Clearing a Fixture Drain Line

Remove the trap, and set it in a bucket. By hand, thread the end of the snake into the drain line opening until it meets some resistance. This usually means that the end of the snake has reached a bend in the drain pipe.

To get past the bend, leave at least 6 inches of cable extending from the opening, and tighten the cable lock. Crank the snake handle clockwise to move the end of the cable past the bend, pushing gently on the cable as you do.

Release the lock, and continue pushing the cable into the opening until you feel firm resistance. Set the snake lock, and crank the handle clockwise. Solid resistance that prevents the cable from advancing indicates there's a clog. Some clogs, such as a sponge or an accumulation of hair, can be snagged and pulled out (step 4). If you can advance the cable slowly, you're probably boring through a soap clog (step 5).

You can pull an obstruction out of the line by releasing the snake lock and cranking the handle clockwise to wind up the cable. If the cable releases suddenly, it may have lost its grip on the object, and you'll have to try to snag it again.