Many plumbing problems from backed up toilets to clogged kitchen sinks can be solved with drain snaking. In some cases, drain snaking is necessary if your plumbing issues can’t be easily resolved through using a plunger or clearing a pipe trap.

Remember that if you find you’re having trouble with your plumbing and think you need drain snaking services, our team at Performance Plumbing has more than 13 years of combined experience and can quickly get the job done for you. To help you better understand drain snaking, we’ve put together this basic guide – if you find it useful, be sure to share this blog post with your friends and like it on Facebook to help them prepare for future plumbing issues.

Is Drain Snaking Necessary?
The first thing you should do is evaluate whether or not drain snaking is necessary for the problem at hand. Before resorting to the time-consuming process of drain snaking, you should try using a plunger. Place the plunger over the drain and push down so the plunger inverts, forcing water down through the pipe. Do this several times and see if water begins to drain again normally. If not, you may need try clearing out the drain trap. Many clogs are actually solvable right below the sink, where the “J” shaped pipe curves to catch objects that come through the mouth of the drain. Be sure to wear gloves and put down a bucket to catch anything that comes out, then unscrew the trap with a pair of pliers and use a wire coat hanger or pipe cleaner to pull out debris such as hair. If this still doesn’t completely fix the problem, you may need drain snaking services.

What is Drain Snaking?
Drain snaking involves using a drain or closet auger (a long metal tool with a specialized head that cuts up or dislodges debris). Basic drain snakes don’t extend very far, but can be useful for clogs near the mouth of the pipe. However, for deeper, more serious blockages in piping, more elaborate machines are needed to clear pipes. In these cases, you may need professional rooter services, in which case we highly recommend calling us as we specialize in this type of advanced plumbing service. Rooters are basically large, electricity-powered snakes that can navigate through an entire pipeline and clear out virtually any debris that may be causing obstructions. The service is particular popular because it resolves many difficult pipeline clogs, and gained notoriety by helping people solve the problem of tree roots invading pipe systems. These powerful drain snakes are so effective that they can cut through these tree roots in most cases clearing the pipeline and allowing water to fully flow again.

No matter what your plumbing problem is, remember to try the basics like plunging if you’re willing to give it a shot yourself. If you think you need professional help, we are always more than happy to assist

and explain the entire process to you along the way. Drain snaking isn’t exactly the most straightforward process for the average person, so we know that having knowledgeable experts like ourselves to help you through the problem can be a huge time saver and take the stress of your back. Give us a call today for our drain snaking services, and be sure to share this blog post with your friends so they can be prepared for similar plumbing issues.