The plumbing snake is a plumber’s best friend when it comes to eliminating clogs in drains and pipes. But unless you’re a professional plumber, using a plumbing snake can be the WRONG thing to do! Why is that? Here are 5 reasons you should avoid using a plumbing snake:
1. Damaged Porcelain — The metal tip of the plumber’s snake can easily scratch the porcelain of your sinks or toilets if you’re not careful. This won’t just affect the appearance of the toilet or sink, but it could cause your porcelain to degrade faster. The material beneath the porcelain surface often isn’t as durable as the porcelain itself, meaning it will rust or decay faster than it should.
2. Incorrect Application — Do you know the difference between a top snake, a mini-rooter, a toilet auger, and a large drain snake? If you’re not a plumber, the answer is probably “no”. Each of these tools is designed for a specific application. Some are operated by a motor, while others use manual power. Use the wrong one on your drains or pipes, and it can make your plumbing problem worse.
3. Injuries — Yes, it can and will happen! Motorized plumbing snakes can be dangerous if they’re not used correctly, and even manual snakes can cause injuries or accidents. Unless you know how to use them properly, you are plumbing your drains and pipes at your own peril.
4. Damaged Pipes — If your home’s drainage system is older and made of galvanized materials, there is a very real chance the steelhead of the plumbing snake can scratch the inside of the pipe. Over time, that scratch will rust and weaken the structure of the pipe, until it bursts from the pressure. If you use a motor-powered snake incorrectly, you could crack the pipe and cause a serious leak.
5. Improper Clearing — You can’t see what’s causing the blockage, and you have little or no experience rooting around inside a drain with a plumber’s snake. How can you be sure you got the blockage cleared properly? You may have actually made the clog worse by scraping off corroded sections of pipe or pushing the blockage deeper into the drainage system.
A plumbing snake is a very useful tool for clearing clogs and blockages from your drains and pipes, but unless you know how to use one correctly, it’s best to call in a professional. The last thing you want is to make the problem worse or damage your drainage system! With the help of a quality plumber, you can get your home’s plumbing in working order in no time.
