They are making a number of good annotation about clogged drain overall in this post directly below.
How to Use a Plumber’s Snake
A plumber’s snake, or drain auger, is a tool that reaches down into pipes to remove clog-causing blockage. Snakes make up the middle ground between common household plungers and the really big guns. If you’re dealing with a clog too stubborn for your plunger, then a snake is your best chance to clear it out yourself.
Snakes are much more powerful drain-clearers than plungers, but they’re also slightly riskier to use. If you use your plumber’s snake improperly, then you might tear up your pipes or even create leaks. To avoid doing that, it’s important to know how your snake works and how to use it correctly. Here’s everything you should know about using a plumber’s snake.
How does a plumber’s snake work?
what is a plumber's snake?A plumber’s snake is a long, flexible metal cable with a small auger or uncoiled spring on one end and a handle on the other. The auger on the snake looks like a drill bit or a corkscrew. Home plumber’s snakes are usually around 50 feet long. The cable coils up when you’re not using it. Most home plumber’s snakes are hand-operated, and probably have a rotatable handle or even a crank.
Plumber’s snakes work by entering the drain directly to physically contact and then clear away the obstruction causing the clog. You manually insert the auger end of the snake into the drain and then begin uncoiling by rotating the handle. As the snake uncoils, the auger moves further through the drain pipe, until it breaks through the obstruction.
How do you use a plumber’s snake?
1. Put on some clothes you don’t mind getting dirty and lay some old towels beneath the pipes you’re working on. Depending on the nature of the clog, your snaking procedure could get messy. This is especially important if you end up removing the p-trap.
2. (Optional) Consider removing the p-trap. The p-trap, or p-bend, is the curving piece of pipe beneath the sink. It connects the sink to the greater drain pipe system in your home. The reason it’s curved is to prevent sewer gases from rising through the sink and into the home. P-traps are often made of PVC pipe, though they can also be metal.
You can manually remove the p-trap, either with your hands or with the help of an adjustable wrench. Once you remove the p-trap, you should thoroughly inspect and clean it out. If you find your obstruction, then you won’t have to snake at all! Even if you don’t find anything, removing the trap could make snaking easier.
3. (Optional) Consider removing the trap arm. A trap arm is the part of the pipe between the p-trap and the actual wall pipe. It holds the p-trap in place and may curve again to reach the wall. Look for a plastic or metal nut connecting the trap arm to the wall. If you can find one, loosen it to remove the trap arm. If you can’t, then it’s possible the arm is glued in place; don’t attempt to remove it in that case. Make sure you clean out the trap arm like you did the p-trap once you remove it.
Removing the trap arm gets you as close to the drain pipe as possible. Look inside the drain pipe to look for any obstructions. If you can see the obstruction, try removing it from where you are. If you can’t, you should use your snake.
4. Manually thread the auger head of the snake into the pipe. Insert the head of the snake into either the drain (if you didn’t remove the trap), or the access point on the wall. If you didn’t remove the trap, consider running cold water while you snake.
Don’t force the auger into the drain too hard, or you could damage the drain entrance or pipe. Be patient and make sure the head and cable aren’t too long for the drain you’re trying to snake.
5. Begin uncoiling the snake using the handle. Keep the handle of the snake as close to the entrance of the pipe as possible. The more slack the auger had has, the less force you’re supplying it.
Rotate the handle at a consistent pace. Don’t try to rush it or rotate too slowly. If you feel pressure at any point while the cable moves through the pipe, you may have encountered the obstruction.
6. Upon reaching the obstruction, move the rotate the head back-and-forth and up-and-down. Try to break up the obstruction as thoroughly as possible. Don’t try to jam the auger into the walls of the pipe, however. If you hear scraping noises, then you should stop snaking and re-adjust.
If you think the auger might be stuck in the obstruction, consider pulling the snake out of the pipe. In some cases, the obstruction may come out with it. Continue snaking until you no longer feel resistance and the snake uncoils to its full length.
7. Pull the snake out and re-assemble the sink components. Check the auger head for remains of the obstruction and clean it off. If you removed the trap arm and p-trap, then you should re-install them at this point.
8. Check the sink. The snake should have successfully removed the obstruction and solved the clogging problem. If you still seem to have a clog, then you could try repeating your snaking process again. Just like plunging, however, snaking too much can harm your pipes or drains. If a thorough snaking really didn’t solve your problem, then you should consider calling in the pros.
Snaking is a surprisingly easy and accessible homeowner project. As long as you understand how to use your snake, you should solve your problem without creating new ones.
Sometimes, however, you may not be able to beat that clog, no matter what you try. Don’t despair! After your snake, the next step is to call Mike Diamond. We’ve got the tools and know how to find and break up any clog, no matter how stubborn.
When You Need to Upgrade The Water Heater Here is How to Proceed
Hot water heaters are one of the most neglected home appliances in North American dwellings. We treat it like an afterthought until the winter season kicks in and then find ourselves taken by surprise with the alarm of chilly water. It is generally on a frosty wintertime day when you run the shower longer than usual and discover there is no hot water. That is when you are struck with the realization that you don't know the way to repair a tankless hot water heater.
Hot Water Tank Life Extension Guidelines
Generally speaking, a gas-powered hot water tank usually lasts an average of twelve years. A substitution tank could be purchased at your community home improvement shop when the time is right if that's what you want. The life span of these tanks are usually extended either with an insulating jacket or by ensuring the calcium build up in the tank are kept to a minimum. You need to follow either one or both pointers to be sure that it will be as durable as possible.
Although it makes logical sense that old hot water tanks need to be replaced once in a while, you might be curious if it is necessary to get it done before it pops a leak.
A Water Heater Up Grade Saves On Bills Like Gas And Electric
The main benefit of investing in a new hot water tank is the cash saved on your home heating costs. A new water heater would, in almost every case, work better than any older version. Often there are a few things to look into with your new plumber purchase if you desire to maximize your savings and that is how much use it is going to be exposed to.
A bigger hot water heater will be required if you have a big family. After all, extra people means extra hot water.
Kinds of Water Heaters
Commonly, they are grouped into two categories - natural gas and electric. Gas water heaters are typically pricier to buy and the electric ones could be nearly the same price to begin with, but mostly slightly less to buy. Many of us are still choosing the traditional hot water tank as it's what we are most familiar with, but on demand water heaters have grown to be more common, so you will want to evaluate both before you commit.
Irregardless of which type you decide on, gas powered or electric, one can opt for the on demand water heater type. Or for people that prefer to go green you may consider solar water heaters, that greatly lessen the unsafe emissions released by older heating models. Just keep in mind the installation difficulties you'd encounter with a solar heating unit, so be well prepared to pay those additional installation costs.
Regardless of what type you choose for a new hot water tank, you ought to take a close look at appointing a heating service for the job. A hot water tank set up requires mechanical know-how and an a better understanding of of local codes for venting and generally safe functioning. If you're not qualified in the art of installing a new hot water tank then find a local heating service who can do it for you.
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