remove a blockage with a drain cleaning coil, you must be careful; incorrect use can damage pipes, causing leaks. Also, do not attempt if you have tried to clear the blockage with a commercial drain unblocker you could splash yourself with corrosive chemicals. If you have poured a drain unblocker down the drain and the blockage hasn’t cleared give us a call.
Here’s how to use a drain cleaning coil
- Unblocking drains with a coil is dirty work. Wear some old clothes and gloves
- Put a bucket underneath the sink below the trap. Depending on your Plumbing this will be a u-bend, bottle trap or P trap. If you’re unblocking a bath drain you may not be able to access the trap, don’t worry
- If possible, remove the trap, this will be ok if you have screw-fittings but won’t be possible if the pipes are glued. Removing the trap allows you to get closer to the blockage
- You may find the blockage is in the trap, in this case you won’t need your coil clear the trap out and reattach. Run some water through to check there’s no leaks. If the trap’s clear, then the blockage is further down the pipes
- Get the drain coil and insert into the pipe (if you removed the trap) or down the plug hole (if you didn’t remove the trap)
- Slowly push the coil down the drain, do not force the coil down at any point (this could dislodge pipework)
- You’ll only be able to push the coil down so far at some point you may have to rotate the handle also to get the auger to the blockage
- Once you reach the blockage, turn the handle clockwise and anti-clockwise while pulling and pushing slightly
- At any point you can pull the coil out which should bring up parts of the blockage, clear the auger and reinsert following the above procedure
- Repeat until the pressure ceases and the pipe feels clear
- Replace the trap (if you removed it) make sure everything is connected properly and run some water down the drain
- Check there are no leaks anywhere in the pipework
And that’s it! Sometimes some blockages are too stubborn to remove our team of Plumbers have all the necessary tools to clear any blockage so if you can’t clear your drain yourself give us a call and we’ll have it unblocked in no time.
