Can Snaking a Drain Damage Pipes?

Are you dealing with problematic drain clogs? Call the Babe Plumbing team today at (507) 267-3622 for speedy resolution.

A clogged drain is a problem that always seems impossible to avoid, regardless of your property type. When there's a clog in the drain, most people will do their best to remedy the situation. And when it all fails, they'll reach for a drain snake.

However, this can open a whole different set of problems. Can snaking a drain damage pipes? We'll cover the details in this post.

What Is Drain Snaking?

Drain snaking means using a special plumbing tool known as a drain snake (or plumber's snake) to unclog blockages in drains. The tool features an extended cable and a hooked, corkscrew, or bladed tip. The composition of the tool makes it an excellent tool for dislodging a difficult clog.

To use the drain snake, plumbers unroll the snake down the drain slowly using a crank. The movement of the tip will help eliminate the blockage.

The average drain snake is a 25-foot tool designed for manual operation. However, plumbers tend to use motorized units that are up to 200 feet long for tougher or commercial jobs.

Can Snaking a Drain Damage Pipes for DIY Users?

Snaking a drain will not damage your pipes if you know how to handle the tool. Unfortunately, many DIY enthusiasts don't have enough experience with drain snakes. The result is damage to their pipework, especially for those living in older homes with old plumbing networks.

The pipe material in older homes isn't of the same standard as the pipes in modern homes today. Thus, older homes are likely to have corroded pipes that will become weaker if you mishandle a drain snake inside it.

Depending on the severity of the corrosion, a drain snake can trigger severe pipe leaks with the pipe bursting open. As Mankato's trusted hydro jetting services, drain snaking, and plumbing repair experts, we've seen this scenario play out many times.

Can Snaking a Drain Damage Pipes in the Hands of Professionals?

A qualified plumber knows how to use a drain snake expertly without damaging pipework. With their experience, they'll also know when a pipe system is too weak to support the movement of a drain snake and consider other options for unclogging the drain.

So, if you're worried about causing damage to your drain pipes, it's best to hand over the drain snaking job to a professional.

Other Reasons to Hand Over Your Drain Snaking to a Professional Plumber

Here are a few more reasons to avoid DIY drain snaking:

Avoid Injuries

It may sound improbable, but people get injured using tools like a drain snake. It only takes touching the sharp tip the wrong way for it to cut you. If the cut happens just at the time when dirty water splashes onto the injury site, you could get an infection.

Open injuries are not the only ones to worry about, either. Using a drain snake takes time. The prolonged kneeling and bending can worsen existing muscle or bone-related problems. Unfortunately, you can suffer these injuries and still fail to clear the drain. Leaving it to professionals is the surest way to stay safe.

Reduce the Risk of Coming in Contact with Dirty Drain Water

One of the biggest downsides of trying to clear your drain by yourself is that there's a high probability of coming in contact with dirty drain water. Depending on the direction of the clog, the water may come rushing out of the drain immediately after you unclog it, splashing onto your body.

Even when the clogged drain is unlikely to splash water onto you directly, you might end up touching the water as you try to unclog the drain. Either way, it's a health hazard. Wastewater often features a heavy colony of diverse bacteria.

Professional plumbers are more equipped to prevent water splashes. And when the splash does occur, they generally have the gear to prevent contact with dirty water.

Avoid Worsening Your Plumbing Problems

As established above, you can damage your pipes using drain snakes improperly if you live in an older property. It's also possible to use the drain snake to scrape off built-up scaling inside your pipework, causing additional blockage to the one you're already dealing with.

It's also not uncommon for people to break their sinks, faucets, or bathtubs as they are exerting force in using the drain snake. 

Thus, to avoid going from clearing a clog to paying for new fixtures, repairing damage to your home, or ruining your bathroom or kitchen's aesthetic appeal, it's best to hand over the job to a professional.

Avoid Using the Wrong Tool 

A drain snake is far from the Swiss Army Knife for all clogs. There are also different types of drain snakes to use. Going the DIY route means you're almost certainly going to use the wrong type for the job. Here's a quick guide:

• Use top snakes for clogs in sink or washing machine drains.
• Use a mini-rooter to cut through slightly heavier clog buildups in your pipes.
• Use a toilet auger with a hand crank attached to eliminate clogs in your toilet.

If you have clogs in pipes that are up to three inches in diameter, you'll need a large drain snake, which isn't a DIY tool. Most of these can extend up to 200 feet.

After unclogging the drain, be sure to avoid a repeat by only sending the right materials down the drains and into the sewer.

Can Snaking a Drain Damage Pipes? The Verdict

Snaking a drain can damage pipes in different ways if you don't have the right level of experience for the job and if you have old pipework. That's why you should trust the pros with the job. Also, hydro jetting may be the best way to clear the clogs, so there's no need to waste time with a drain snake.

Is hydro jetting safe for old pipes? Are you looking for plumbing professionals in Mankato, MN? Call Babe Plumbing today at (507) 267-3622 to schedule a consultation.

Author Bio:

Jeff Jordan and Anne Jordan

The wizards at Babe Plumbing. With synchronized finesse, they flawlessly orchestrate service excellence, transforming appointment chaos into a harmonious symphony of plumbing solutions, leaving customers impressed and ever-grateful for their unrivaled coordination.