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Snake the Drain Line from the Roof — Use a Drain Snake to Clear the Clog

Beginner

Part of project

Clogged Shower Drain: How to Clear Standing Water · Step 3 of 3

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In this video

The plumber feeds the cable of an electric drain snake down the roof vent pipe. He uses the machine to rotate the cable, pushing it forward until it encounters the blockage. He works the snake back and forth to break up the clog. A camera placed in the shower downstairs shows the water level fluctuating and dirty water backing up as the clog is agitated.

Goal: Drain Unclogging

  • Keep your hands and the snake cable close to the drain opening. Allowing too much slack can cause the cable to kink and whip around, which is very dangerous.

Used in this video

  • Electric Drain Snake (brand: Steel Dragon Tools, Power Source: Electric) — Clearing clogs in the main drain line.
  • Work Gloves (brand: Unknown, Material: Leather) — Protecting hands while operating the drain snake.
  • Camera (brand: GoPro, Portability: Handheld) · optional — Monitoring the drain status from a remote location.
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FAQs

Do I need a special type of plunger for a shower drain?

Yes, a cup plunger (like THEWORKS 5 in. Red Bellows Plunger) is ideal for flat drains like showers and sinks, as it creates a better seal than a toilet plunger. Ensure the plunger fully covers the drain opening to generate effective suction.

What should I do if the drain snake gets stuck or won't reach the clog?

If your drain snake gets stuck, try rotating it counter-clockwise while gently pulling back to dislodge it; avoid forcing it. If the clog is beyond the 25 ft reach of your snake, or you still can't clear it, the issue might be deeper and could require professional assistance.

The water is still draining slowly after I've plunged and used the drain snake. What did I miss?

A slow drain often indicates that the clog wasn't fully removed or there's still a partial blockage. Re-plunge vigorously or re-insert the drain snake to ensure all debris is broken up. Flushing with hot water multiple times can help clear any remaining residue.

Are there any methods to try before buying a drain snake, or for preventing future clogs?

Before using a snake, you can try pouring a pot of boiling water down the drain, or a baking soda and vinegar solution (wait 30 mins, then flush with hot water). To prevent future clogs, regularly use a hair catcher over your drain and flush with hot water after showers.

Transcript
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or in the shower pan. Hopefully we'll see. There's standing water. So hopefully we can hear from up here. Now we're about on something. Maybe this will be here right here. Let's go home. Still here a little bit of water. All right. This through. Maybe we'll pull back the trunk a lot while it's just something too. I've got to do a fever bit on the run. I want to keep going. Just for a minute I can still hear a little bit of water rushing around. Slushing is that a word? At least if it's grand and decent enough that we get a blow-up bag down the toilet and we should be able to block it all. But it's about 30 feet. That way before it ties into the other line. So we'll be down to the table. Let's just go ahead and hide. I'm not sure if I had shown to these steel dragons. The only thing holding them together, if you can see in there there's a little tiny pan. They make a tool but I've lost everyone that I had. So just something small that can get in there and push that down. Then it comes free. So it vanishes and disadvantages to this machine but it's really nice. My favorite vent machine. I need some solid core cable. This stuff's a little too flexible sometimes. So another snake tip. You don't want much more than this. If you're out here and you push it, see what happens immediately. That's how you hurt yourself. So try to get as much cable as you're comfortable with. That's a lot more manageable. So that's what that is. Probably committing another fitting that's not going to be right. All right. Well, I think that's polar bags. Let's see what it looks like. I like to break the cable up too after you've put so many wines in because then it'll... If you keep pushing it, sometimes it'll just pop out in your face. Start over anyway. I was part of it. Those don't belong in the toilet.

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