ose rags and towels come in handy.

If you are unable to dislodge the blockage, or do not locate it, you can try to approach the blockage through a branch cleanout. This is a T-shaped fitting with a plug in one branch. Remove the plug and insert the snake using this as your new entry point. Then repeat all of the above steps. Be careful when you remove the plug as a gr

Every so often, you are going to get a pipe that is just plugged up. One of the best ways to break the super clog is to auger it.

Plumbing snakes, also called augers, come in two basic varieties. The most common one and the one most familiar to homeowners is the drain auger. It is a tightly wound flexible metal cable with a corkscrew auger tip at one end and a crank handle at the other end. The closet auger is much shorter and more rigid than the drain auger, and easier to push down into a toilet.

Here is how to use the drain auger to clear a blockage in a drain. First, make sure you are wearing a good set of work gloves. Also, anticipate success, which will mean making a mess. It is a good idea to have plenty of old towels and rags handy for clean up. When you are ready, push the cable slowly down the drain while turning the handle clockwise. As you insert the cable, be sure to reposition the grip as close to the opening of the drain as possible.

You should be able to feel the blockage when the auger tip of the snake reaches it. It will be impossible to insert the snake any further. You need to keep turning the crank, and pulling back the tip and pushing it forward. The idea is to try to chew up blockage. If at all possible, try to pull the blockage back out of the drain. This is better than dislodging it to fall deeper into the drain pipe where it might clog again. If you do manage to pull the blockage out of the drain, it is going to be a mess. This is when those rags and towels come in handy.

If you are unable to dislodge the blockage, or do not locate it, you can try to approach the blockage through a branch cleanout. This is a T-shaped fitting with a plug in one branch. Remove the plug and insert the snake using this as your new entry point. Then repeat all of the above steps. Be careful when you remove the plug as a gre

andle at the other end. The closet auger is much shorter and more rigid than the drain auger, and easier to push down into a toilet.

Here is how to use the drain auger to clear a blockage in a drain. First, make sure you are wearing a good set of work gloves. Also, anticipate success, which will mean making a mess. It is a good idea to have plenty of old towels and rags handy for clean up. When you are ready, push the cable slowly down the drain while turning the handle clockwise. As you insert the cable, be sure to reposition the grip as close to the opening of the drain as possible.

You should be able to feel the blockage when the auger tip of the snake reaches it. It will be impossible to insert the snake any further. You need to keep turning the crank, and pulling back the tip and pushing it forward. The idea is to try to chew up blockage. If at all possible, try to pull the blockage back out of the drain. This is better than dislodging it to fall deeper into the drain pipe where it might clog again. If you do manage to pull the blockage out of the drain, it is going to be a mess. This is when those rags and towels come in handy.

If you are unable to dislodge the blockage, or do not locate it, you can try to approach the blockage through a branch cleanout. This is a T-shaped fitting with a plug in one branch. Remove the plug and insert the snake using this as your new entry point. Then repeat all of the above steps. Be careful when you remove the plug as a gr

gs handy for clean up. When you are ready, push the cable slowly down the drain while turning the handle clockwise. As you insert the cable, be sure to reposition the grip as close to the opening of the drain as possible.

You should be able to feel the blockage when the auger tip of the snake reaches it. It will be impossible to insert the snake any further. You need to keep turning the crank, and pulling back the tip and pushing it forward. The idea is to try to chew up blockage. If at all possible, try to pull the blockage back out of the drain. This is better than dislodging it to fall deeper into the drain pipe where it might clog again. If you do manage to pull the blockage out of the drain, it is going to be a mess. This is when those rags and towels come in handy.

If you are unable to dislodge the blockage, or do not locate it, you can try to approach the blockage through a branch cleanout. This is a T-shaped fitting with a plug in one branch. Remove the plug and insert the snake using this as your new entry point. Then repeat all of the above steps. Be careful when you remove the plug as a gr

o keep turning the crank, and pulling back the tip and pushing it forward. The idea is to try to chew up blockage. If at all possible, try to pull the blockage back out of the drain. This is better than dislodging it to fall deeper into the drain pipe where it might clog again. If you do manage to pull the blockage out of the drain, it is going to be a mess. This is when those rags and towels come in handy.

If you are unable to dislodge the blockage, or do not locate it, you can try to approach the blockage through a branch cleanout. This is a T-shaped fitting with a plug in one branch. Remove the plug and insert the snake using this as your new entry point. Then repeat all of the above steps. Be careful when you remove the plug as a gr

ose rags and towels come in handy.

If you are unable to dislodge the blockage, or do not locate it, you can try to approach the blockage through a branch cleanout. This is a T-shaped fitting with a plug in one branch. Remove the plug and insert the snake using this as your new entry point. Then repeat all of the above steps. Be careful when you remove the plug as a great deal of water and waste material will most likely be trapped inside.

There are many different varieties of plumbing snakes. Commercial models are usually powered and much heavier and longer than the typical homeowner’s model. It is not very sensible, from a cost standpoint, to purchase one of these for just routine household maintenance. If your home model snake proves insufficient for the job, it is time to call for your professional plumber.