Description

Drain and toilet snakes are usually made of a long metal coil covered with a metal or plastic guard. At the end of the snake, there is a metal hook that resembles a stretched-out spring.

Types

Some are intended to be connected to a drill, while others rely on hand-cranking to turn the snake while it is extended into plumbing pipes. The snake is fed into a pipe and the coil is turned to aid the hook in finding the clog.

Use

When the pipes are clogged, the snake may stop at the clog or be forced past it. Turning the snake tangles it into the clog and allows water to pass through the drain around it. This action may push the clog out of the drain.

Clogs

Drain snakes may be able to pull out a clump of hair or break up a small batch of toilet paper in a bathroom drain. With hair clogs, the hook may bring up a clump of hair or waste. Other blockages such as tree roots may not be cleared with a drain snake and may require a plumber.

Professionals

Professional plumbers use a snake made out of a thin metal tape with a blade on the end instead of a hook. This tape can cut through tree roots and other particularly stubborn clogs, but works similarly to a closet auger.

Source:

DIY-HQ: How to Unclog a Drain

Home Tips: How to Snake a Drain Clog