DIY Drain Snake Fails (And How to Avoid Them)

We've all had a stubborn blockage in a sink or drain at some point, and a drain snake is one of the handiest DIY tools for clearing a basic clog without calling a plumber. It's cheap, easy to use and sold in every hardware store. But like any tool, there's a right way to use it and plenty of wrong ways.

Here's what a drain snake actually is, how to use one properly, and the common mistakes to avoid. And if it beats you, your local team at Fix-It Right can take it from there.

What is a drain snake?

A drain snake (also called a drain auger or plumbing snake) is a slender, flexible coiled-metal cable, usually steel, with a handle at one end and a corkscrew-like auger at the other. When you spot the signs of a blocked drain, like slow draining or gurgling, you feed the cable into the drain, spin it with the handle, and break up or pull out whatever's blocking the pipe.

How to snake a drain properly

Before the mistakes, here's the short version of using a manual drain snake correctly:

• Feed the auger tip into the drain.
• Turn the handle clockwise to extend it further down.
• Keep going until you feel resistance, which is the clog.
• Break it up or pull it out by twisting gently and drawing the snake back slowly.

Now the mistakes people make when they're tackling blocked drains this way.

7 common drain snake mistakes to avoid

1. Using too much force

The biggest beginner mistake is forcing it. Pushing too hard can damage the pipe and land you with a costly repair. Let the auger coil do the work. Gentle, steady pressure is all you need.

2. Choosing the wrong snake

Snakes come in different sizes. A sink snake is made for the smaller pipes in a kitchen or bathroom, while larger pipes need a longer, sturdier one. The wrong snake, like a lightweight auger on a heavy blockage, either won't clear it or damages the snake itself.

3. Not cleaning it after use

A snake pulls out hair, soap scum and food scraps, and plenty of people forget to clean it afterwards. That's not just unhygienic, it reduces how well the snake works next time and can spread bacteria around the house.

4. Skipping the safety gear

It's easy to underestimate how messy this gets. Wear rubber gloves and safety glasses, especially your first time, to protect yourself from bacteria and splashes from the drain.

5. Not confirming the type of blockage

A snake doesn't solve every clog. Work out what you're dealing with first. Snakes are best on solid blockages like hair or soap scum. If it's grease build-up, you may need a solution first, or a professional.

6. Forcing it past pipe bends

Pipes have bends in them, and you should never force the snake through one. If you hit resistance at a bend, draw the snake back slightly and rotate gently until it feeds through on its own.

7. Rushing it

Patience matters. People get frustrated when they don't hit the clog straight away and start twisting aggressively. Feed the snake slowly, feeling for the obstruction. Slow and steady beats rushing every time.

When DIY isn't enough

DIY snakes are a world apart from professional equipment. Plumbers use powered snakes that handle serious clogs well beyond a standard hardware-store version.

• Motorised drain snakes cut through tough blockages, roots and hardened debris.
• High-pressure water jetters blast the blockage out and leave the pipe clean.
• CCTV cameras show exactly what's causing the problem and where it is.

On a persistent clog, a plumber doesn't just clear the blockage, they work out what caused it, which can save you trouble and money down the track.

How we do it at Fix-It Right

A snake handles plenty of simple clogs, but some are beyond any DIY method. Repeat blockages, stubborn drains or signs of a bigger problem need a professional, and we're here for that. We'll assess the system, clear the blockage safely and sort out why it happened. We keep it simple: there's $0 call-out, we give you three written quotes so you can pick what suits your budget, and you'll always know the price before we start. If the number's a stretch, Fix-It Now Pay Later gives you 12 months with no interest and no repayments. Every job is backed by our 10-year workmanship guarantee, because the whole idea is to fix it properly the first time. Plumbing fixed for good, not fixed for now.

We clear blocked drains across Melbourne, Geelong, Ballarat and Canberra. Book online or give us a call.