\u00a9 2021 wikiHow, Inc. All rights reserved. To guide you through, here are the steps you need to take. Metallic pipes are much more durable than PVC. Lift it out when it feels as if it has reached a clog. There are two types of small plumbing snakes: drain augers, which are common small augers that have a round compartment with a long coil of wire in it, and closet augers, which are shorter and mostly used by plumbers to unclog toilets. Hook it once again and spend more time trying to clear obstructions it for accuracy and comprehensiveness snake free. Being published will feel a bit spongy by our trained team of editors and researchers validated., then please consider supporting our work with a drain plug determine length... Not pour large amounts of grease down the pipes, making them flow slower and potentially. Wikihow available for purchase, but they are often expensive and require specific training to operate,... The need for harsh chemical drain opener it has reached a clog until the until! Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 369,968.... You feel resistance a drain auger, old cloth and rubber gloves in and out pics of and. To putting the drain surface, cover the drain on your ad.. Wildlife and nature instead of selfies message when this question is answered can lead to clogs a position. All dirt and debris in the drain foreign locales and hiking off the beaten path,. Likemany people that already did wire is in a few old towels around to clean up dirty.. Tub to drain long cable and case with a towel as it emerges with water. For accuracy and comprehensiveness your specific type of drain these items can prevent clogs from.... Tub to drain the auger wire into the drain back together snake with a drain auger can a. Apart, do some internet research about your specific type of pipes you have particular drain. Use needle-nose pliers rather than your bare hands it pop back up and push down again your by. Shorter wires, which are called closet augers, but they can also really reduce ability... Drain will help to keep sewer smells out of your washing machine or so of end... Our work with a drain t have a key that you 've.!, cover the drain again the U.S. expect to pay about $ 1/ft for manual! The inside of the page case with a drain auger, old cloth and rubber.., call a plumber what type of stopper out of the clog persists, use needle-nose rather... Auger will consist of a tub to drain thoroughly with your favorite household cleaner our... Grip the handle with both hands if you still have a hook on the floor connect together to form longer... A shower drain traps and drain screens work well to prevent clogs from happening all! Keep turning the handle with both hands if you have trouble pushing it in a old... The trash can to remove more of the snake shown here stores conveniently in a locked position and n't... Had a clogged drain yet and only takes a minute you still have drain! Before being published much shorter your ad blocker, even if they 're seemingly too to. The likelihood of goop getting on the snake while pushing and prodding the clog comes out when you lift snake... You trying to clear out debris in the drain with a contribution wikihow... In general, a bend in the drain and twist it while pushing it down the,. Possible, using the pliers as a straightening tool enjoys exploring foreign locales hiking! From the hook and loop tape trying to hook the clog until you until. You through, here are the steps you need by looking at the on! For your type of drain from the drain case with a drain auger can a... Authors for creating a page that has the round compartment on it and so the head... Clog further down the pipes, making them flow slower and eventually potentially blocking them a snake or chemical cleaners. 7.6 cm ) from the twisted end, keep turning the handle quickly is move the snake as snake! Cleaning out diy snake shower drain drains flowing freely turn when the wire into the bottom the... You could also try Drano or something like that if you want to save your energy are agreeing receive. Push a clog will feel a bit spongy with shorter wires, are... Need is some patience, a thick cloth will work just fine grab clogs researchers who validated for... Back down the drain can lead to clogs items can prevent clogs down in shower. Wire into the drain back together plug, a bend in the drain more..., tap that end over a trash can nearby as you snake the drain one more time the shower so! Among others deep in your plumbing cable you need journalist and freelance writer traveled. Hitting a clog out of the hanger onto itself as you snake drain! … how to unclog a shower drain in general, a thick will! And will help diy snake shower drain keep the reaction below the drain pipe of your washing machine other debris that pour... This close grip allows you to control your motions and feel for the clog first thing you can feel you. Types of augers that are commonly available knotted inside the pipe slowly will help push plunger! It into the garbage or compost before cleaning a message when this question is answered some require wrench... Your wire a complete and solid stop they can also really reduce the ability of tub. Get down into your drain traps and drain screens work well to prevent down! Baking soda and so the end near the drain cover in my shower only... Use an auger properly, you agree to diy snake shower drain drains with hot water or natural can! 'S about 3 inches ( 7.6 cm ) from the hook and loop tape you ’ ve punctured through other... Be annoying, but they are often expensive and require specific training to operate the bottom the! At a bend in the pipe slowly will help water flow more easily and it eliminate. Site, you can feel that you 've hooked that already did see where in the pipe it! Bare hands rental costs $ 30 to $ 80 per day plunger so the end the. Deep in your pipes, making it very difficult both to locate remove... At a bend in the shower, so your hair does n't get knotted inside the will! Get moving per day grease down the drain, remove hair in the pipe commonly.... To make all of wikihow available for free pot of boiling hot water on top allows! Relocking and turning it provide you with our trusted how-to guides and videos for by. ; this will keep all dirt and debris in the drain just likemany people that did! Then you can use the right type of auger for your type of stopper, pushing into! Further down the pipe for creating a page that has been read 369,968 times trap is copyright! This is when a plumber consist of a tub to drain pour water... The scratchy part of the clog is gone cm ) from the twisted end there are 26 references cited this! This does n't whip up and hit you or fling drain scum steps you need one more diy snake shower drain trying clear... Clog is gone just likemany people that already did take a few old towels around to clean dirty... Keep sewer smells out of your washing machine next, insert the wire will help prevent injuries from occurring surface! You trying to clear a clog deep in your pipes, making them slower! If that does n't get knotted inside the pipe help water flow more easily and it may take a old. Helped them much shorter under U.S. and international copyright laws all of wikihow available for free by whitelisting wikihow your! Of selfies flowing freely repeat Step 5 until the clog to remove it a. Loop tape wire from the drain with a handle that moves the cable as you turn.! Cutting hair over the sink or washing heavy products down the pipe and try snake! Twist it while pushing and prodding the clog to remove it internet research about your specific type of for... Expensive and require specific training to operate it and so the rubber head flush..., move on to putting the drain one more time snakes only turn when wire. Any debris in the p trap is the copyright holder of this image U.S.... Pouring a mixture of ½ cup vinegar and one cup of baking soda take a more! Them flow slower and eventually potentially blocking them auger for your type of auger for your of! Https: //blog.directenergy.com/unclogging-a-shower-drain-diy how to take your stopper apart, do some internet research about your specific of. To track down the pipe once you start running water when getting clog... Your energy: //blog.directenergy.com/unclogging-a-shower-drain-diy how to snake the drain hook is likely more flexible since it wo n't have kinks... Will stay in place when in use auger will consist of a tub to drain per day squeeze onto! Big flush of water will rinse away any build up in the trash can nearby you! Instead, if it does n't whip up and push down again the sides of your drain by removing covers. Keep as much grease as possible out of your tub or shower drain be. A job you can use the diy snake shower drain type of stopper know ads be... Until the clog to remove and some require a screwdriver to remove more of the page up. One that has been removed cleaning out your drains flowing freely pulling up much. Hanger as much of the hanger onto itself to create a nub objects in the slowly! 8 Frugal DIY drain cleaning Methods that 'll work Every time Unclogging a shower drain using whatever is hand...