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Owning your own home comes with a sense of pride because it makes you feel as though you’ve truly put down childish things and are now a real grown-up. However, this good feeling starts to fade once upkeep & maintenance enter the picture, and nothing makes you feel like a helpless kid than staring at a clogged toilet while holding a plumbing snake. You’ve got what seems like the right tool for the job, but there’s just one problem — you have no clue what you’re doing. It can be a devastating blow to just sit there and be absolutely clueless when it comes to working on a toilet in your own home. After all, you signed paperwork that says you know what owning a home is all about, and now, you’re not so sure. First, it’s important to realize that you’re taking this way too harshly. Take a deep breath and relax. You’re not alone, so consider this just one of the many lessons you’ll learn owning a home. Here’s a basic guide to using a plumbing snake the next time any of your toilets start acting up: Know Your Snake — The proper plumbing snake you’ll need is also called a closet auger. It’s shaped to have a bend at one end of a long handle that works with the shape of your fixture. Use A Plunger First — Surprisingly enough, before you get your plumbing snake, the majority of plumbers recommend using a plunger first. The simple vacuum created with the back & forth motion can often be all it takes to make a clog go away. Don’t Force Things Too Far Down — If the plunger didn’t work, grab your plumbing snake. Be sure to let the natural shape of the tool find its place in the trap area of your toilet. You shouldn’t be forcing anything at this point. Take It Slow — Slowly start turning the handle of the snake to extend the “snake” part, and feel for any resistance you may hit as that may be the clog you’re working to undo. There’s no need to use fast movements as you can actually cause damage to the fixture or pipes. Call A Professional — So, after all of this, two things may come up: 1) you’ve done everything you can do with both a plunger and snake, but you still have a clog; or 2) you don’t trust yourself to not cause a bigger problem because you’re a noob on all things plumbing. Either way, each is a perfect reason to call a plumber. They’ll not only see what work you’ve done, but they’ll have the know-how & extra tools to get the problem take care of ASAP. A plumbing snake is an important tool for any homeowner to have available just in case things get a little interesting in the bathroom. Moreover, you should also becomes familiar with how it works. Luckily, big-box home supply stores have small in-store classes to help with basic maintenance skills, so take advantage of these. Also, start building a relationship with a trusted plumber in your area by asking for assistance from them on the proper use of basic plumbing tools like plungers and plumbing snakes. Having their number will also be handy in case you get a little over your head with plumbing repairs down the line. Contact Ensor Plumbing in Reisterstown, MD for plumbing snake help or more in-depth plumbing assistance.
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Plumbing snake, plumbing, tools, plumber, toilet, bathroom, fixture, clog, plunger, home improvement,
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