Your sewer system plays a very important role in your home. It’s the one responsible for getting rid of the wastewater that you produce whenever you use your faucet, toilet, shower, tub and all the plumbing appliances in your abode. However, you should remember that because of the daily use of your drains, there comes a point when the sewage pipes get clogged or when they break due to tree root intrusions. And because of these plumbing emergencies, a sewer snake is necessary.
It comes in different types, brands and models but its general purpose is to break through objects and roots that linger in the sewer. Professionals use the type that’s motorized to make the job easier. The sewer snake features sharp blades and a metal coil cable that’s easily maneuvered into the pipe to get rid of clogs. So if you’ve got the technical skills and want to use this equipment, read on and follow these steps!
1. Find your sewer cleanout and detach the cap. Verify if there is standing water inside the pipe. If yes, you’ll have to run the cable of the machine to the street for disposal. If no, just make sure that your toilets are stopped up and run the cable to your home.
2. Prevent the cable from getting tangled by placing the sewer snake as close to the cleanout as possible.
3. Wear protective outfit, especially a pair of leather gloves, so that your hand won’t bruise while running the cable.
4. Begin by pulling the cable’s head and inserting it into the cleanout. Feed a few more feet of the coil into the drain.
5. Using both of your hands, hold the cable tightly while creating a shoulder-width space between the two. Hold on tight to prevent the machine from springing up and the metal coil from getting tangled.
6. Check the setting of the motor. It should be configured to “forward” to bring more of the cable’s length into the drain pipe. Once you confirmed that it is set up properly, switch it on. Never be lenient and instead, always be alert. Slowly but surely run the cable into the pipe and once it touches a clog, hold it steady.
7. To remove the object that’s blocking the system, just simply move the coil backward and then forward and let the blades break through them. Do this until the clog is cleared out.
8. Once done, continue feeding another 10 to up to 15 feet of cable length into the system just to ensure that there’s no clog anymore. Once verified, pull the cable out. Try flushing your toilet to test that the drainage system is now working properly.
We hope that with this guide, you should be able to use your sewer snake properly and effectively. If you are not a DIY plumber and need assistance from professionals, just hire a local Margate plumber in Broward County FL! Plumbers 911 Florida delivers top-notch Margate FL plumbing services including sewer inspection, septic tank and grease traps installation, sub-metering, gas system installation and many more! Reach us at 305-662-0668 (Miami-Dade), 954-468-0512 (Broward) or 561-327-6287 (Palm Beach) and we’ll send out our team ASAP!
Want to know the most common plumbing problems that you should be ready for? Watch this video of our very own Joe Fernandez!
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