There are lots of tools on sale in many retailers for dealing with all manner of plumbing emergencies. Some of these are clever and high tech and some are just logical and simple in their use. One such tool is the ‘Snake’ that is used for unblocking drains and pipework blockages. The snake is made up of a coiled metal spiral that looks like a snake, and is normally around ¼ in diameter and in some cases can be up to 25ft in length. It incorporates a handle that is retractable. The drain snake operates in a different way than a tool like the plunger.

Operation:
Once you have an entry point you can then push the Snake in the drain, begin using a twisting motion to rotate the coil deeper towards the blockage. The design lets you press into the bulk of the mass and begin to break it up.

As it has a good length it can reach deep into the pipe. It might be a job too far for the amateur. Feltham Plumbers always have the right tools for any plumbing task.

This task takes quite a lot of force when turning the handle, this makes the snake move through the various bends in the pipe. These snakes can be attached to electric drills to increases the force required to break the mass up. A Feltham Plumber uses the drain snake.

Prevention (sink block):
Place a plug hole strainer in the sink to let the water pass but catch a lot of solids from running down the drain, in either the kitchen sink, or in the bathroom.

Garbage Disposal Owners:
During operation you should always run the cold water particularly at a high speed to help the machine mash up the waste food. Keep the water running for more than a minute or so after you have finished. This helps to totally flush the mulch through the small bore pipe and onto the bigger outside drain.
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