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Clean and Store Drain Snake — Clean Up

Beginner3 hours

Part of project

Drain Snaking · Step 7 of 7

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In this video

Rinse the drain snake with water and let it dry to prevent rust and buildup. Wrap the tip of the drain snake in toilet paper to avoid accidents, then feed the snake back into the canister, lock the lever and store in a safe place.

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FAQs

What type of drain snake is best for a common household clog, and do I need any other special tools?

For most household clogs in sinks or tubs, a 25-foot drum auger, like 'The Plumber's Choice 25 ft. Drum Auger Steel Plumbing Drain Snake,' is ideal. In addition to the snake, you'll primarily need basic tools such as a screwdriver and pliers to remove drain covers or stoppers.

What are the most important safety precautions to take before and during drain snaking?

Always wear gloves and eye protection to shield yourself from dirty water and debris. Place a drop cloth or rags around the work area to protect your floor from spills and potential damage. Never mix drain snaking with chemical drain cleaners, as this can create dangerous fumes or corrosive splashes.

How difficult is drain snaking for a beginner, and how long should I expect the project to take?

Drain snaking is generally considered a beginner-friendly DIY project that requires patience more than specialized skills. While the estimated time is 3 hours, a typical first-time attempt might take longer. Take your time to avoid damaging pipes.

What should I do if the drain snake gets stuck or if I can't seem to clear the clog?

If the snake gets stuck, try rotating it counter-clockwise while gently pulling back to free it without excessive force. If you've made multiple attempts and still can't clear the clog, or if the snake remains firmly stuck, it's best to stop and call a licensed plumber to prevent potential pipe damage.

Transcript
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the drain snake out well guess what it's actually gonna be on there so when you pull the drain snake out it's actually gonna be on there it should be on there and if you didn't get anything go back in there going further and the good thing is you know how much you've gone in so I can see this length I can go and measure this and then I can go in further so let's I need to go further no problem unlock it feed a bit more line into that dream turn turn turn turn turn turn turn-turn try again you didn't get anything no problem unlock it feed or lock it turn turn turn turn turn that's it when you're done it is important to rinse out the drain snake you don't want to leave all of that nasty stuff on the drain snake let's just be honest okay you don't leave it all in there but when you've rinsed it out you know I always recommend letting it dry for a little bit shake it off so that shake off the the water feeds that drain snake back in there that's how you store it away feed it back in there okay you might have to do a little maneuvering feed it back in there just like that okay block it you're good to go another quick tip when you're storing it because that's how to use it but when you're done with them you're storing it store it in a safe place I always recommend leaving like just like a piece of toilet paper wound up around here so that this doesn't hurt anybody because this is very very sharp like people underestimated this is extremely sharp in most drain snakes and I just recommend leaving just a piece of paper towel there or toilet paper just wrapped around there and then put it in a bag that's what I always like to do because then it contains the water and stuff like that keeps everything nice and contained and that's basically then you can carry it around without worrying about what's on your hands or anything like that you're carrying it in the bag and that's it in this video I've shown you how to use a drain snake that's been a very simple tutorial and I hope you've enjoyed it if you liked this video please be sure to give it a thumbs up let me know what you think down below as a comment and of course be sure to subscribe for more great videos just like this one and that's all I have for you today thanks for watching

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